Pneumonia that comes back and GERD?

MovingtotheCove

MovingtotheCove

Recycles dryer sheets
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Nov 9, 2008
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I have suffered now 3 cases of Pneumonia in the past 5 months. Not normal and not fun. :(

I've had numerous antibiotics and steroid and who knows what else and about the time we think it is gone the cough is back and the lungs fill. CT scans and chest X-rays show things in both lungs.

I also have GERD and take Prilosac OTC. Mostly seems well controlled.

Right now awaiting appointment with pulmonary specialist to evaluate bacterial vs. fungal vs. viral or what? They think chance of lung cancer is low as I've never smoked or lived in a smoking household but they can't of course yet rule it out. Needless to say the "C" word was a big scare from my primary care physician and as a result of all the scans, etc.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with recurring pneumonia and/or GERD being linked?

Thanks for the input...a situation that saps my strength after 3 bought is such a short time.
 
Thanks for this feedback. I hope it is something like the GERD that can be managed. Seems I've been through a lot and so far no doc has made this connection....:confused: I'll ask about it at my next appointment with the pulmonary specialist. Wow...gathering records from 3 or 4 place over the past ten years is what I'm now doing...seems that a better way needs to develop vs. me dragging paper, film, and cd's around? Never been through anything like this...again, thanks for the information!
 
I am not a medical professional.
I have a friend with GERD and he was able to move off of drugs once he discovered his food allergies and sensitivities. He's back to a normal diet now (small meals) and has to stay away from oxalic acid (e.g. Swiss chard, parsley). I'm science based and a skeptic, but I have to admit that it took a naturopath to enable him to get off drugs. The M.D.s just prescribed acid inhibitors (treated the symptom, not the problem).
Another friend had constant lung infections and asthma for years, they couldn't figure out why. Turns out she is allergic to something on birds, and a co-worker works at a wild bird treatment center and would come sit in her cubicle.
So I guess if you can't find another diagnosis, consider checking for allergies, is my unschooled voice of vicarious experience.
 
Some people with GERD have hiatus hernia.
Hiatus hernia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sounds like you need a good workup with a pulmonologist / respirologist (same thing) and some tests which may include a barium swallow, and perhaps others such as a chest CT and bronchoscopy, and some sputum cultures. Have you been exposed to any weird and wonderful infections, such as TB, blastomycosis (a fungus), etc?
 
Thanks for the ongoing support. A sputum culture was just collected and we hope to have results in several days. The idea of a fungus is also under review. I've had 1 chest X-Ray and 2 Chest CT's so far but need to have more analysis apparently as the drugs prescribed so far can't seem to knock the thing out. Late next week heading to leading Univ. based pulmonologist as others have decided out of their league. We keep hoping it is something like a wierd infection or fungus and not lung cancer.
 
I, too, hope it isn't cancer.

I know 2 people who had pneumonia, and developed what our grandparents would call 'weak lungs' - an extreme suseptability to re-infect at the drop of a hat.

One moved to Florida, the other opens all her windows when cleaning/ dusting.

Others didn't do this. Very odd.

ta,
mew
 
Good luck to you.
I hope the diagnosis is quick and they can give you proper treatment soon.
 
Thanks again to all for the support and information. Yes...a proper and quick diagnosis is what is needed and we'll hopefully have this soon. Yesterday and today I attempted a bit more activity and seem to have a bit more stamina and less coughing and shortness of breath. Perhaps after all the misfires the antibiotics are beginning to take hold. The collection of all the past health data and x-rays and charts and CT scans from the last 10 to 15 years for my next appointment sure has been an experience. Mostly good cooperation but quite a bit of leg work on my end to get ready for the pulmonary specialist consultation. My patience and confidence is less than 100% but knowing something soon may emerge vs. the ongoing wait with no real answers.
 
Exam and consultation went fairly well today. At least 2 weeks of more tests and issue to eliminate but first report is no cancer as they see it now!!! :)

Thoughts are toward Sarcoidosis....a disease I know nothing about but soon will be researching. Multiple things pointing toward this and although not fully able to confirm they think a high probability. Final answer again will take some time but today's relief is huge as the big "C" is way down the list right now. :D
 
Congratulations!!! Big sigh of relief.
 
