After about 4 weeks with a chest infection/ inflammation possibly due to methotrexate two courses of steroids and antibiotics had a chest xray on friday, told 3-4 weeks to get the results back. Had a call today ( and yesterday was a bank holiday) from the rheumatology nurse who told me there was an abnormality and I will need an urgent ct scan. Bearing in mind I have been called for further investigations before due to an area of old damage I asked if it was that (right lower) no this is left upper lobe. Considering what's been going on with delays etc and my own experience that's scarily quick. When I was the GP about twenty minutes later she was taken aback, and suggested sending sputum in case it's TB to save time. I,'m an ex nurse and have worked in cancer tracking, of course I am thinking the worse.
When my TIA was suspected, I was given a consultant appointment on the same day as the CT scan, at which he confirmed the blood clot on the brain from the scan.
The cough you describe sounds identical to the one I had, and I had two episodes of haemoptysis. Thankfully my CXR was clear but I did also have the wheeze you described. The captive woke up one night thinking the little one was crying in his sleep but then realised it was me making a funny noise when I was breathing.
It's taken well over four weeks for me to feel like the cough is subsiding.
I will be thinking of you. This is not the best start to a New Year.
Rowan, you know your own body. You are alert to any changes, no matter how subtle they are.
To say don’t worry would be an insult to you.
Simple explanations are more common than serious ones . Take care .
Thinking of you Rowan. I can empathise about how you feel. The worse thing is the waiting and not knowing what is wrong. I wish you all the best for a good outcome. Xxx
Yes too strong for my own good I suspect, but if it's worse case scenario I have the experience of Dave's illness to guide me and his example. He was the bravest strongest person I have ever known. He could be a bit of a tit on here, but very different off screen.
Thinking of you as this is a worrying time. I do hope that you are fearing the worst but will find you didn't need to. My son has also had a dreadful cough and chest problems for about a month now, a lot of it about. He has RA and the dr took him off his methotrexate to give his immune system a hand. He works in a hospital, has done copious research and is always saying that he will get lung and heart problems.