Biography

77-Year old female dx’d 2000 Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases + condition of fibromyalgia – for some years now a pulmonologist has been dx’g me with “asthma”/not paying any special attn. to firm dx of Sjogren’s.  This condition is worsening.  With COVID, the length of time it takes to get into his office, have another PFT performed and a Dec. 2, 2021 chest x-ray indicating marked fibrous tissues in lungs; I’m not to be seen by him until 2/16/22 – both my husband who definitely has asthma (we are non-smokers for life) is also being sent to the wayside by this phys. We are both changing physicians.  My symptoms over the past 2 yrs. have exacerbated greatly even to the tune of during anesthesia during endoscopy/colonoscopy, the anesthesiologist brought to the attn. of the gastroenterologist I was hypoxic.  Recent blood test results show a lowered CO-2 level, low Vit. D and low Magnesium.  Yet – silence – and now I wait until March, 2022 to see a new pulmonologist.  I’m interested in this forum, do not self-diagnose, but am certain I have been suffering all along with interstitial pulmonary disease.  I welcome all comments/advice – interested in the salt inhaler.  My husband is on a nebulizer with steroid inserts and a rescue inhaler.  I am on a maintenance inhaler and rescue inhaler – not much help from either one.  We seem lost to follow-up – I might add that this physician on Dec. 2, offered advice I might seek help from a PSYCHIATRIST in that it appeared anxiety is the culprit here more than “asthma”; I returned the comment with, “Well, I might also seek another pulmonologist’s opinion as well, Dr. Z; I’ll keep you apprised”.