Pigeon lung

Hi does anyone on hear suffer from pigeon lung ? I ask because I have had a cough and breathing difficulties for a few months now . Had x-ray and I have a small part of my lung collapsed. I have been on antibiotics for.the treatment of pigeon lung but not helped.

hi merrylegs, sorry to hear your having problems........as far as I know pigeon lung is protein in your blood, and it feels like you have flu.

I have copd , and have scaring/ shadows on my lungs, and find breathing difficult, the lungs are an intricate organ, and are, as far as I know not easy to diagnose .

Thanks for your reply David, sorry to hear you have COPD. Yes it not easy to diagnose the problem, we have been trying to eliminate things and having pigeons was one thing . I also have horses so handling hay ect. I have never smoked. So just a guessing game at the moment. I'm back at the Dr next week and not feeling any better and have finished antibiotics. So trying to get some info before I am back. I don't feel like I have flu and I don't have it all the time, worst at night and when I am doing heavy jobs walking up hill.

that's how I first realised there was something wrong merrylegs, walking, especially up hill.......plus going upstairs etc.

I have never smoked either, but like I say have scaring on the lungs.....it has been suggested it could be due to working in the building trade, cement, asbestos etc, so maybe you could consider this for your own breathing problems, plus I have read damp, mouldy houses etc can cause asthma etc.....we lived in a council flat 25 years ago which was quite damp, so maybe something else to consider.

I hope you get sorted soon merrylegs

davids correct its flu like sympthoms and shivers but as far as I know its protein in the blood not heard of anyone with a collapsed lung as such I suffer from it myself especially around the moulting time of year ...get well soon atb

Sorry to hear this .. I struggle a bit myself but I blame it on working with mdf. Horrible stuff

merrylegs wrote:

Hi does anyone on hear suffer from pigeon lung ?   I ask because I have had a cough and breathing difficulties for a few months now . Had x-ray and I have a small part of my lung collapsed. I have been on antibiotics for.the treatment of pigeon lung but not helped.

I see your on antibiotics for the pigeon lung issue Merrylegs there but did they actually test you for the condition etc or is your doctor just flying blind so to speak, because of his lack of knowledge as such on the issue. End of the day I sincerely hope they can find the cause of yours problems etc, etc.

Hi no I haven't been tested and it is a guessing game at the moment. That is why I thought I would ask here . I found your information very helpful. I noticed a few people wearing masks at the Blackpool show , so I got a couple a while back but still got the symptoms. I am a woman and haven't worked in building industry ect .IV worked with horses the majority of my life so wondered about the years of handling hay ect thinking COPD but from what you have all said I think we can rule out pigeon lung.

merrylegs wrote:

Hi no I haven't been tested and it is a guessing game at the moment. That is why I thought I would ask here . I found your information very helpful. I noticed a few people wearing masks at the Blackpool show , so I got a couple a while back but still got the symptoms. I am a woman and haven't worked in building industry ect .IV worked with horses the majority of my life so wondered about the years of handling hay ect  thinking COPD but from what you have all said I think we can rule out pigeon lung.

One can but have faith in those we choose in the medical field when we have an issue merrylegs with our health etc I suggest. The only worry I have thou is Pigeon Vet's take more time to graduate than a normal doctor as such & that rather concerns me some what .

hi merrylegs, I joined this copd forum/group a couple of years ago, it might be usefull for you, also some useful info on the difference between copd and asthma ,

https://www.mycopdteam.com/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/similarities-and-differences-of-asthma-and-copd-200526

p.s. your doctor should do a spirometry test, this is the best way to test lung function.......5 years ago my lung age was given as 100 years, so I rekon they will be 105 years now

Hi guys, I have been quite poorly since my last post. I ended up in hospital. Iv had more xrays lots of blood tests. Iv got to have more tests scans and breathing ect but specialist suspects Pneumonitis bird fanciers lung. He said get rid of your birds, but I thought this was a bit extreme as still waiting for diagnosis , I'm back there Monday so hope to know then. I did get a mask for when I am doing my birds but my son has advised me to get one like he has for work he said the cheap ones like iv got are waste of time , his has filters in and very secure fit. So I'm hoping to get one of those. I haven't got a collapsed lung now but a lot of crackling in both lower lungs. I have flu like symptoms and have been on 3 different lots of antibiotics but was just getting worse but now under the lung specialist. So hopefully get to bottom of it.

sounds pretty nasty merrylegs, maybe an extreme case of pigeon fanciers lung......ive known fanciers have it to differing degrees, but hopefully they can get it more under control for you.