MovingtotheCove said:
Exam and consultation went fairly well today. At least 2 weeks of more tests and issue to eliminate but first report is no cancer as they see it now!!! :)

Thoughts are toward Sarcoidosis....a disease I know nothing about but soon will be researching. Multiple things pointing toward this and although not fully able to confirm they think a high probability. Final answer again will take some time but today's relief is huge as the big "C" is way down the list right now. :D
Click to expand...


Man, this sounds like an episode of House.

Good news that cancer is low on the list. Take care!
 
Martha said:
Man, this sounds like an episode of House.

Good news that cancer is low on the list. Take care!
Click to expand...
It favors Scandinavians and Asian people, affects the eyes, lungs, liver and other organs and is very treatable.

BYW I enjoy watching the "medical mystery" shows a lot (not to trivialize the OP). Usually they give it away before the final answer is in.

Best wishes on a complete diagnosis and recovery.
 
Last Friday was lung biopsy with bronchoscopy, breathing tests, and more scans. Call today from Pulmonary Oncologist with the full diagnosis...No Cancer!!! :whistle::D

Sarcoidosis it is as suspected previously. Found telltale "granuloma" in the lungs.

Started about a 2 week 25 mg. Prednisone daily dose to get things back in shape to shed cough and current breathing problems. Follow up appointment with Dr. at that time to go onto a more permanent course of meds with no Prednisone long term and hopefully a plan to evenually rid myself of this disease.

Wow...a lot to learn...strange disease but far better prognosis than the suspected lung cancer.

What have we learned....really beneficial to gather over 10 years of medical records and old CT scans and X-Rays, etc. for them to use to compare to those of today. Also beneficial in our case to have direct access to large pulmonary dept. and oncology dept. at a major teaching hospital with clinical professors and fellows with very specific specialties to get right to the point. Really took time to dig into full medical history and somewhat obscure symptoms and possible connections to past incidents. Once we got beyond primary care and into this program really a 3 week path to full diagnosis and beginning of treatment plan.

Again, what else to say but wow...no Cancer. A big sigh of relief! :flowers:
 
MovingtotheCove said:
Last Friday was lung biopsy with bronchoscopy, breathing tests, and more scans. Call today from Pulmonary Oncologist with the full diagnosis...No Cancer!!! :whistle::D
Click to expand...

What great news! A real relief.

Ha
 
Moving, it's great that they nailed it down within a month of your referral. Sarcoidosis can be one of those vague diseases that are challenging to diagnose. The biopsy was key. At least now you have an answer. Your medical librarian is your new friend!
 
Having just been through a diagnosis that ended in the big "C" I can empathize with the sleepless nights and anxiety you must have gone through. So glad it worked out for you. I was thinking it was classic H1N1 at the begining. Keeping every medical record is essential, especially X-rays that can be compared years later.
 
Thanks to all for the support. Sorry to hear your diagnosis ended up with the big C. The relief of my diagnosis hasn't even settled in yet now 5 days later. The interim treatment seems to be beginning to have an impact and only about 30 days to follow up appointment to learn more. Thanks to good medical sites on the Internet learning about this disease and possible medication combinations has been much easier than going to the library. Again, thanks to all as we begin to move into the next phase of this expeience. Oh...was able to get pneumonia shot at local provider yesterday so no only vacine left for me is H1N1 if and when it becomes available.
 
Sarcoidosis

Almost 1 year later .... still taking Methotrexate 15 mg. / week. Still have a bit of breathing issues due to permanant lung damage and scarring. Cough long gone. Energy level better. No more Prednisone! :)

This is one tough disease to fight. In 2 months another CT scan of the lungs.

Methotrexate has my immune system weak but only sick once in past 11 months with influenza and lingering respiratory issues but cleared again...just slowly.

For the most part doing well...still a few aches and pains. Have begun acupuncture along with meds and seems to be very positive.

Again, what a journey but far better than the Big C! :greetings10:
 
Sorry it has been so hard, but excellent that you are doing better and feeling better.

Ha
 
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