Anyone have Chronic cough/Colds with RA? | Arthritis Information

Share
 

I'm curious to know if anyone out there notices when they get a cold that it stays around for months?  Anyone have a chronic cough or wheezing since diagnosed with RA? Have you seen anyone for it or been diagnosed with any RA related lung issues?

I've noticed every since I was diagnosed with RA a few years back that my colds stick around in my chest for months and have a chronic cough. Its rare I'm not coughing. I've been to an allergy doctor, found out what I am allergic too, did some tests which came out normal. He gave me an inhaler for wheezing which didnt seem to do anything.  I'm thinking of seeing a Pulmonologist.
 
Just wondering if anyone has had any lung /breathing issues with RA.
 
Thanks,
 
Kelly
Klynn,
 
Didn't your rheumatologist advise you to seek medical attention at any time you get a cough or lung congestion? Mine warned me as soon as I started taking methotrexate to go to urgent care with any cough or lung problems. I never took them seriously until I did have bad lung problems. I had waited too late. You should at least see pulmonary or even better urgent care, let them assure you of nothing to worry about and then refer you to pulmonary.
 

5. Methotrexate-induced lung disease is a potentially dangerous lesion, which may occur acutely at any time during therapy and which has been reported at doses as low as 7.5 mg/week. It is not always fully reversible. Pulmonary symptoms (especially a dry, nonproductive cough) may require interruption of treatment and careful investigation.

 
LEV
Klynn,
 
I want to clarify something. I was warned to seek urgent care not just about coughs, but any other possible sicknesses or medical problems because of the immune suppressing drugs that I was taking, not just because to the possible toxicity of methotrexate. Our very delicate conditions from our very serious disease.
 
LEV

Hi Kelly.

Fortunately, I haven't had those issues. You definitely need to get that checked out asap. My rheumy had me go through a bunch of pulmonary function tests, etc. before he even started me on mtx. (But I do have a history of smoking.)

Hi Levlarry-

I had a cold when they started me on a low dose 2.5 mg then 5mg (injections).  The Rheumatologist said I should be fine and not to worry about my cough and listened to my lungs (I brought up Pneumonia caused by mtx issue with her) I also talked with my PCP and he said its prob asthma/allergies,  took an xray 4 weeks ago and he said it was clear. I went back again last week complaining, he gave me a steroid inhaler to help with inflammation.  Keeps rushing me through the appts saying not to worry, BUT I AM WORRIED. I've been on MTX now for i think 5 weeks as of tomorrow. I made an appt AGAIN with my PCP for tomorrow and will hope he gets me a chest xray to take a look again. Maybe I should just see a pulmonologist??

Something else I find frustrating, it seems some Rheumy's think its ok to stay on MTX if you get sick (flu etc) others say to stay off until your better.
If you are worried that is more than enough reason to have a second opinion/evaluation from a specialist.

Take no chances with your health, if a physician rushes you through your appoints maybe it is time to find a new one: I would.

Good luck.
Shug, you always make me feel better in making my decisions! Thank you ! Hi KLynn, run don't walk to the pulmonologist.  Before I started MXT I had a pulmonology workup for a baseline.  I do have ILD caused by RA but it's very mild and has been stable.  I see a pulmonologist yearly for testing.  Lung issues aren't to be shrugged off by your doctor and should be taken seriously.  Please ask for a referral to a pulmon.  Once lung issues are detected then you can't go back.  They're with you forever.  Take care.  Lindy  Hi Klynn, Lev is right, MTX is always a suspect when chest/lung issues are happening!  I was always getting chest infections/pleurisy/bronchitis/asthma on 20mg MTX, they suspected ILD and I was hospitalised for a week, nothing improved until they stopped the MTX and after about 3 weeks I was great again, now we pursue MTX increases very carefully and slowly, first sign of chest probs, I stop Mtx myself now, I am taking no chances, definitely go to see your specialist asap, if your RD is not listening to you seriously then yes, you must seek a new one or at least confront him with your feelings and see if he is willing to take you seriously.  Best of luck, Janie.  I also have lung issues with the RA.  Right now the dr. isn't sure whether it was caused by MTX or the RA itself.  He also says it doesn't really matter what caused it-we just need to keep it in check. 
 
I have been on MTX for years-started it as a teen and I am now 33.  Dr. is leaning more towards the RA as being the cause, but I am off the MTX.  I can totally feel it.  I have a repeat CT scan which will hopefully give us some more answers.
 
So....moral of the story-get it checked out by a dr.  Also, a chest xray doesn't always show damage.  I ended up in the ER very short of breath.  Xray was fine, the CT scan is what lit up with issues.
I'm at work today feeling just miserable. I have an appt with my PCP at noon. I have never been the type of person to confront anyone or make waves so it's going to be hard for me to try and talk to him about it but I think I should. Thanks for the advice.Klynn,
 
Of course the feeling of misery probably has nothing to do with the ongoing cough, but could be. Maybe it's time to start becoming more confrontational. All your PCP can do is call the police. Just kidding. I would first try being assertive before confrontational, but certainly assertive. Assert your rights to be not just informed, but treated as if your health and life is just as important as your PCP's is to him/her. Now, let's see that assertive face.........Grrrr.
 
