Scared - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

caregiver · 07-31-2001, 08:46 PM

Over the last 6 months, my husband has gone from having slight trouble breathing and being diagnosed with pneumonia to having to be on 3.5 liters of oxygen a day, needing an open lung biopsy and now the diagnosis is idiopathic pulminary fibrosis. It seems to be very aggressive and everything I have been able to read on the subject gives me no hope. His Dr is going to try mass doses of steroids but doesn't sound real hopeful. Anybody out there have a story with a happy ending involving this disease?

08-28-2001, 06:18 PM

Did your husband have a cat scan or x-rays that indicated scaring prior to the open lung biopsy? The Drs. are indicating that my husband may have to undergo a biopsy as well, and have indicated that he may have acute pulmonary fibrosis, he is just 36 years old and we are like you. scared to death....How is your husband doing since the biopsy? Was it a painful procedure? The fear is overwhelming, my heart goes out to you and your family. My husband has already undergone one cat scan and x-ray but they showed no damage to the lungs however, his pulmonary function tests are another story, he is losing lung capacity rapidly. In the past three months his tlc has decreased 8%, with a total lung capacity of 52%. We are concerned that the cat scan is not showing any clinical findings therefore we are not sure what is causing the drastic decrease in capacity. Sorry for rambling, just...really concerned.