Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] We are seeing a Pulmonologist tomorrow for my father who was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. I was wondering if there are any questions that we should be asking when we see her tomorrow. This will be an initial visit after a CT scan and Pulmonary function test.
[|AI|]  Hello ! Pulmonary Fibrosis is a broad term. It can indicate a healed scar in the lung (most commonly due to treated TB in India) or it can indicate what is medically termed Interstitial Lung Disease (OLD) . In the former (post infective fibrosis) it is not a progressive disease. The latter (OLD) encompasses about 200 different causes of fibrosis and it most cases it can be progressive.  So the first thing that you should be asking your Consultant is what variety of fibrosis your parent has got and what is the exact diagnosis.  Coz the treatment for various OLD is different.  If there is any identifiable environmental or work related factor that has initiated the fibrosis then further avoidance of the factor is of utmost importance.  For few varieties of OLD steroid works while in few it doesn't.  So ask for the exact diagnosis, its extent of involvement in the lungs (whether localized or extensive, one lung or both the lungs), Ask for what all investigations need to be done to find out what OLD your parent has got, discuss the current status, treatment options and prognosis.  Ask for any lifestyle change that you need to incorporate.  Some IDs can be a manifestation of systemic disease so discuss whether it's the case in your parent, in which case the involvement of other organs also need to be investigated for in detail and treated.