Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease in which the lung tissue becomes scarred, thus making it harder to take in oxygen. Hence, the primary symptom of pulmonary fibrosis is difficulty breathing. The disease is progressive, meaning that it will only become more difficult to breathe as time goes on. There are several different causes of pulmonary fibrosis, which can be dangerous and fatal without treatment.
You will want to seek help immediately if you believe you are developing pulmonary fibrosis. Once you have confirmed with your doctor that you have pulmonary fibrosis, you may want to seek the help of a specialist or treatment center specifically for pulmonary fibrosis patients.
A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating lung diseases and conditions, as well as other diseases and conditions affecting the respiratory system. Specifically, pulmonologists can help with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the type of pulmonary fibrosis in which the cause is unknown. Your doctor may be able to refer you a good pulmonologist.
Insurance companies will also sometimes have a list of pulmonologists and other doctors and specialists on their website. Checking here is beneficial as you can also see if that particular pulmonologist is covered by your insurance company.
Friends and family are other resources for finding a good pulmonologist. Ask around if anyone you know has had experience with pulmonologists.
There are many treatment centers with specific expertise in helping patients with pulmonary fibrosis. Along with treatment and medical centers for pulmonary fibrosis, there are also support groups for patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Some pulmonary fibrosis treatment centers in the US:
- UC SF Interstitial Lung Disease Program in San Francisco, California
- University of Chicago Pulmonary Clinic in Chicago, Illinois
- University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky
- University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado
- The University of Pittsburgh Dorothy P. & Richard P. Simmons Center at UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- The University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama
- University of Arizona Interstitial Lung Disease Program at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona
- UCLA Health Interstitial Lung Disease Program in Los Angeles, California
- Keck School of Medicine at USC in Los Angeles, California
- UC – Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California
Some support groups include:
- The Mary P. Kennedy Support Group for Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis in Birmingham, Alabama
- IPF Support Group of Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama
- Banner University Medical Center PF Support Group in Phoenix, Arizona
- Support Group for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Lung Disease in Concord, California
- Inland Empire Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group in Fontana, California
- UCLA Interstitial Lung Disease Support Group in Los Angeles, California
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