Today, my Internist called me... That was NOT a good sign. My CT Scan of the lungs showed a nodule or something like that. This may require a Bronchoscopy. The scan was done because the pulmonary doc saw something on my X-Ray, hoping it might be the end of a rib-NOT...

Secondly, he said in reviewing the CT Scan, they noticed that my thyroid is enlarged and there is a something or other on it, in it or whatever...

Then I remembered that I had forgotten to tell him of my history of nasal radium treatments as a child for nosebleeds and ear, nose and throat problems... Gulp... Some of these people are showing up late in life with strange head, neck and thyroid cancers... They used to put these tubes up your nose and you got several minutes of radium.... This was done when I was in the first grade...

I didn't tell him, but I couldn't even remember why I had the CT Scan to begin with, because all of this crap is running together...

Cathie

Hi Cathie

You don't know me but I understand your fear! My dad died from lung cancer. When I was at the same age he was when he died, they found a nodule in my lungs. I panicked of course. But just so you know, it does turn out to be harmless in many cases. Mine did and I pray that yours will to.

Dear Cathy:

I can see why you are worried. I hope everything turns out all right. Please keep us posted.

Shirley H.

Hi Cathie,

When all my nonsense started a year ago, my thryoid was enlarged...3x normal size. In the end, the thyroid was a side problem but I learned alot about thryroid.

The good thing...is that the thyroid is a very slow organ (takes years for anything to develop there which makes it highly curable if it is cancer. Get a good thryoid doc to consult before they do anything.

I'll be thinking about you, let me know how it turns out.
Shelley

Hi Cathie---Just what you need, another worry. Did he give you any more information or refer you to a pulmonologist? I do hope this turns out okay. I don't know what to say. You've always been kind and helpful to me, and I want to write you something helpful and supportive, but I'm feeling totally "used up" , depleted. So, please just accept my good wishes for you.

Liza Jane: He ordered a thyroid sonogram for tomorrow and told me that whatever is to be done with the lungs is up to the pulmonary doc (a diagnostician) at the med school-maybe a bronchoscopy and biopsy. I couldn't find out anything from him today, because he is home sick... By the way, this is the doc who told me I see too many doctors and am on too much medicine... I would LOVE to NEVER see another one again in my life...

The problem on the radium has been blown off by several doctors. One scientist, who worked in public health, has tried to bring this issue to the forefront to no avail.

I never imagined in my whole life that so many things could go wrong with one body...

Zayne: I was wondering if they had to do a bronchoscopy to check out your lung nodule.

Shelly: Did you have a nodule on your thyroid too? Did the enlargement go down w/medication?

And to all of you, thanks for your kind comments and support. I am trying to decide if I need fuzzies, but I think a Valium would probably be more appropriate...

Cathie

Cathie, are you still online and do you take pm? I am searching for my records but will have to stop soon for sleep. I will get back to you as soon as I can. I want to tell you exactly what they did and I really can't remember the name of the procedure as I've had a lot of procedures done in the last few years. And every time, it has been ok.

I have read is usually an easy thing to check out and treat...
I understand your fears tho. Almost ten years ago as I was in the process of being diagnosed with hypothyroid, I'd had the sono done, and a nodule was found. They did a 'needle aspiration', basically a biopsy, and it was determined to be a non-issue. I do admit tho, for the first 2 years after my onset, I was always asking my docs: IS it my thyroid? And the answer has consistently been NO. Tests were easy and relatively painless.

I've had pneumonia three times in my life and have had distinct scarring show up on my films and scans from that. It's good that your docs are being super cautious tho, as it sure beats a 'not to worry' and then do nothing attitude.

Soo about your lungs, do you remember ever having a really bad cold, flu or pneumonia in the past?

It's better to have the tests, and then have them come up negative! That's the news I'll be waiting to hear from you!

Sending heaps of good thoughts your way to help you thru it all - j

for a benign result.

You know Cathie, you were on long term prednisone, and this suppresses
the immune system. You could have a low grade infection in the lung.
You could have sarcoid. There are alot of things other than the big C.

So we will hope your issue is explainable and easy to deal with..with all of us
rooting for you, you have a good chance!

I appreciate the input and information.

I have had full blown pneumonia twice and early pneumonia several times. You would think they would have caught this though on a recent chest X-Ray after another nasty bout of early pneumonia a 2-3 months back. It was not seen though until I went to the med school here and they did their own X-Ray.

Sometimes, I can't even remember what I am supposed to take care of next, because there is so much. I wish I could take something to help with this, but even pediatric doses of anti-depressants ramp up my PN.

Of course I take PM's and would be happy to hear from anyone.

MrsD: I will read on Sarcoid-can't remember what that is. One thing that happens, is that every time I get my Prednisone dose down low, I get a really nasty, productive cough that ends up with a trip to the Urgent Care Center-usually diagnosed as early pneumonia... I have assumed that this might be a part of Sjogren's, but no one has gone there yet, because no one associates lung problems w/Sjogren's...

Cathie