Are you using the Symbicort daily, not just when you have a problem? Is it helping yet? You should notice improvement fairly soon.

I feel certain the pulmonologist will look into both sarcoidosis and Sjogren's when you see him next month. Until that time, maybe the symbicort will help reduce your symptoms

I am not sure if these tests could be related to ACE: C-Reative Protein or Serum Protein Electrophoresis?

Thank you Mrs.D

Hi en bloc,

Yes I am using the Symbicort very religiously, 2puffs 2x a day, and wash mouth immediately. Since June 11, till today, the improvement is not as you describe it to be "fairly". I am still waiting...

In 2010, I developed an inflammation in my (right) lacrimal gland. It was biopsied and thank God, it was benign. I remember, the opthalmologist commented about my dry eyes then. But, I never felt the dry eyes symptoms until after the biopsy. The inflammation was so stubborn that it took 3 sterioid injections before it subsided. The symptom of that was excessive eye discharge.

I dont know if this may be related to all these conditions I have now. I just thought to mention it.

Thank you en bloc.

No, the ACE test is different.

http://labtestsonline.org/understand...s/ace/tab/test

Hi en bloc,

I forgot to mention in my earlier reply to this post, that I always have SOB. So, your statement of ".... not just when you have a problem" does not apply.

My husband is taking me to the beach every weekend to expose my back for the sun and breath (hopefully) fresh air. I remember when I was growing up my father used to take me to the beach (for a year) hoping that the sun and fresh air will help my asthma. Its one of my many beautiful memories with my father.

Hi echoes,

I extracted your post from another thread:

one of the reasons i had cat scans of the chest for 3 years in a row and now every other year is because i have numerous lung nodules. they are keeping an eye on them to see if they grow or more develop. they are also keeping an eye out for sarcoidosis being that i have the nodules. the group i am in has 10x the rate of sarcoidosis as would be expected from the same age groups in the general population.
im surprised they could diagnose you so quickly with sarcoidosis. for most of the people i worked with it took a while. have you had a lung biopsy?
because a person has sarcoidosis in one organ such as lungs, eyes, etc doesnt mean that the other organs are affected. so if you have it in your lungs doesnt mean that it is causing damage in your nerves.

I am sorry if I appear to be like "investigating" your condition, I dont mean any malice, I just want to get insights...
have you been diagnosed of sarcoidoisis or they just want to watch out for it? was your SOB sudden or gradual?
From the 1st scan to the 3rd, was there any new nodule?

In my case, there has been a progress from 2011 to 2012. Although, I was experiencing SOB on and off since 2008, but the pronounced SOB came about when my neurological symptoms came up. I am thinking that what triggers my PN might also be the same that triggers the growth of the fibronodular.

I have been trying to recall now, for several years, I remember that everytime I had a chest x-ray, that scars have been showing, but doctors would not pay attention because they all said its a scar from a previous infection...it sounded that I have nothing to worry. So, for many years the 2 little scars were the same, then why only now that it has progressed. There must be in the recent time that triggered it. I have been trying to think what could be, but unfortunately, I could think nothing.

Thank you.

no i dont have sarcoidosis. im being watched but so far so good. no additional nodules and they havent grown. my asthma came on quickly due to a massive exposure to toxins followed by many months of additional exposure. my pn developed at the same time as my respiratory infections occured over and over and my asthma developed. the nodules were found five years after the exposures and only because it was determined that it might be a good idea to give the group i was a part of cat scans after quite a few others had developed sarcoidosis and interstitial lung disease. i have no idea of when the nodules formed but my guess would be right after the exposures.

I got a copy of the labworks requested by the pulmonologist:

Anca panel
Protein Electro
Sjorgren's Ab, Anti-SS-A/SS-B
Anti GBM IgA
Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor
Anti DsDNA Antibodies, Anti-Jo-1, Antinuclear Antibodies Direct, Immunoglobulin A, Qn
Alpha1 Antitrypsin

Everything is negative or within normal range.

I am back to square one.

Up to 40% of those with Sjogren's have negative blood work. If you have significant symptoms (dry eyes/mouth, fatigue, joint pain, etc) then maybe you should consider being worked up for Sjogren's with a Schirmer's test (to assess tear production) and lip biopsy...which is more invasive and should be considered if the Schrimer's is positive and they believe your lung issues are autoimmune related.

About your shortness of breath. Do you get SOB while sitting quietly, or more while exerting? Have they exhausted the cardiac angle?

Thank you so much echoes.

Is fibronodular same with interstitial lung disease?