Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 , Hi, glad to see you post again! A pulmonologist as opposed to an internist or a general practitioner will likely want a high resolution CT scan, a pulmonary function test, a 6 minute walk, probably some bloodwork to rule out an autoimmune disease or some other disease process that could have caused your pulmonary fibrosis. He/she may want you to have an echocardiogram to rule out pulmonary hypertension which is a an almost inevitiable consequence of this disease. You may have already had some of these, the doctor may want to repeat them depending on how long it's been since you've had them done. All of this is going to give him information in what he may be able to do for you, what your options are and how advanced your disease is. How is your cough? I know you were struggling with it the last time you posted. Has anything given you any relief? Beth Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Change everything. Love and Forgive lung spiecalist I have been referred to a lung spiecalist, what can I expect that my current doctor hasnt done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 , Hi, glad to see you post again! A pulmonologist as opposed to an internist or a general practitioner will likely want a high resolution CT scan, a pulmonary function test, a 6 minute walk, probably some bloodwork to rule out an autoimmune disease or some other disease process that could have caused your pulmonary fibrosis. He/she may want you to have an echocardiogram to rule out pulmonary hypertension which is a an almost inevitiable consequence of this disease. You may have already had some of these, the doctor may want to repeat them depending on how long it's been since you've had them done. All of this is going to give him information in what he may be able to do for you, what your options are and how advanced your disease is. How is your cough? I know you were struggling with it the last time you posted. Has anything given you any relief? Beth Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Change everything. Love and Forgive lung spiecalist I have been referred to a lung spiecalist, what can I expect that my current doctor hasnt done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 , Hi, glad to see you post again! A pulmonologist as opposed to an internist or a general practitioner will likely want a high resolution CT scan, a pulmonary function test, a 6 minute walk, probably some bloodwork to rule out an autoimmune disease or some other disease process that could have caused your pulmonary fibrosis. He/she may want you to have an echocardiogram to rule out pulmonary hypertension which is a an almost inevitiable consequence of this disease. You may have already had some of these, the doctor may want to repeat them depending on how long it's been since you've had them done. All of this is going to give him information in what he may be able to do for you, what your options are and how advanced your disease is. How is your cough? I know you were struggling with it the last time you posted. Has anything given you any relief? Beth Age 48 Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Change everything. Love and Forgive lung spiecalist I have been referred to a lung spiecalist, what can I expect that my current doctor hasnt done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Hi, I'm glad that you're having a specialist look at you. As PF is a restrictive disease we use more of our upper body muscles to physically breathe in and out than someone without, so carrying anything does put more of a stain on us. Your lung doc may offer you pulmonary rehab which will give you some exercises to bolster up your upper body muscles. While keeping as active as you can is important, don't do more than your body can manage and remember to rest. Is it possible that they got your blood tests muddled up? If you haven't been in any position to be exposed to either I'd demand that they were done again. Love Ze xx>> -> Hi! Well, honestly I will be soooo happy to have these tests> done, as I still know so little, my cough is same, my breathing> seems to be worse when I am carrying something like say> a quart of milk or a bag of sugar.......does that make sense?> I think the last time I was here was prior to the results of > my ultrasound, that is the day he said he had to refer me to > a spiecalist, the blood work came back posetive for hep c and b, > but good grief I have not done anything to put myself> in those 2 catagories, it seems it was due to the high mg of ibprophen> i was taking for the pain. I was given more injections of the > toradol for pain which have helped so much more than any pill!> I do try and do some walking but in the heat, I so afraid Ill > pass out or something!lol> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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