RA lung disease

[dmc12]

Hi all I hope you are well and enjoying this lovely weather.

I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with RA lung disease but in the past 3 years I have had a constant dry cough from November through to April and so far this year it has not gone away yet. My lung specialist is testing for all sorts of other stuff and I get results on 17th April. It has got so bad I cannot move, talk or eat without coughing to the point of vomiting and I am in the process of being medically retired from work. I have nodules and fluid on both lungs and glass granules on lower and upper lungs . At present I am free of nfection but get repeated chest infections. I have tried inhalers codeine cough linctus high dose steroids but nothing works. Has anyone else been through this and any tips on what helped you would be mch appreciated. I am currently on cimzia which is controlling RA in joints but not lungs as getting more nodules evey year. Thanks for reading.

Donna

[sallyc]

Hi Donna

Yes I have been in a similar position. I have been on sulphasalazine and mtx for a year now but last Oct and Nov had chest infections and was left with a permanent cough. Because of the infections I had to stop all meds, and rheumatologist referred me to a respiratory con had lung function test in Jan this year and was ok to restart meds. I continued to cough had a bronchoscopy in March 2 weeks later chest and cough was so bad was admitted to hospital had ct scan as Ra may be affecting lungs, more antibiotics' and steroids which I have been reducing got down to 10mgs and cough returned also given Amitriptyline at night to suppress cough. Hope this helps.

[Ailsa-NRAS Partner NRAS in reply to sallyc]

Hi Donna

See the article on our website on RA and lung disease

nras.org.uk/the-effects-of-...

hope this is helpful and send you best wishes.

Ailsa

[dmc12 in reply to Ailsa-NRAS]

Thank you, it makes very interesting reading hopefully I will get some more answers soon.

[dmc12 in reply to sallyc]

Thank you for your reply and I hope you improve.

I have been on inhalers and high dose steroids and I have been on a permanent maintenance dose of 10mg for over 15 years.

I also have amitriptyline on a night as well as a cocktail of other stuff!

Hopefully the good weather will help.

All the best

Donna