View Full Version : Terrified after chest ct scan results
http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=197738
I've posted here before about my issues.
I have had stomach issues (pains, bloating, stool inconsistencies), now for for months, and still on going. My colonsocpoy and endoscopy showed nothing except acid reflux. My ct scan didn't really show anything, but it did show a few lymph nodes that were swollen. My GI has said there is nothing serious though, and I've just taken probiotics.
I also have had cough/chest pains/back pains/soreness, and tons of mucas/phlegm/saliva that I have spit up, and now just recently issues with breathing, especially deep breaths....and these things espcially have have happened more recently.
I had a bunch of chest xrays that showed nothing. I went to see pulmonoligist and he had me get a ct scan finally. My ct scan showed some minor actelectasis, which I guess is a minor form of partial collapse. Plus there was one micronodule of about 2mm on the upper right lung. Also some tissue/cartilage residual.
Now I did have a really bad cold a few months ago, but I'm really terrified of these two things being related. Plus the fact that I have had neuro issues with tingling/headaches and some visions issues. The tests of my head and spine were normal. I'm also still having random body/muscle/bone/joint aches.
This stuff hasn't gone away, and I'm starting to lose it. My blood tests have come back normal and other ones I mentioned, but it doesn't explain the things that have showed up, and why I still have this going on now.
I would have a hard time with those results, even though they could be nothing sinister.
What did the pulm. dr say about what the CT found?
I would have a hard time with those results, even though they could be nothing sinister.
What did the pulm. dr say about what the CT found?
He said he doesn't think it's anything really serious at all. That doesn't honestly make me feel better at all. I don't really know what to do honestly. He wan't me to get a breathing test, but I don't know what that will really accomplish. People here have constantly told me that I'm making everything up, even though I'm not. There's only so many options of things for me to do. If blood tests show nothing, and I'm not throwing up/ having fevers, diarrhea, doctors will pretty much just say it's fine. Especially because nothing showed in the colonscopy/endoscopy.
I want to go see my neurologist soon again. I know lungs aren't technically related, but he probably knows at least some about it, and to see if it relates to the neuro issues.
Well, was there any mention of monitoring the nodule for growth? What did s/he think it was?
You need to take people on anxiety boards with a grain of salt. You have a finding on a test, so obviously it's not all in your head. It's understandable to be down about that. But, it's also important to get answers from the doctor and take those to heart. If he said it wasn't serious, that's a good sign. BUt, at the same time, you need a plan in place for getting the symptoms to go away or for follow up, IMO, if the doctor doesn't have a clear sign of what it is. THe lung thing is what would stick with me, since your other testing was clear.
Well, was there any mention of monitoring the nodule for growth? What did s/he think it was?
You need to take people on anxiety boards with a grain of salt. You have a finding on a test, so obviously it's not all in your head. It's understandable to be down about that. But, it's also important to get answers from the doctor and take those to heart. If he said it wasn't serious, that's a good sign. BUt, at the same time, you need a plan in place for getting the symptoms to go away or for follow up, IMO, if the doctor doesn't have a clear sign of what it is. THe lung thing is what would stick with me, since your other testing was clear.
Well the only other thing not clear was a few swollen lymph nodes on the ct scan for my abdomen, but my GI said that there was nothing else there and he thought it looked normal.
Pulm didn't say anything about monitoring the growth though and didn't seem worried at all about it. Most other pulms would be about a month to get into see. There is one I could see in like 2.5 weeks. I'm scared and don't want to wait.
People here have constantly told me that I'm making everything up, even though I'm not.
With respect... that's rather insulting and total BS! Looking back at your post history, the people here (myself included) did nothing but take our time to help you see that you're dealing with severe anxiety! No one is questioning your physical symptoms. Anxiety does cause real physical symptoms. Anxiety also makes benign physical issues (IBS, headaches, muscle pain etc.) feel much worse than they really are. Every physical symptom you list is on the anxiety symptoms list. You've had a slew of medical tests, all of which are considered "NORMAL". Finally, you're posting on an anxiety board essentially asking if your symptoms can be attributed to anxiety and then, when getting answers, you protest. We know as much as you've told us and it all points to nothing seriously physically wrong!
Maybe the testing and treatment you really need should come from a mental health professional.
I hope you find relief....
Positive thoughts
I'm not disrespecting anyone, or at least not trying not to. Being given back results of any test that isn't 100% normal is scary. The fact that my abdominal ct showed a few swollen lymph nodes and the chest ct showing one small nodule is scary, along with the atelectasis. Those aren't mental things. It's scary sort of just being at the mercy of accepting that the doctors say it is normal, while I'm still having problems.
Catherine S
21-06-17, 00:33
Well the only other thing not clear was a few swollen lymph nodes on the ct scan for my abdomen, but my GI said that there was nothing else there and he thought it looked normal.
Pulm didn't say anything about monitoring the growth though and didn't seem worried at all about it. Most other pulms would be about a month to get into see. There is one I could see in like 2.5 weeks. I'm scared and don't want to wait.
But you also mentioned that you had a virus, a cold. So this could explain some of the symptoms/swollen lymph nodes surely? What do you think a cold virus does to your respiratory system for goodness sake. Your doctor has repeatedly told you he's not worried...why are you?
