Lung scarring

[gabbi66]

Hi, does anyone suffer from lung scars. Ive been told i have a scar on my lung which has been there for 2 yrs now but i dont think its changed. Is this anything to worry about and dies it mean i have pulmonary fibrosis im confused about what i ve read. Any info appreciated thanks

[whisperit]

Hello gabbi66,

Pulmonary fibrosis, as I understand it, is basically the same thing - scarring of the lung tissue - but according to wiki, there is still some disagreement about how to classify and label the various versions of lung scarring. So some respirologists use that term, and others don't. Mine calls my lung scarring "Interstitial Lung Disease" - which scared me at first, until I realised that it didn't mean anything more than inflammation and scarring caused by my UCTD.

The important thing is to understand and treat the cause.

Since my initial treatment, my lung inflammation has been well controlled. I have been left with a small area of scarring and bronchiectasis (that's where some of the air sacs have been damaged so that the walls between them are broken down). As far as I know, I've had no deterioration since I was diagnosed 2 years ago.

On a day-to-day basis, it can make you a bit short of breath (depending on how severe the scarring is) but otherwise, the main things to be aware of are 1). it may flare up again if your auto-immune disease flares, and 2). It can make you more liable to get chest infections. So the advice is to make sure that you get preventative vaccinations against flu and pneumonia, and to seek medical advice early if you think you might be coming down with a chest infection. x

[gabbi66 in reply to whisperit]

Thank you for yr very helpful reply, Im at my Drs on Wednesday and will know more then just worried as I have Asthma and COPD already.

[Joy_1]

Hi Gabbi66

I have UCTD with lung involvement.

As whisperit says scarring and fibrosis is the same thing.

I was diagnosed in 2012 and to date there has been no progression in my condition. You need to keep your flares under control.

I go to aqua aerobics 3 times a week and also swim. That has kept my lung function in the normal range.

I am under rheumatology and the chest clinic. As my condition has remained mild I have lung function tests every 9 months.

Make sure you report any detrimental change in your breathing asap. And as whisperit says make sure you have the flu jab every year and I also get the pneumococcal jab every 5 years.

Joy

[gabbi66 in reply to Joy_1]

Thanks for yr reply Joy xx