Chest X-ray-inflammation

[Elmo333]

Hi All. I’ve had a cough and had antibiotics, which didn’t do a lot. Then I got breathless so they tried steroids thinking of asthma but they made me mentally out of sorts so they stopped them. Then I just had a chest X-ray and the report says there are some slight inflammatory changes in the left lung. I haven’t seen my dr yet and the different gp I spoke to was very vague. Not sure if it could be RA. Had the cough for a month now! At least it’s not anything really scary. I’m 35 and on mtx. Anyone relate to this? Thank you x

[Doughnut61]

I hate this time of year for that very reason x Since RA I don’t just have a cold 🙁 it drags on, drains me and always ends up on my chest !! I’ve been in bed for 2 days trying to shift it x keep us updated and take care x

[Basilly]

Hi! I had a chest x-ray last year which showed inflammation but I was soon diagnosed with pneumonia. I’m still under the respiratory team as they are monitoring my chest. I have had another chest infection recently but mine seem to be related to sulphasalazine. Could yours be related to mtx?

[Mandalou]

Hi Elmo

How worrying for you, I bet its that pesky Mtx thats exacerbating things.

Bloody scary when breathlessness strikes. Your age is a plus Im thinking.

Are you going back to your GP to discuss the xrays or will you take it up with your Rheumy team?

Im over 5 weeks in with a dodgy chest, Im on Benepali and witheld it for three weeks but could feel the insidious bubble in my knees and pain in my finger bones start so weighed it up and jabbed myself - now paranoid that Ive got pneumonia!

Its the night time I dread as lying down is practically impossible plus Ive coughed so much I have to cross my legs in case of small accidents 😂😂😂

Oh God this really is the disease that keeps on giving!

I hope your chest settles and when they re examine you your left lung is clear of inflammation.

All the best

Mx

[Leviset]

Have any of the medics reported a ‘crackling’ noise when they’ve listen to your lungs through a stethoscope?

[Biofreak]

Hi there. When I was on methotrexate several years ago, I had 2 chest infections in the same year. The first one took ages to clear up because my gp didn't tell me to stop the methotrexate whilst on the antibiotics. The second one, although it cleared up with antibiotics, left me with a persistent cough, which caused an inflamed chest. My rheumatologist told me to stop the methotrexate as he suspected I couldn't tolerate it. I was then given an two inhalers and a course of steroids to reduce the inflammation. Fortunately for me, the cough went away over the course of a month and I never went back on methotrexate. I was given sulphasalazine which I am still on and eventually etanercept which worked a treat for five years. I think its worth speaking to your rheumatology doctor as well as your gp. Hope all goes well for you in the end as it did for me.

[wishbone]

Your GPs may be familiar with RA and side effects of associated meds etc, but I wouldn't take the risk that they are and would get in touch with my rheumy sooner rather than later.

[Elmo333]

Thank you x

[Elmo333]

No crackling so that’s good!

[Jora]

Yes. I’ve just posted something. I’m very glad it’s only in one lung, in your case. And it sounds as if they’ve caught it early. J