Sorry to bother you again. I had the surgeon who took out my gallbladder look at my MRI results. He told me that it was 5 mm non-calcified nodule in my left upper long. But he said that he didn't think that the nodule nor the mitral regurgitation should be causing all the pain. Now I am getting pain in my lower rib cage stomach and sometimes in my head along with the chest/back pain and shortness of breath. What is the difference between non-calcified and calcified? Should I go have more test done or blood work done to determine where all this pain is coming from? Thank you for your time!
Hi,
I am actually considering that the nodule is not producing any symptoms. If the advice was simply to monitor with a subsequent scan - the nodule is likely too small to produce any problems. That was why I was wondering if this was determined to be the cause of the problems by your doctor. Of course, the location of the nodule even if it is small will also determine what likely symptoms can occur by its being there. But I think based on the current plan, the nodule is merely under suspicion so a watch and wait approach was given to you. This approach is not new - many patients have helped establish the practice.
Currently you are receiving Toprol - so it seems that the problem was ascribed to your heart. This medication will work by making your heart rate slower, hence, more time for the heart to fill and make it more efficient. Hence, the more worried and anxious you are - the less likely this drug will work as your heart is probably running faster.
If the symptoms don't seem to improve - then I see no harm in getting a new consultation.
Thank you for getting back to me. I am trying to calm down, but it's hard. My symptoms come and go, sometimes I even have pain in my stomach, but I think that is partially from worrying. Mainly I am still really short of breath and chest pain comes and goes. I am hoping that the Toprol helps with that.
I do have a question for anyone. If the nodule is not cancerous do you still remain to have symptoms like the chest pain and shortness of breath?
I am thinking of calling my doc and going to a lung specialist right away. I can't stop worrying and making myself sick about this.
Thanks for listening!!!
Hi,
Lung cancer is pretty rare for a non-smoker at your age. Try to stay positive.
The nodule is likely too small to consider getting a biopsy. If it is that size - it is likely not causing you any symptoms as well, but was an incidental finding. Try to find out if this is so - because your initial symptoms may mean some other disease not yet adequately investigated and this should be addressed.
The initial size of the nodule would dictate how soon the next scan is taken. The usual practice is to do so at 3 months, but this recommendation includes sizes of up to 3 cm (and I don't think it is this size) - so 4 months sounds like a good plan.