Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group lung problems with AS?

My ribs are fused thus reducing lung capacity. Is that restrictive lung disease? I would have thought that would be the main reason for AS patients having lung problems. During the winter I find it very difficult to clear my lungs of phlegm; even in the warmth of summer a little remains.

I've had the usual "normal" lung problems from time to time, pleurisy (once, hopefully never again), And a bout with pneumonia but then again Rick had it too - - in fact I think he gave it to me! We spent a lovely week in bed playing who is sicker and thus who gets to go warm up the chicken noodle soup I have had lung congestion due to meds, though, MTX and sulfasalazine in particular, it went away when the meds were stopped, so that's not really AS related, just AS -meds related. There is a side effect of MTX called lung lesion which is very dangerous, which is why I was taken off the MTX when the congestion happened. I do have a mysterious spot on my lung, found during an MRI, but since I lived in Japan for five years it could be from fighting off TB - - TB was pretty common when I lived in Japan but being a healthy kid I was probably exposed but never came down with it.

Cheryl

Dogs don't care if the house is clean

Hiya,

No problems really, although in the last year, with much more 'rib/chest' involvement, I have had 3 chest infections in 7 months. Very abnormal for me. I've maybe had one chest infection in my lifetime before this all this.

Like someone else mentioned, I have alot of congestion on my chest these days. Not nice.



Amber

Hi Jeanna,
I wonder if you also read the following article which is quite recent:

Lung parenchyma changes in ankylosing spondylitis: demonstration with high resolution CT and correlation with disease duration.

Senocak O, Manisali M, Ozaksoy D, Sevinc C, Akalin E.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340, Izmir, Turkey

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spectrum of the lung parenchyma changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and correlate the findings with disease duration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients (18 male, 2 female) with the diagnosis of AS according to New York criteria were included in the study. None of the patients had history of tuberculosis, prolonged inorganic dust exposure and hospitalization for pneumonia. Seven of the patients were smokers, three patients were ex-smokers, and 10 patients were nonsmokers. The patients were assigned to three groups depending on disease duration. Group 1: patients with disease duration /=6 years but /=11 years (N: 12 patients). HRCT and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed in all patients. RESULTS: HRCT demonstrated pathology in 17 patients (85%). Two patients in group 1, 4 patients in group 2 and 11 patients in group 3 had pulmonary parenchyma changes. Emphysema (9/20), septal thickening (9/20) and pleural thickening (9/20) were the most common changes followed by nodule (8/20) and subpleural band formation (7/20). Three patients had apical fibrosis (AF). Septal and pleural thickening (both 4/10) were the most common changes when only nonsmokers were considered. Among nine patients with emphysema three were nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: There is a wide spectrum in pulmonary parenchyma changes in AS. These changes begin in early stages of the disease and increase with disease duration. Although smoking complicates the spectrum of changes in pulmonary parenchyma, they are predominately in the form of interstitial inflammation.

I was struck by the high incidence of lung changes as nearly all patients which had the disease longer then 6 yeras were affected. So I too wondered how many of us also notice that kind of changes apart from the obvious troubles a fused ribcage will give. Probably the one will not go without the other or may even be a result from the other. I never noticed any change anyway and I wonder if and how my running for instance is affected by it. I bet it is but as most of the changes from as it can go very slowly without anyone noticing it.
Gerard




"Walk gently, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically." -Nelson Mandela-

Interesting, becuase what finally made my grandmother (mother's mother) pass away was massive fluid collection in the lungs. And she also had the same neck problems as HER mother and I also have....none of us were/are ever officially dxed with AS however.

I have never really had respiratory infections....mostly what I had was in the skin (empatigo--sp?--...etc.) and it was never major. I just have a LOT more sinus infections and dry mouth/eyes now than I ever did before AS-type symptoms manifested.

Rox
SURIYAH!!!


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Gerard,

I think your running could help protect your lungs, particularly if you include sequences of sprints so as to cause oxygen deficit thereby causing you to inhale more deeply and vigorously. A physio once told me that underwater swimming was very good because it made you gasp desperately and helped preserve lung function. So running in the deep end with lead boots would suit you maybe?

Would suit you too as you won't have the hip involvement underwater as the water carries your weight. So when will we meet on the bottom of the Serpentine?
Gerard

"Walk gently, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically." -Nelson Mandela-

Jeanna Hi!
Yes, I have had alot of lung problems both past and present. Years ago, even as a kid, I always seemed to have bronchitis and asthma.(mild) It seemed to subside in my 20's and about 4 years ago ( age 36), at the same time I started getting rib pain, I got a chronic cough that's really mucusy?(is that a word) Doc. took sputum tests and X.Rays...all clear. I continue to have a lot of mucus, with some days being worse than others..usually when the rib pain's predominant. Don't know which comes first..chicken or the egg theory I think. I've always thought it is to do with the inflammation. The docs. can't give me any answers on that one.

Cheers

Irene

What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us

I know just the spot. As I was bashing along this morning I spotted a can of XXXX beer on the bottom - bloody Oz probably drank it first though and just left it there.

Hi Jeanna..
I've had bouts of bronchitis and mild asthma pretty much all my life. It seems to have progressed in the last three years since spondlorpathy went full blown for me.

Breathing problems a big problem. Cant lay on my back without gasping for breath. Costo..? Ugh. Makes my ribs feel so bruised that taking a deep breath is impossible. Had to get toradol shots in ribs for that before. It helped tremendously and wasnt painful. Wish I could say the same about most shots.




Buggy