my brother has had pigeon fanciers lung for 30 years, but still keeps his birds, but ive known others pack in and get rid........as I say maybe varying degrees of the problem, but when it comes down to it, youre health comes first, ive heard of some perminently on oxygen

when I had a bad bout of pigeon lung they put me on steroids not antibiotics that was 4 years ago, you can catch chlamydia from pigeons it causes severe respiratory issues and this would indeed need antibiotic intervention pigeon lung is referred to protein in the blood from the bloom off the pigeons as I understand it and is a allergic reaction not a infection ,it is always advisable to wear a mask and change of clothing at the loft and shower after a visit to the loft ...a beard or facial hair can hold the dust too near the mouth so mine had to go also a cap is worn in the loft to ,things are manageable now

Had to give my pigeons up because of the problem, after some 75 years, my next door neighbour, a lady if there ever was one, died very recently and part of the problem was pigeon lung which she caught from the cloths of my friend, her husband.

After having it diagnosed I have still not got to the bottom of it because with the least bit of excersise I am completely out of breath.

I have seen three specilists who deal in breathing problems and see another one on October the 8th next.

I have not had any treatment as such because they will not treat blindly so I think there are many factors involved than just one.

Good luck and I hope they sort matters out for you.

Regards.

merrylegs wrote:

Hi guys, I have been quite poorly since my last post. I ended up in hospital. Iv had more xrays lots of blood tests. Iv got to have more tests scans and breathing ect but specialist suspects Pneumonitis bird fanciers lung. He said get rid of your birds, but I thought this was a bit extreme as still waiting for diagnosis , I'm back there Monday so hope to know then. I did get a mask for when I am doing my birds but my son has advised me to get one like he has for work he said the cheap ones like iv got are waste of time , his has filters in and very secure fit. So I'm hoping to get one of those. I haven't got a collapsed lung now but a lot of crackling in both lower lungs. I have flu like symptoms and have been on 3 different lots of antibiotics but was just getting worse but now under the lung specialist. So hopefully get to bottom of it.

Disappointing type of news Merry legs etc . One can but hope you can find some one there with the knowledge factor hopefully, to just help you with your situation as such .

Thankyou for your replies. I am not doing anything with my birds until I get a diagnosed. I will get a good mask and a hair net and change clothes when done. I might see if my son can do the cleaning out, but I usually brush out twice a day and he won't do that. It will depend on how things go. Some of you have had to give up while others have managed to deal with it so depends on the severity of it. Hopefully it isn't that . I could try and win the lottery and get a loft where the pooh is moved on conveyor belt's????

Misty sorry to hear of your next door neighbour. Hope you get some answers when you go on the 8th it is not straightforward. Let us know how you go on.

Hi every one , iv just got back from hospital band been diagnosed with pigeons lung . They have told to get rid of my pigeons. So quite upset as for the last 4 years iv been breeding my little flock to start my business of Dove release. I also love sitting watching my birds. They are just outside my back door , so suppose that wasn't a great place to put them.My son has just given me a face mask yesterday that they use for dealing with very fine dust and I can tell the difference to the paper mask iv been wearing. I know some of you have pigeon lung how have you coped , David you said your brother has it for 30 years does he take precautions?

Hi, merrylegs
See the specialist tomorrow 9.45 am, will ask a few pertinent quastions and let you know what he says.

Difficult decision to have to part with your pigeons but I know some fanciers who cope with the problem.

There is no way I would have parted woth mine had I been able to do the basics but just thinking about doing so and I was out of breath.


Good Luck.

Regards.


,

Got the date wrong in previous post the 8th go for a prostrate test and tomorrow the specialist.

Regards.

hi merrylegs, glad you got some sort of diagnosis for your breathing problem, maybe not the one we were all hoping for......but you don't necessarily have to get rid of your birds, doctors will always tell you this.

yes my brother has had it for 30 years or more, he wears a hat , mask and tries to go into the loft only if he has to, he doesn't spend a lot of time sitting in with the birds, he also has made his lofts as well ventilated as possible, and gets help cleaning out from his daughters.

he also tries to wear clothing he can change out of once he has finished seeing to the birds, and gets a wash for the dust, hair, face, hands etc.

it can be managed to a certain degree merrylegs, don't be disheartened and think you have to get rid of them, it can be minimised if you try these things.

I find the moulting season the worst September ,October and always have a mini vaccum to hand and gather the feathers and dust daily behind traps that catch the feathers these are merely just pieces of plywood board lent against the walls 12" x 24" inch

Thank you some good advice there, I appreciate your help

has the doctor given you steroids or inhalers merrylegs ...?

No would not give me any , said they don't like giving them. So back in a few weeks and if no improvement they will give me steroids