new localized wheeze
 

Hello! has anyone had this happen?

A year ago I noticed a wheeze, only in my left lung base (NEVER had asthma or a wheeze in my life).. i had just had a cold, so i thought it was from that.. it persisted for about 3 months (no wheezing elsewhere in my lungs).. so I saw my dr who did a CTA to make sure no blood clot.. it was read as fine ... honestly I was mostly worried about some obstructive mass, as I have LEMS sx.. so they monitor me pretty closely..

anyhow.. that was about 8 -9 months ago.. it persisted.. but mild.., and recently I have been going through quite a wicked flare of my rheumatologic problems (joint aches, pleurisy, muscle aches, oral ulcers.. fatigue and fun).. and I have noticed the wheezing is more persistent and more pronounced.. again only in my left lung base... INSPIRATORY only..

what could this be? I don't have an unusual cough, didn't aspirate food or anything.. but this wheeze remains in that left lung base.. of course it worries me... I'll make an apt with my doc again.. but in the mean time.. I'm curious if this happened to anyone.. I am not thinking its related to the MG.. but y'all are so knowledgable and several of you have other autoimmune conditions too ... yuck!

It could be atelectasis, a partial collapse of the lung. It can happen when you can't take a deep breath in, and it can happen while sleeping when breathing muscles are weaker.

Do you have a copy of the report?

Try sleeping in a recliner or other chair to see if it helps. It could also be inflammation from lupus, which won't show up on regular Xray. But you did have a CT. Sometimes it only shows up on MRI.

Have they decided if you have lupus?

Try to address the underlying inflammation and/or weakness and see if that improves it.

I hope that helps.

Annie

Thanks Annie!!!

you know, that's what I figured it was a year ago or so - atelectasis.. as it's only when i take a big deep breath (which I couldn't really do for the first year I was sick really well).. I could just feel it in my lung base.. it struck me as odd it was only in one side though... Anyhow, It wasn't until I could tell (with and without a stethascope), that it was for sure an inspiratory wheeze that got me more concerned.. Do you know if atelectasis can present as a wheeze, and not just crackles?? And why one sided? Same with the inflammation - I would think it would be diffuse.. however if there was an area it was more inflammed, i'm sure that's possible, as I understand NOTHING autoimmune follows any rules!!!

As of now they say I have undifferentiated connective tissue dz, had a diagnosis of sjogrens a few years back.. but I guess there is a question if it will land in mixed connnective tissue or lupus.. My ANA is always high.. 1:320- 1:640 .. I get a rash with sun (though not a malar rash - though I shield my actual face from sun always)..my wbc's go low.. , I get hematuria (microscopic).. with flares.. and I do have some strange skin thickening (they question scleroderma at times too).. as raynauds is also something I have though it doesnt' seem too severe in my opinion.... so I do have enough boxes checked for lupus.. and that sounds like where it's all headed.. ugh...

I don't want to be doing any permanent damage to my organs or joints (my joints will get swollen, and this last two times didn't go down back to normal ) :(

someone needs to cure all this autoimmune stuff and fast!