lung problems

[bednobs]

Hi my m-i-l has been breathless on slight exertion (and even not always on exertion) for over a year. She has had some gunk sucked out of her lungs and a bronchoscopy with a biopsy. about 4 months ago (didn't make her feel better). She has recently moved near us She saw a doctor at the hosp in her old area today who gave her a diagnosis and said "if you were staying near here we'd have you in every week for an infusion"
Anyway. M-i-l can't remember the name of the diagnosis she gave, or the name of the weekly treatment, but thinks it might have been steroids.
What could her diagnosis be? i really don't think she is hiding it, i think she just can't remember.
i wonder if it could be COPD or something else

[Sqad]

Blimey.......could be anything,

What was the result of the biopsy?

[Sqad]

I can;t think of a better suggestion than COPD.

[daffy654]

Bronchiectasis? That is the main lung disease for mucus over production.

[bednobs]

i know it could be anything :)
she is extraordinarily vague about the whole thing - it's infuriating i *think* biopsy didn't show anything. can copd be diagnosed by biopsy anyway?

[bednobs]

she doesn't cough up any mucus

[daffy654]

COPD is diagnosed with breathing tests (spirometry) xrays and sometimes CAT scans.
Biopsy will have been to rule out cancer.

[Sqad]

It can't really.....daffy's bronchiectasis seem a better suggestion.

[daffy654]

I thought you meant she was struggling with mucus when you said she had to have gunk sucked out of her lungs, sorry for misunderstanding.

[bednobs]

no, they sucked some gunk out when they did the scope - didn't make any difference to how she felt

[PringlesQueen]

How about sarcoidosis as a possible diagnosis? More clinical information would be helpful in the guessing game