WdnUlik2no

Today I got some unnerving news from the doctor's office. Apparently a chest X-Ray showed "Ground glass" and the doctor wants me to come back in for a CAT scan to get a better picture of what is going on.

I started noticing something was wrong about 4 - 5 months ago, I was getting more winded than usual during football and even during my workouts where I couldn't get a deep breath in. I also noticed that breathing in deeply caused a very uncomfortable tickling feeling in my throat. This persisted for about 2 months until I finally decided to go to the doctor, he gave me some meds, and ordered a chest x-ray. I then went to another doctor she prescribed me some predisone (cortisteroid) and antibiotics, I started feeling a little better, but started getting worse again after my meds ran out so I finally went and got a chest x-ray the first doctor ordered.

I got the news of "ground glass in lungs" so naturally I looked it up and all I see is bad news. The best case scenario is that its a lung infection, worse case is lung cancer. Anyone else had this diagnosis? what what did it end up being? I am asthmatic but other than that no other lung issues.

I'm feeling "ok" now, but if its cancer or another incurable condition..i don't know. I don't even smoke so I'd be quite shocked if its lung cancer.

stogie1020

Whoa.

Hope it turns out to be something simple...

You install a lot of pink insulation or something?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

crossing fingers its just an infection

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Acura_Dude

Moog-Type-S

Ground glass is such a strange term.

Hope it's just an infection.

WdnUlik2no

Thanks yall for the support. On one hand, I'm relieved that they found a possible cause to what may be causing my breathing problems, on the other hand I'm worried whether or not it can be corrected. I don't know if they literally mean ground glass is in my lungs or whether that term is what my lungs look like on the X-Ray. Google searches seem to suggest that "Ground glass" is just a term doctors use to describe the appearance of the lung on X-ray. But the nurse wouldn't go into specifics over the phone so I'm not exactly sure what they mean, either way, its pretty scary. I have been in the attic a handful of times over the past few months to change out the air filters for my furnace and to investigate a roof leak, but no more than usual I would say. I have brown insulation, but its not the pink panther stuff and I don't know if it has glass in it.

My CT scan has been scheduled for tomorrow morning and will probably have to wait until next week to get the results from the doctor.

Hoping for an infection that can be corrected with medication; I guess a good sign is that the antibiotics I was previously prescribed seemed to help a little so maybe I just need more. I'll keep you guys posted. Very few people in my circle know about this including family and hopefully it's not anything serious so they won't have to know; I don't want to worry them.

Whiskers

Oof, good luck.

PyroDave

good luck bud. in rescue training when cutting open a car windshield, especially with a sawzall or something they said be very careful about the fine glass dust and dont breathe it in, cant really get glass out the lungs. that was my first thought to this until you mentioned that docs may say it to mean something else

65 Fury Convert

Hoping for you this is just an infection. Keep us posted, please!

WdnUlik2no

Just got some preliminary results from my CAT scan. The scans showed a lot of lung scarring and the presence of a large nodule in one of my lungs. The doctor who originally ordered the CAT scan apparently took a vacation so another doctor ended up looking at the scans. I won't be able to follow up with my regular doctor until the middle of September, so its another month of waiting since the office said I HAVE to see my regular doctor instead of seeing one that is already in the office. Makes no sense to me, but I don't know what else what I can do except wait.

WdnUlik2no

Forgot to mention that the doctors office did mention pulmonary fibrosis as a possibility and if that's the case, then there isn't much that they can do for me. I not sure what to think right now and being unable to see a doctor for a month makes things even more frustrating.

Acura_Dude

Doesn't make sense either. Another month of waiting. Keep your head up OP. I'm still hoping for the best for you. I'm hoping it's something very minor.

stogie1020

Wow, scary.

I would say that if you got the imaging done, YOU own the images. Find a doc that can see you before a month and have him/her request the images. Find a lung specialist who really knows what to do. What the fuck making you wait a month just to see your doc... Ridiculous.

Moog-Type-S

^^ Dude might be stuck in an bad HMO.

WdnUlik2no

Update:

I was scrambling to find another doctor that could see me sooner, but to no avail; most were a month wait or longer.

But the good news is I was finally able to get my September appointment moved up to this Thursday due to someone cancelling their appointment. They also ordered blood work and I had a 8 vials worth of blood drawn yesterday, so the doctor should have the results of the tests by the time I see him Thursday.

Still hoping for something that can be fixed with medication and not something serious and I'm hope the lung scarring is just due to my asthma and nothing else.

Once again thanks for all you guys' support.

stogie1020

Wow, glad it got moved up. I would not want to sit around waiting just to be seen...

wndrlst

Good luck today.

Acura_Dude

Good luck, OP.