And to NervUs...you don't think Skiwalker should be listening to people on an anxiety forum? Why not? Anxiety is what he is suffering from. The physical symptoms started because of a common cold, then developed into fear and anxiety which has prolonged the symptoms. Is it necessary to be scaremongering?
But you also mentioned that you had a virus, a cold. So this could explain some of the symptoms/swollen lymph nodes surely? What do you think a cold virus does to your respiratory system for goodness sake. Your doctor has repeatedly told you he's not worried...why are you?
And to NervUs...you don't think Skiwalker should be listening to people on an anxiety forum? Why not? Anxiety is what he is suffering from. The physical symptoms started because of a common cold, then developed into fear and anxiety which has prolonged the symptoms. Which part of that don't you understand? Is it necessary to be scaremongering?
The fact that my respiratory symptoms haven't gone away, or my abdominal symptoms.
Catherine S
21-06-17, 00:56
But your doctors aren't worried...you don't trust them?
I think you've hit the nail on the head in saying that it is scary to receive a test that isn't 100% normal. On the other hand, having a test that isn't 100% normal can be, well, normal. Benign lung nodules are common and can be completely unrelated to anything else going on. They can be just spots leftover from previous bronchitis/pneumonia episodes and harmless. One of my friends has one that was discovered incidentally when she was being treated for something else (and yes, she is fine now). We all have our dings and dents as we get older, and we have to turn to our doctors to tell us which ones are relevant to what is ailing us and which ones aren't.
I have to say I can't work out why you are here. You don't believe doctors (specialists even) when they tell you there is nothing wrong with you.You don't believe people here when they tell you your problems are anxiety related. What do you want to hear?
FreakOutQueen
21-06-17, 14:20
Hi there,
I TOTALLY understand your fears. About 6 years ago they found a lesion/mass on my spine on an MRI. After a few weeks of panic and thinking I had progressive spinal cancer, I realized I needed to trust the orthopedist and orthopedic oncologist that it was completely benign (and it was!). I also have a small bulge in my brain artery that could one day turn into an anyeurism (accidental finding when I thought I had MS) that needs to be monitored every 5 years. What I am trying to say is that often times we don't have tests that are completely "normal", but that does not mean there is anything really sinister going on. Sometimes these things just need to be monitored and tracked and while scary, are nothing life threatening. Good luck!!!
If you're still worried about it, you could ask for monitoring to see if things change after a few months down the road. I've done that before when by blood counts were way off - they watched me every 3 months for almost a year before concluding (after a bone marrow biopsy) that it was just normal for me. Now in my case there was a conclusive test (biopsy) that showed what was causing the tests to be off and that it was nothing to be worried about.
A conclusive test in your situation might be something like a biopsy of the nodule or node, but that's pretty invasive and if the doctors don't suspect anything they'd be unlikely to recommend that. Remember, they look for clues in multiple places so if something shows up on imaging they are looking elsewhere to corroborate their suspicions (blood work, etc.). If they don't find any other evidence, THEN they pass it off as "normal".
But I think you could follow the watch and wait thing and maybe get another scan down the road - if there're no changes then maybe it really is just one of those things. :shrug:
If you're still worried about it, you could ask for monitoring to see if things change after a few months down the road. I've done that before when by blood counts were way off - they watched me every 3 months for almost a year before concluding (after a bone marrow biopsy) that it was just normal for me. Now in my case there was a conclusive test (biopsy) that showed what was causing the tests to be off and that it was nothing to be worried about.
A conclusive test in your situation might be something like a biopsy of the nodule or node, but that's pretty invasive and if the doctors don't suspect anything they'd be unlikely to recommend that. Remember, they look for clues in multiple places so if something shows up on imaging they are looking elsewhere to corroborate their suspicions (blood work, etc.). If they don't find any other evidence, THEN they pass it off as "normal".
But I think you could follow the watch and wait thing and maybe get another scan down the road - if there're no changes then maybe it really is just one of those things. :shrug:
At this point I wish I could just get a biopsy.
Plus just yesterday, I started getting pain in one spot just left of my bellybutton. It hurts decently bad pressing into it, and it feels off there, possibly a bump and slightly indented. Why is this stuff happening?
Could you ask for a follow up appointment with the doctor to get a more thorough explanation of why the CT findings aren't worrisome and then ask pointedly if you should get any follow up? It won't be biopsy b/c 2 mm in the lung is too small for that.
IME, we sometimes leave appointments without any good explanations of what the doc. found and what it means. I had to do that once, when there was a lump in my breast and I was getting competing information from the specialists I was sent to.
If you do that, you can take notes and then refer back to them if you are feeling scared or weak. And, you can make a bargain with yourself that you've done all you can do and it's time to move on.
Well I apparently have a little bit of fatty liver, which is terrifying me. I just got blood tests done and have to wait to see how those are. I thought from tests before that my liver and the other abdominal things were fine, so I don't even understand. Plus I never have had any alcohol before.
Stephenie.welch
30-06-17, 00:57
Fatty liver can be from unhealthy eating not just alcohol.
Fatty liver can be from unhealthy eating not just alcohol.
can it be something worse though? I wasn't eating too healthy for awhile, started later last year to slowly try to eat better.
I still get pains in my stomach, usually on the right side. Now I'm really worried this is something bad.
I had liver function blood tests done, and apparently my ALP was slightly higher than normal. I'm starting to really get scared. What does that mean?
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