LEV

Levlarry , I tell ya, If I could sit in on one of your doctor visits, I'd probably learn a lot...and try not to laugh!  lol  After today's visit, I am COMPLETELY frustrated beyond words.  I saw him, I'm sitting there in tears telling him all my aches and pains...explaining i've come to him 3x now for my chest and worried about getting methotrexate injections today...he saw my hands tremoring, my heart racing, my fever,  and comes to this conclusion:   Lets take a chest xray and rule out pneumonia.  So, i did, he showed it to me and said normally people with pneumonia have white blobs, here and here (pointing)  you dont have pneumonia. So we just need to work on the inflammation in your chest. Keep taking your steroid inhaler and your albuterol inhaler . In a few weeks you should feel better. I asked if he could possibly just not see everything on the xray? (hint, hint...CT SCAN.... he said you dont need anymore radiation.  I said why do I have a fever, feel this bad to where i can hardly go to work? Is there something else possibly going on???  He said well your anxiety I can tell is worse , so take another clonazepam today. (blaming everything on anxiety) ofcoarse I'm anxious! I feel like crap and am worried.   He tried to go and i said , can we do anymore tests at all ??? I went to a dr appt maybe a year ago feeling exausted and run down etc and they did a urine test even though I didnt have any symptoms and found out it was a bladder infection, gave me antibiotics and the next day I felt almost 100% better, can we atleast do that? He said yes and I left.  He also said the reason my hearts racing (has been since lastnight) is because of inflammation in my lungs and my hearts working harder. Okay, that just brought up new issues...so do I worry that I've been having a little chest pain off and on (which I told him about)...and ASK him to do any heart tests? I just dont know what else to do but keep trying different doctors which is stressful enough starting all over again.

SO, I just made another appt with my old physicians office today after work and will see if they can do some lab work, or something and just lay it all out on the line, explain how frustrated i am!  There's SOMETHIHG happening and I'm angry the doctor just doesnt do SOMETHING! 7-8 weeks with this COLD, common! UGH!!! There's some doctors that give you antibiotics just in case...but he wont do that, i asked him.  What could it hurt?

To top this off, I found out from my OB/GYN yesterday the test results on my TSH test was 8.55! That's pretty high right? She thought it was wierd it spiked like that in 4 weeks. My rheumy said to talk to this dr i saw today about it. He said he already did T3, T4 etc thryroid tests 4 weeks PRIOR and they were normal so he doesnt think that would change in 4 weeks and said i was fine. I made an appt to see and Endocrinologist to give me some peace of mind anyways.

What is with some doctors? I still cant find the right doctor. I've switched a few different times. Do they just not like treating or trying to figure out whats going on with hard cases?  Why do I have to be the one telling him what tests to do , when I really have NO CLUE and that's why I'm seeing him, to run all the tests.

OKAY, OKAY, THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT!!!!!!!!! 

If you are really concerned, the ER might be the place to go.  Of course, that would probably be a larger copay.  But, if you go in with chest pain/trouble breathing, and EKG would be one of the first things they would do.  They do have other equipment there, which might be easier than going through you regular dr.
 
If you think it can wait, stress your concerns at your next appointment.  When I have been really frustrated, I write a note/letter to the dr.  When I get frustrated, I cry, which then makes me forget half of what I wanted to say . My RD actually said that he wished more patients would write out their concerns.  He usually puts my note in his file so he can pull it out next time to see if anything has improved.
 
I don't want to worry you, but lung/heart stuff does come with the RA-occassionaly.  Being fairly young, the dr. was not expecting to get the CT results that she did.  The only reason why the did the CT was because I was obviously having a hard time, and they were worried about a blood clot.  This was done through the ER-chest xray first(which I have had a ton of) which was clear, and then the CT with contrast.
Hi Rebecca: May I ask what they found on your ct scan?

The second dr I saw today said she thinks I have Somitization disorder
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatization_disorder?wasRedirected=true

This just makes me shake my head...because they can't hear wheezing and don't see spots on the xray then they think I'm making this up. I don't even know what to do from here .
[QUOTE=klynn141].because they can't hear wheezing and don't see spots on the xray then they think I'm making this up. I don't even know what to do from here .
[/QUOTE]
Kelly, I do not think that anyone thinks you are making anything up. You have been presented with a diagnosis and now it is vital to begin to discover how to approach treatment for the disorder. I suggest that one of your first steps is therapy to learn methods to deal with the signs and symptoms of the diagnosis: biofeedback, relaxation response, meditation are all systems that can be employed with great relief of symptoms. Additionally, anti-anxiety medications often require trials until one is found that works for you.

