Question 1

how will i know that my mum has only a few weeks/ days before she dies? she's 64yrs old and is in late stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis .

Accepted Answer

Sorry: sorry to hear that. It is a very bad disease with loss of lung function. being what ultimately causes someone in that situation to die. (transplant ?).

Not able to keep the oxygen up, or accumulation of fluid behind the lungs, or a cold/upper respiratory infection, or not being able to breathe out the bad air. With all but the last, not being able to breathe is the bad sign.

Question 2

what is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Scarring: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ipf) is a progressive, unrelenting scarring of the lungs.  This results in low oxygen levels, respiratory failure and eventually death.

Question 3

can idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis be treated?

Accepted Answer

No: At this time there is no effective treatment. N-acetyl-cysteine is being studied as is perfenidone, but the results to date have been disappointing and largely ineffective.

Question 4

what are the symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Shortness of breath: Slowly progressive shortness of breath, chest discomfort, cough with exercise, declining exercise capacity. At advanced stages weight loss leg swelling  frank chest pain  simulating angina.

Question 5

is it true that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Some forms are: A few rare forms of ipf have been identified and defective genes identified, but this is not the case for th majority of ipf sufferers.  There may be a heritable genes for the disease, but they have not been identified.

Question 6

what does it mean when idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis found?

Accepted Answer

Scarring...: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis means that there is scarring of the lungs and the underlying reason for the scarring is not known. It is typically a slowly progressive disease, typically over years. At the final stages, consideration of a lung transplant can be made so avoid smoking to insure that you would be a candidate, if it progresses to that stage.

Question 7

is it rare to suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ipf)?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The estimated incidence is between 14.6 and 42.7 cases per 100, 000 using a broad definition.  So, not a common disease, but not so rare that it isn't studied.

Question 8

what are the end life symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Shortness of Breath: At the end of life pulmonary fibrosis patients mainly develope severe shortness of breath/dyspnea.  This results in very high oxygen needs and very limited exercise capacity.  Many patients become chair bound or bed bound toward the end of pulmonary fibrosis.  The national life expectancy for patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis is 50% at 2 years (after diagnosis).

Question 9

are there any ways to suppress/treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Not yet: Unfortunately, no effective treatment for ipf is known. Currently, using n-acetyl- cysteine and possibly an experimental drug called perfenidone may be of benefit; they are not cures or even effective at reversing or arresting progression of disease.

Question 10

would being exposed to extreme temperatures affect someone with (idiopathic) pulmonary fibrosis?

Accepted Answer

Shortness of breath: Temperature extremes are harmful because pulmonary fibrosis prevents adapting to the increased metabolic needs that occur with either cold or hot temperatures. Increased dyspnea (shortness of breath) is the typical consequence. The heart can also be strained because it is under more strain in pulmonary fibrosis.

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Doctor answers about:

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis signs

A member asked:

How will i know that my mum has only a few weeks/ days before she dies? she's 64yrs old and is in late stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis .

A member asked:

What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

A member asked:

Can idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis be treated?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

A member asked:

Is it true that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis hereditary?

A member asked:

What does it mean when idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis found?

A member asked:

Is it rare to suffer from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ipf)?

A member asked:

What are the end life symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

A member asked:

Are there any ways to suppress/treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

A member asked:

Would being exposed to extreme temperatures affect someone with (idiopathic) pulmonary fibrosis?

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