Even though my surgery is soon, I continue to have many doctor's appointments. Thursday I had my first appointment with a pulmonologist. She was as thorough as anyone could be. She didn't only want to know about my lungs, but all my other illnesses.
Since my CT showed a small airways disease, I've been nervous about what is going on in my lungs. She discussed the CT results in great detail, which helped me to understand this disease.
The small airways in the lungs become obstructed and air can't flow freely. My symptoms were shortness of breath (not caused by heart disease), wheezing, chest pressure, and coughing. Pumonary Function Tests (PFT) are another diagnositc tool. I already had pulmonary function tests, which were normal.
This doctor explained that two of the test results were not as good and she said that the ratio showed abnormality. That part I didn't understand as well. She is treating me for suspected Asthma with Symbicort. She expects this treatment to help with the "air trapping" that makes me run out of air when I'm talking.
Asthma can be connected to having high Eosinophils, having Sjogren's or Hypogammaglobulinemia. That big word means that the immune system can't make enough antibodies called immunoglobulins.
Some of these are caused by congenital immune deficiencies, medications, or other diseases. Some patients receive Immune Globulin Replacement Therapy with regular IV's. The immune globulin comes from donated plasma.
I was offered this treatment a few years ago, but didn't start it because there is a strong risk of allergic reaction. This would be treated in the hospital ER, because it can be very serious.
So, for right now, I'm using Symbicort twice daily. The pulmonologist will see me again before I move in early June. At that point, she'll do a partial pulmonary function test. She hopes that I'll also experience good results with my breathing. That would be wonderful! It's not wonderful to add Asthma to my list of diseases, but a pretty simple treatment would be excellent.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
A new diagnosis should freak me out, but I honestly feel peaceful and calm. As my husband says, it's God. God continues to bless me with peace. Problems pile up so high, I can almost not believe it. I'm sure some people will think it's impossible to have this many diseases/conditions.
I don't understand it. I know that my body was not given a good start. Before I was born, my mom gained only 14 pounds in the entire pregnancy. I was born with Ehlers Danlos, and I know that EDS people usually have a long list of co-morbid conditions. So, maybe that's the answer. For today, I'll just praise God.
@2025, copyright Lisa Ehrman
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