Here we go again? FEAR like no other

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newday1976
newday1976 Member Posts: 60
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

So, I must have caught a summer bug/cold somewhere.My husband has it also.I went to the Dr and while I do have asthma, she heard some wheezing in my lower lobes.I asked if that was a bad thing.She said it was good it hadn't moved up my whole chest.Then she asked...

"when was your last chest xray?"

I do not get routine chest xrays.The last one I had was the last day of radiation, why even ask that? She then said if the antibiotics and inhalers do not work, to come back and they will do one.

Now I am TERRIFIED that if I go back even for my breast check up, they will try and send me for one anyway.I had very early stage BC less than 2 MM's and NO nodes.

My Drs where not up front and honest with me from the get go, do you think if she heard mets she would have sent me right away?

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2009

    They sometimes do a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia.

    I have had them before when I was having breathing problems or caughing with fever. Sometimes it has found pneumonia and sometimes the problem was just bronchial. Once there was still a shadow on my lung when the pneumonia was gone - they did a CAT scan and the radiologist said it was a calcium nodule - a harmless build of calcium around scar tissue in the lungs. I had follow-up X-rays for a couple of years to confirm that it wasn't growing and it didn't. That was a couple of decades ago. An X-ray in between didn't see it anymore. During chemo, I had a fever and they did a chest X-ray to rule out infection in the lungs. There was none but it saw a shadow again. I had a CAT scan and they said it was a calcium granuloma (the same thing as the calcium nodule). That was 6 months ago so I just got a follow-up X-ray again. I don't expect it to show any problem.

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  • Sue-61
    Sue-61 Member Posts: 599
    edited August 2009

    I can understand your terror! BUT.............you and your husband are probably both sick with the same bug. I do not understand what your doc meant about not moving up your whole chest. Most times when folks have a bug, there are wheezes heard in the bases of the lungs. I bet the antibiotics clear it all up, and the fact that you have asthma only makes the wheezes worse when you have a cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Try to relax. Remember that the antibiotics take a few days to kick in and do not cure you overnight.  Sue

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  • 2Hands4me
    2Hands4me Member Posts: 484
    edited August 2009

    You can't "hear mets" when you listen to a chest - so I agree with bluedasher and Sue - I think she only wanted a chest X-Ray if the antibiotics don't work in order to determine if there is some pneumonia going on. "When was your last chest x-ray?" is a routine question and if you had already had one fairly recently, she would want to know the results and where you had it done so she could compare any existing fluid etc. if she does another one. With an early stage, small size and no node involvement, the chance of mets is so small - but when you already feel lousy, I can certainly understand why you think of that first! Rest, drink, deep breathe 10 times at least every 2 hours, and let the antibiotics work! Thinking of you.....

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  • newday1976
    newday1976 Member Posts: 60
    edited August 2009

    Well, I am almost done with the antibiotics.I was quite short of breath yesterday and a little wheezy, but I know the cough is the last thing to go with this nasty bug! My poor husband now has the dreaded dry cough with burning.

    I am not sure if I should go back to the Dr.I was taking antibiotics for pneumonia/bronchitis.I have a feeling that this is just a bad virus.I noticed when I took my ativan the shortness of breath was not there, go figure LOL

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  • Sue-61
    Sue-61 Member Posts: 599
    edited August 2009

    Newday 1976

    anxiety leads to the shortness of breath....thank goodness for Ativan, huh? I was a casemanager and a lot of my patients with emphysema would present to the emergency room but their pulse ox would be normal. Goes to show how anxiety affects us all..........I used to teach them that if they felt anxious to pop a pill. It saved my patients many a trip to the ER.......glad you are feeling better. You should take comfort in the fact that your husband has the same thing so it is a nice bug or virus and not mets! Sue 

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