Asthma

[Guest]

Hello all....

I happened upon this forum while doing research on symptoms I have been experiencing and look forward to suggestions, advice and related....

Short Scenario -

10.19.02 - emergency room visit with severe chest/lung pain diagnosed as Pleurisy

10.29 - chest x-ray performed for continued pleurisy like pain

10.30 - X-ray showed small nodule on left lung...aprox 1.5cm...CT ordered

11.1 - CT performed

11.8 - CT results show a 1.8cm noncalcified nodule adjacent to left lower lobe, three additional nodules adjacent to pleura in the left lower lobe, 1cm paratracheal lymph node, AP Window lymph node, 1.5cm left hilar lymph node, two low density lesions within the liver and a 1.3cm rounded soft tissue density if the left upper quadrant.

11.15 & 11. 21 - Meet with pulmonary specialist who tests for TB, analyzes CT and recommends meeting with surgeon to remove the primary nodule.

11.25 - Meet with surgeon to review CT's and schedule 2nd meeting 12.2

11.26 - Chest X-ray to investigate continued pleurisy like pain on right side.

11.29 - X-Ray results show chance of a slight decrease in primary nodule

12.2 - Meet with surgeon who given the results if 2nd X-Ray suggests 2nd CT for 12.9

12.9 - 2nd CT performed, results show the primary nodule has decreased by a couple of mm. Surgeon provides option of removing or watching the nodule over 90 days...

Patient is frustrated because:

Pleurisy like pain continues;
Flu like symptoms, which have persisted since early October, 02 continue;
Persistent fatigue and shortness of breathe continue;
No clarity has been expressed to explain the appearance and shrinking of a pulmonary nodule and accompanying symptoms.

Patient is a 40 year old white male who has smoked less than a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years. Has also smoked marijuana and is a light drinker. He was generally active and healthy before symptoms appeared.

Anyone have any ideas about productive next steps, and what may be contributing to these symptoms?

Thanks!

[mmabe]

Hello,
I don't have any answers for you, but my story is almost identicle. I am a 43 year old female, never smoked, healthy, very active, and woke up one day with pain in my left side so severe I could barely breath or move. The ER visit diagnosed pluerisy. The next week my doctor ran blood test for TB and Valley Fever, ordered X-RAys and a CT Scan. The CT Scan showed a pulmonary nodule in my left side, very near the pleurisy. It also showed some nodules in my left breast. This was a year ago. Just went back to the Pulomony Specialist today. The nodule is the same, but he does not seem to think it is related to the pleurisy, which still bothers me about once or twice a day, at times can be very painful. Now he ordered a bone scan of my chest area. He feels I must have had Valley Fever, but by the time they had the blood test done, it was no longer showing in my blood. For the last year I have not felt well, fatigued, weight gain (despite going to the gym 4 days a week), rashes, and just kind of fogging thinking. The doctors don't feel like the pleurisy is related to the nodules, and they say the nodules shouldn't cause me pain. I just don't know what to do?