Hi everyone,
I went to see the Pulmonologist on Fri. She told me I have Interstitial Lung Disease. There are several things that can cause it but mine is either that it is related to the MG or that I am a smoker. She believes it is most likely from smoking. If that is the case then quitting will fix it. If it isn't then they will go in and do a lung biopsy in 8-12 weeks. She told me either quit smoking or you will end up on oxygen and die. I have known I needed to quit for a long time but something about hearing that come out of her mouth scared me to death. She put me on Prednisone and a preventative antibiotic for the next 3 months and I had labs done to rule out any other auto immune diseases. Don't know the results of those yet. We will then do a follow up CT scan in 8-12 weeks. If it was the smoking she said it will be significantly improved. I am determined to stop smoking and have only had 3 in the last 3 days. Although I realize everytime I have one the withdrawal starts all over. I am 42 years old and started smoking when I was 16 years old. Other than smoking I live a very healthy life style. I exercise regularly, eat and sleep right, take vitamins but yet the smoking defeats all of that. Ok I almost hate to even post this because I KNOW it is withdrawal talking and only those of you who were or still are smokers will understand this but I am asking myself if this is the best my life is going to be why am I giving the cigarettes up? I know that sounds pathetic and I am ashamed to even admit that but I swear I feel like I just keep getting blindsided with one thing after the next. Is this normal when you're first DXed to find out there are other things going on too? I am taking 40 mg of Pred every other day. I took it Fri. and again today. I do think my energy level is better but my darn eye is still soooo droopy! How long does it usually take for the Pred. to kick in? I was thinking it was fast acting but maybe they mean compared to the 3-6 months it takes for the Cellcept to kick in. I was thinking someone on here had recently quit smoking, Pat maybe? If so do you have any tips for getting through the first few days of nicotine withdrawal? I never dreamed the physical withdrawal would be so bad. I was so dizzy yesterday I felt like I could pass out! I am sorry for being such a downer. I know in my heart that giving up smoking is going to do nothing but make me feel better even if it doesn't help with the MG and lung disease but right now I am grieving for the life I used to have and want back so badly. I just needed a good rant today Thanks for listening.
Kendra