Shortness of breath- is it another problem from Lyme

[Donna RA]

I just got over a bout of Bronchitis, something I've never experienced before.  No fun at all.  Since then, I'm noticing that I am short of breath from when I'm not doing much of anything.  Not certain if this could be another co infection of Lyme, or does it take a long time to really get over Bronchitis? It's not the same as when I was really feeling bad, but still very noticeable, and a little scary.  Just hoping to hear some of your experiences.

Thanks, Donna RA and Lyme

[JBJBJB]

Donna,

I am so sorry to hear you've got the shortness of breath. I started to have this problem two years ago. My husband kept saying I was out of shape and “pushed” me to work out each day. Later my pulmonary doctor said, OMG, you are lucky not drop dead!!! Because shortness of breath as he described could be a sign of inflammation in the lungs and also lung hypertension. Lung hypertension (also called pulmonary hypertension could triger heart attack.

I also read that Lyme patients can have respiratory distress. Such distress can cause shortness of breath.

My local rheumy ordered the X-ray for me the first day I saw him. He said a lot of rheumatoid patients can develop lung problems. He wanted to have a baseline comparative X-ray. That was Jan 2007. It was normal until Jan 2008, it was pretty bad.

Do you have any baseline X-ray to compare? If you have changed doctors, make sure you take THAT chest X-ray with you.

I went to see a clinical professor for my lungs. He wanted to order CSCAN every four months. I refused to be scanned this many times, so I stopped going to him. He said, that would be fine if you decide not to see me, but please make sure to take pulmonary function test (PFT) every 6 months.

Have you done pulmonary function test? Perhaps you could go to see a pulmonary specialist. He will order one. However, PFT is very subjective.

JB

 

 

 

 

 

[Donna RA]

JB

Thanks for your response, however, did your problem come on all of sudden, or did you slowly notice your breathing problem?  I never experienced this until I had a bout of Bronchitis.  I'm hoping my problem is a result of my recent illness. 

Donna RA and Lyme 

[JBJBJB]

Donna,

My case was developed pretty fast within 6 months, not overnight. To me, yours seem to be respiratory distress due to the Bronchitis. Hope it will improve. Oh well, I am not a doctor. Of course you also want to check out other areas related to shortness of breath.

I would definitely make an appointment to see a pulmonary specialist, just to make sure everything is fine, especially you want to rule out pulmonary hypertension. That is a killer.

JB

[Parisa]

Donna,

Maybe you're not over the bronchitis and need another round of antibiotics to wipe it out?  Since you are easily out of breath they need to take a look and see what is going on.

[Author]

Posts