WdnUlik2no

Update:

The doctor showed what the radiologist mentioned on my CT scan. There seems to be a conflict of opinion.

The radiologist said the CT scan results are suspicious for interstitial fibrosis with NSIP (non specific interstitial pneumonitis) pattern. Which looks to be a form of pulmonary fibrosis.

The doctor on the other hand doesn't think its this because my breathing is clear, and he doesn't hear the crackling sound that is usually present with fibrosis. I saw the CT scan of my lungs and the right one looks ok, but the left one looks like crap. There is a lot of white stuff showing up in the lower portion of the lung which is abnormal. The doctor says it is inflammation and/or scarring.

I also got some results back from the blood work, so far everything is normal, except I tested positive for the ANA screen, which might suggest Lupus, but the doctor says that is worse case.

I have to go back in next Friday morning for a bronchoscopy, where they basically stick a tool down my throat and into my lungs and then take out small pieces of my lung to study in the lab.

The only thing the doctor was able to rule out with confidence was lung cancer because he is not concerned about the nodules and said they are harmless. He is also not convinced about the pulmonary fibrosis because I'm not showing the symptoms when he listens to my breathing. He won't be able to further diagnose until the bronchoscopy, so another week+ of waiting...

Thanks to all yall for the continued support. I have really been in a daze since yesterday after seeing my lung on the CT scan. If it turns out to be NSIP then the prognosis is 6 - 13 years; which is better than the other form which is UIP, but still not very encouraging.

Moog-Type-S

We'll keep hoping and praying for the best.

WdnUlik2no

Eosinophilic Pneumonia

Got a call from the doctor about an hour ago to discuss the results of my brochoscopy and based on the test results so far he seems very confident it is Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia. Basically I have an abnormally high amount of Eosinophil cells (White Blood Cells) in my lungs. Normal amount is about 5%, I clocked in at 40%, and it seems this is what is causing my breathlessness. Not sure what caused it, but it could be a number of things from allergic reactions to certain medications (NSAIDs).

Good news is that he is pretty confident steroids usually do a very good job in clearing this up, so I will be on them for the next 4 - 6 weeks, maybe longer. I will then have to go back to get another chest x-ray to see if the issue has cleared up and we will go from there.

Feeling pretty good right now mentally. I'm glad the real serious conditions were ruled out (cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, NSIP). Not too excited about the roids and all the side effects resulting from long term use, but if that is what will help me feel better, then I will take them.

During this time, I have been keeping up with my leg workouts as my body allowed, but chest and back exercises I haven't done since July. I finally was well enough to try chest exercises and was weak as hell as expected, but I have to start somewhere right?

Thanks again guys!

Whiskers

Awesome news dude.

Moose Muscles

Hope you have a speedy recovery and your doctor can get you healthy!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

whew! :wipessweatfrombrow:

glad it isnt anything life threatening

wndrlst

Really fantastic news! Thanks for the update. I'm so happy for you.

Moog-Type-S

Great news!!!!

Acura_Dude

Great news! Thanks for the update.

WdnUlik2no

Yep! Started the steroids last night. I've been on these before, but only after leaving the hospital after serious asthma attacks and never longer than a week.

Acura_Dude

To your recovery.

Willie3.5

Very good to hear! Get well soon OP.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

Thats good news. Just started reading your thread and I'm happy it wasn't any of the more serious illnesses. Good luck with your recovery!

Scottman111

Happy for the good news!

1StGenCL

Awesome news, glad to hear!

stogie1020

I am late to the party but HOLY HELL congrats on the good news!

Glad it seems to be fixable

WdnUlik2no

My cultures FINALLY came back from the broncoscopy I had over a month ago. Turns out the cultures they took is positive for a mycobaterial infection. The most common is tuberculosis or avium, but it was neither of those.

The doctor called me today and said he's is pretty sure its mycobacterium gordonae, which is very rare. Mortaility rate is less than 1% with the only person dying being someone infected with HIV.

The bacterium was causing the excess amount of esinophils in my lungs which resulted in the initial diagnosis of esinophillic pneumonia.

treatment is still the same. I'm have been tapered down to 30mg of prednisone daily, plus 500mg of antibiotics twice a day which I started about 3 weeks ago.

Sometimes mycobacterium gordonae requires a years worth of antibiotics to be completely cured, but he is going to have routine chest xrays to see if I can come off earlier.

I'm not sure where I could have gotten it from as most of the time it occurs from tap water, but I don't drink tap water.

Good news however that eventhough I'm not 100% I am noticing an improvement especially after being on the antibiotics.

wndrlst

Crazy! I'm glad they've isolated the culprit and that it's treatable. And it's great that you're seeing improvement. Keep it up!

Acura_Dude

Congrats on your road to recovery, man!

Whiskers

terdonal