After all, it was a 9 week bout of pneumonia that led to my issues now...If it were me? I would be literally flipping out by now! Wonder why....

Please get your gp to recommend a pulmonologist as David suggested, and all that Mrs D and Billye have as well. Fudges! I want YOU well, not hacking your innards out, not eating, not keeping anything down even when you try..Been thru that food processor a few times in past lives - and I'm not sure how well I'd fare other than being put into a hospital or 'rehab' - and we all know SICK people are there! Might catch something in those places! Honestly you do not NEED this nor do you DESERVE THIS!

Be quietly ASSERTIVE and pro-active...no one else is gonna do it for you. Tho in all honesty - I wish I was there to help!

Go get them all good lady! - j

OK, I will get on this in the morning. I don't feel like pneumonia. I have had it full blown badly enough to be hospitalized twice, and felt like I had been hit by a Mac truck...

I don't know about the rest of you, but getting help here at night, on weekends, or in a hurry if you are in a bind, is not easy. A lot of times, doctors just tell you to go to the ER...

I have gotten better treatment at one particular Urgent Care center here which is staffed by 2 GP's. He insisted I come back and he wants me back again this week. They seem thorough, good about followups and are a little different than other centers I have seen like this, as they take regular patients too-not just emergency situations.

Do you all think that GP's are less knowledgeable overall than Internists? My care is so disorganized. This GP is leaving the Urgent Care to join an already established family doc practice. He was trying to explain something about the use of shared electronic charting between docs to help accomplish organized care.

Cathie

Today could have been better... It started out with not being able to get the X-ray or radiology report in time for my pulmonary doc to see me...

After complaining repeatedly to the hospital attached to the Urgent Care, that I NEEDED IT TODAY, they finally got it for me but too late for the doc today.

In the envelope, was a preliminary report which states findings:

RML (I take it this is right middle lobe) atelectasis
vs.
pneumonia...

I know the middle lobe of the lung can cause great problems. I would bet on the atelectasis, but hope for a form of pneumonia that responds to something. Can't say the Levaquin is doing a lot of good...

Cathie

Why would you have atelectasis? You still need a CT scan and specialist I think.

My pneumonia was in the upper right lobe, with NO coughing. I was weak, losing weight, and had difficulty breathing. I also had moderately high temperature (about 101-102) for about three hours every afternoon and low temperature the rest of the time. The lung sounded almost clear by stethoscope. How misleading. A chest X-ray showed a dense area, and the CT scan looked like I was growing a space alien. It was pretty inaccessible by thin tube or bronchial biopsy, so they never got a sample of the lesion, but did pick up 1 (only) adenocarcinoma cell. With a negative PET scan, it wasn't worth the risk of open chest surgery to biopsy the lesion. At least yours is in a more accessible place.

With peripheral neuropathy, you face a different future than you imagined. With the possibility of lung cancer, your future hits you in the face like a brick wall. I started planning for the worse.

My cats were great, just hanging out with me day after day, week after week, quietly affectionate without being demanding. I'll be grateful and devoted to them for the duration of their or my life. It's so worth it living with companion animals.

Good luck, and please continue to keep us informed. I'll be thinking about you until this is resolved.

Thing is that by the time THEY find out what you KNOW [I'm believeing here] You might just end up in the hospital!
Golly GOSHES!!!!! I hate going/being there with all those really contagious sick people! ?
In the meantime, I understand the need and uses for LARGE QUANTITIES of Kleenex! Where do you want me to send it?

During it all, just be sure to put lots of Vaselene on your nose --but w/a q-tip so you don't spread or share! With yourself or anything else! Hang in there! Hugs - j

Thanks all. I am seeing the Pulmonary Doc today. This was the soonest I could get in. I will address the Sarcoid, MrsD.

I don't know if it is atelectasis or not, but I sure don't feel like I did when I had full blown pneumonia. I am not running a temp, but have some crackling in the lungs. Even before, when the doctor thought I was developing early pneumonia several times, I felt horrible. This doesn't seem to be like that. I have an extremely productive cough. The X-Ray loooked white and the doctor did mention mention some plugging... My lungs are not the best.

Since I have taken 2 Levaquin, my right eye hurts, there are some sort of black things in my eye and some flashing lights. I will not take another one, until someone can figure out what is going on here.

Thank you all for you support.

Cathie

Hi Cathie:

"atelectasis"

I learned a new word today. I have to look this one up. I have no idea what this is.

I just wanted to stop by and send you warm thoughts and hope everything comes out okay.

Take care,
Melody