Hi. I just thought of updating you with my visit to the pulmo yesterday.

Well, he strongly recommended that I should have the bronchoscopy. Hesitantly, I agreed because he does not want to start me on medication without knowing the cause of the nodule and inflammation. However, he just expects to see from the biopsy either the kind of bacteria or if its cancerous. The biopsy, he said, will not show if my nodule is Sjorgren's or Sarcoidosis.

He added that if he did not see my last year's CT scan, he will think the inflammation/scarring may be due to the TB I had in 2000-2001. But, since there is a progression and I have a steady decline in the lung function, he does not want to wait and see. He mentioned in passing that he does not want to give me antibiotics, which he thinks have major side effects, right away without knowing the kind of bacteria. I asked if he will consider steroid, he said to wait for the biopsy result.

My question: would anyone know why the biopsy will only show the kind of bacteria and determination of cancer, but not Sjorgren's or Sarcoidosis?

The Shirmer's result last Friday was <1 in both eyes. I have now dryness in throat, mouth and nostrils. My stomach is bothering me.