In your position, I would request copies of all the recent notes from doctors visits, the x-rays that have been taken, copies of all recent labs to hand carry, along with a detailed diary/journal of symptoms, to appointments with an endocrinologist and a pulmonary specialist. These appointments, along with a follow-up with your rheumatologist are vitally important is your are to move aware from the worry and anxiety that you have been living with for the past couple of months. You need the reassurance of examination and evaluation offered by specialists. If the specialists offer you a "clean bill of health" you will then have the tools to begin to surmount this latest diagnosis. If visits to the specialists reveal physical causes for your symptoms you can then begin to deal with them in a proactive and productive way.

Best wishes.
They found something they describe as "ground glass" in my right lung.  I get a repeat scan on the 23rd to see if there is any improvement after being off the mtx.
 
Many times with "RA lung" there are normal breath sounds...

Spelunker: You always make things easy for me, thank you. I will make an appt with a Pulmonologist and get these records. I think this will help put my mind at rest.  My mom actually mentioned bio feedback, that may be my next step as well.

Rocckyd: Let us know how that appt goes on the 23rd. I hope everything turns out well for you!

Klynn,
 
Well, you seem to becoming somewhat assertive and good for you. I wanted to caution you about advancing to confrontational too quickly. I strongly suggest you take some self defense courses prior to trying the confrontational approaches. You would probably be so impressed with my doctor visits with the exception of my GP. I go to a teaching hospital, and have in the past and still do recomend that anyone that can use a teaching hospital do so. Every doctor and clinic is with-in the hospital. I may only talk with my rheumatologist for 15 minutes, but the interns (prior to the rheumy) give me all the time I want and then some. The interns are so very thorough checking everything, not just the ra, looking and feeling, and probing me for how I feel and the good and bad. They then go confer with the rheumatologist and then the rheumatologist makes his/her recommendations. One time at a blood draw at oncology, I complained of being sick and feverish for a few days after a rituxan infusion and asked to wait for the lab results, approx 30 minutes, how cool is that? 10 minutes later, one of the rheumatologists was hand in hand walking me to urgent care as I tried to convince her that i would keep my promise and come back tomorrow and go to urgent care. 5 days in the hospital. Another time when i was sick at a rheumatology appointment and the previous night the emrgency room doctor told me that i had a intestinal virus that's going around and sent me home, the rheumatologist ordered a wheelchair and wheeled me to the emergency room, 6 days in the hospital. No matter what my complaint, they will immediately send me to whatever department is needed. Whether radiology, orthopedics or pulmonary etc. There is no referal and because i am sent by a doctor, they fit me in the very same day, generally. When i had my surgery, all my doctors knew each other. How cool is that? Anyway, I strongly recommend a hospital for all your ailments. Wishing you the best and don't forget to show your teeth when needed.
 
LEV
Levlarry: that's really great for you that you are so well taken care of at that hospital! It probably gives you peace of mind. It would for me. Wow you sure have had a lot of hospital admits!!

I have made an appt with an Endocrinologist and a Pulmonologist. I just hope it doesn't tick off my pcp. He keeps saying I'm fine . My lungs and fever say otherwise!

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I truly appreciate it!  If it ticks off your PCP, Oh well. He will just have to get over it. Your health is more important than his ego.
 
  I hope you get some answers to your problems. I for one am upset about how this doctor is treating you. I am glad you are getting secound opinions from specialist.
[QUOTE=klynn141]I have made an appt with an Endocrinologist and a Pulmonologist. I just hope it doesn't tick off my pcp. He keeps saying I'm fine . My lungs and fever say otherwise! [/quote]
Kelly, good for you. Making the appointments can be, and often is, the biggest step we can take towards becoming proactive: being proactive in our own healthcare requires courage, fortitude, and determination. I understand not wanting to make anyone, especially a physician angry or defensive, but (as has been said before) our physicians work for us not the other way around.

If your hairdresser ceased to provide the services you pay for would you be concerned about her/him being ticked off if you found someone else to provide those services? If your mechanic insisted your vehicle was fine, although it regularly would not start or would not idle at a stop light, would you be worried that he/she would be ticked off when you took your car to someone else? Would you hesitate for even a minute to call another TV repair person if, after the 3rd or 4th visit, your TV continued to outtah service? Physicians, although highly educated in the workings of the body, and skilled in the treatment of the body, are neither omnipotent nor infallible. Do not squander your physical energy or your mental well-being worrying or being concerned whether or not you PCP will be ticked off. You have already indicated he rushes your appointments and does not listen to you, both signs at least from where I sit that it is time to seek another PCP.

Further, I suggest you add an appointment with a psychiatrist to discuss your anxiety and the diagnosis of somatization disorder. Your mental state is at least as important as your physical condition, and can be even more important in you overall health in the next few months. Your signs and symptoms need to be taken seriously by a TEAM of physicians for you to progress beyond where you are right now physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Cheers, Shug

Copyright ArthritisInsight.com