What symptoms do you have for pulmonary fibrosis?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the most common form of IIP, causes progressive pulmonary fibrosis predominantly in male smokers. Symptoms and signs develop over months to years and include exertional dyspnea, cough, and fine (Velcro) crackles. Diagnosis is based on history, physical examination, chest x-ray, and pulmonary function tests and is confirmed with HRCT, lung biopsy, or both if necessary. No specific treatment has proven effective, but corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or a combination are often given. Most patients deteriorate even with treatment; median survival is < 3 yr from diagnosis.
Symptoms are gradual in onset. The most common are dyspnea (Shortness of breath on exertion that lasts for months or years and eventually is present at rest), but also include nonproductive cough (usually dry) , clubbing, crackles
decreased tolerance for activity and Chest pain (occasionally).
Please see the web pages for more details on Pulmonary fibrosis.

Shortness of breath (with exertion, then, as the disease progresses, with rest), cough (usually dry), and fatigue are the biggies. As the disease progresses, weight loss is common.

Note that these symtpoms are shared by many diseases.

Generally, people find that they just can't do what they used to be able to do without getting short of breath.

With some exceptions, it has a gradual onset, so the symptoms aren't recognized right away. The usual line is "I could do [something] a few months-years ago that I just can't do now without getting short of breath."

If you have concerns about having pulmonary fibrosis, you should see your physician.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Idiop...