Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Does Anyone Have Experience Of AS Lung Problems?

Hello to all, I've not been on for a while.

I'm interested to know if anyone on here has lung problems associated with AS? Not really looking for info on lack of chest movement, more interested in internal problems with the lungs.

do you mean inflammation causing unable to breathe deeply ? then that could happen... when the inflammation wears down you should feel better... i would still suggest to be cautious with this - see if getting inflammation under control through fasting or diet makes it better in 2-3 days... if it doesn't i think you should get a checkup...

Hi arthelp. Thanks for your reply.

If you mean inflammation of the ribcage/chest, that's not really what I'm after. More wheezing and crackles from inside the lungs. Fluid phlegm retention, etc

Apical pulmonary fibrosis can happen as a consequence of poor chest expansion I think. Don't know how common it is.

What meds are you taking? My husband got very sick with what the dr. called Methotrexate lung. He has RA. He cannot take that any more. He takes Arava now.

Best wishes.

Hi cemc and Possi.

The only meds I'm taking at present is Octasa for my Ulcerative Colitis.

I do have restricted chest movement due to AS in the chest/ribcage.

I started getting a slight wheeze from right lung almost 4 years ago - only at the end of a hard inhale. It came and went. As time has gone on, the wheeze has got worse and sometimes also happens on the left side too. This is accompanied by what I think is crackles, sometimes fluid bubbling inside when lying in bed at night, sometimes continual throat clearing of mucus. The symptoms are slowly, but surely getting worse.

I have been to pulmonary docs and consultants. Breathing tests showed that the chest restriction means that lungs only fill to 80% capacity.

However, after X-rays and a couple of high-res CT scans, then can't see any changes in my lungs. The last specialist I saw said it could be fluid trapped in the lungs due to lack of expansion. She said that lungs naturally produce x pints (??) of fluid per day and maybe because of my restriction, not all of it is cleared as normal. I'm not so sure, as it is getting steadily worse. This sounded more like a balance of probabilities diagnosis, rather than a definite 'we've looked in your lungs and seen such and such - so you have X' type of diagnosis.

So, basically I am looking for someone who has AS lung problems, or has knowledge of them, to compare symptoms and experiences and research it. I'm thinking it may be a slow build up of AS lung problems, possibly leading to Apical pulmonary fibrosis as mentioned. I'm also keen to find info and statistics on Apical PF, as there's nothing on the web. All info is for idiopathic PF, which seems a bit different.

Hope this all makes sense.

Hi, woodbine:




[half]BINGO!

We are subject to several lung conditions at rates far in excess of the general population from asthma and asperigillosis to fibroses and all things associated with normal Sjogren's/sicca.

Although my asthma totally relented with proper (NSD+antibiotics) treatment of AS, some symptoms of decreased lung capacity persist: The positional breathing noise associated with fluid retention in bronchial region (not basic working portion of lungs). This gets worse when I have some allergy or minor episode of asthma (these are seasonal and very rare, thankfully), or when I have flu or other conditions.

Yes, crackling, bubbling, etc sometimes keeps me awake! Very annoying.

Hope You find Your answers.

HEALTH,
John

Yes. My lungs have been problematic all of my life. Mostly though if I make sure to get enough aerobic exercise that takes care of the worst of it. When I'm flaring my lungs feel "sticky" on the inside. I don't know a better way to explain that. Sometimes they just feel sick... like I've got a bad chest cold when I don't. Since I started getting the pneumonia vaccines my lungs have been better.