Any advice-Lungs

[DesignerS]

I have had asthma for several years. I take Pulmicort, Singulair, Serevent, have breathing treatments.....
For the past 4 months, I have had terrible pain and burning in my lungs, especially if I try to inhale.
One doctor gave me steroids, they helped for about 2 weeks. The 2nd doctor upped my does of an inhaler, that isn't helping.
The third doctor, (all in the same practice) just gave me a steroid burst yesterday. It is helping my breathing some, but the pain
and burning are crazy!

Does anyone have this with asthma? I have never had it before. I am wondering if SjS is involved.....I just dont know where to
go from here. Any help greatly appreciated.


Designer

[KellyG999]

That sounds awful! I'm so sorry. By any chance, are any of these three doctors a pulmonologist? If not, please see one as soon as you can. Have you had a chest x-ray? It seems like that is in order to verify any consolidation (pneumonia) or pleurisy (inflammation) causing the burning.

I don't want to overreact, but the lungs are nothing to fool around with. I am not 100% sure the docs are on top of things. Please do keep us posted!

Hugs,
KellyG

[Corella]

I get burning bronchitis type pain when my lungs are really dry, my GP said it is part of the sjogrens and if I dont drink enough fluids, it gets really bad as though I am breathing in fire.

I have to force myself to drink water but it really does the trick and I was also advised to run the shower without the extractor fan to fill the room with steam and inhale it and that makes a difference.

Hope you get it sorted.

[DesignerS]

Thanks Kelly:) No these doctors are GP's not pulmonologists  It is so hard to know when to trust your doctor and when to step out and push for another opinion.
Corella, what you say makes sense. I am just so concerned since it is my lungs. I am happy the water and steam are helping you:) 

Designer

[mshistory]

I agree - I would see a pulmonologist. I've had pleurisy and it caused sharp burning pains at times, especially with deep breaths but it did not show up in x-rays. It was diagnosed based on symptoms and was treated with NSAIDs (usually, Prednisone is prescribed as well but I don't react well to Prednisone). I also get bronchitis easily but that typically causes an unrelenting horrible cough rather than pain (of course, the pleurisy and bronchitis at the same time was quite painful).

When I had both pleurisy and bronchitis at the same time, I went to the urgent care clinic because I had sharp pains extending from my chest to my shoulder toward my back. I was given a breathing treatment and meds and told if the pain got worse in any way to go straight to the ER to make sure I didn't have a blood clot or something - definitely nothing we want to risk!

[irish]

I would find yourself a pulmonologist who can help you with your breathing issues. You might find that you will need less inhalers than you are on.

When I started with my nebulizer treatments about 4-5 years ago I found that my lungs were hurting a lot. Now, I have been on albuterol and a steroid since about 1981 and have had painful lungs a lot. I always felt that the pain was from the dryness.

After a couple weeks on the nebulizer/albuterol I called my lung doc and asked if I could have some sterile saline to combine with the albuterol. I now use 2 of the 3 cc vials of sterile saline with the albuterol 2-3 times a day. The saline is such a soothing thing to include with the nebulizer. It helps to keep the lung tissue moist. You need a precription for the saline.

Make sure that you get a medical professional to explain how to disinfect your nebulizer every time you use it. I use 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water--I think I will soon be going to a little different protocol with distilled water and vinegar.

Anyway, using the saline has really made a difference for me. If I get really dry I use my warm facial sauna and that is so soothing. Irish