The CT findings are non-specific but the air trapping and ground glass opacities are definitely abnormal, most often with a diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD). Many, but not all, persons with ILD are smokers. This is a restrictive lung disease and would be consistent with the pulmonary function abnormality you describe. These diseases, with rare exceptions, present with a gradual worsening of shortness of breath but, frankly, the severe shortness of breath you have experienced and the fatigue appear to be out of proportion to the pulmonary function abnormality and the CT scan abnormalities.
Your symptoms, but not your CT findings are consistent with heart failure for, with heart failure, one would expect the ECHO to have shown abnormal left ventricular function (pumping of systemic blood). Note, a normal heart size does not rule out heart disease as one can have a normal heart size, with a marked reduction of blood flow, with a condition called constrictive pericarditis. You might want to ask your cardiologist about this diagnosis and if the ECHO findings would rule out this diagnosis.
The normal ascending aorta is around 3.5 cm at its widest point and is generally not considered aneurismal until it enlarges to a diameter 1.5X the maximum normal value. Your cardiologist could best discuss the extended criteria and the pros and cons of surgical intervention, but at 4.1 cm, you would not appear to be a candidate for surgery. And, in any event the dilated aorta would not be a cause of your shortness of breath and exhaustion.
The suggestion of pulmonary hypertension is intriguing, not because of the severity (“higher than normal”) but because it is present at all and, given your symptoms, would be consistent with the diagnosis of recurrent blood clots to your lungs (recurrent pulmonary emboli), that might not be evident on either X-ray or CT Scan (depending on the technique used.)
Aside from your symptoms, there is no urgency to establish the diagnosis of interstitial (or other) lung disease. It would be an urgent matter to establish the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli, however, and hypoxia (low blood oxygen level), be either one or both present. I suggest that you discuss this question with your physicians, without delay.
Good luck
Thank you.
Bizarrely enough my oxygen levels are normal. The CT Scan was a high resolution scan without contrast.
A little over a month ago I had an incident that sent me to the emergency room. I became extremely short of breath all of a sudden (while sitting at my desk). I became very anxious, and started pacing back and forth, I had a feeling of dread. I called my doctor and he said to go to the ER.
The ER did a quick ECG/EKG and found nothing wrong. Oxygen levels were normal (crisis had passed, quite frankly, by the time I made it to the ER).... but fatigue and chronic shortness of breath got much worse after this incident. Doctor diagnosed me with a panic attack. my doctor prescibed lorazepam, for anxiety. I had a second incident of this 4 days later, that was milder, but lasted longer. I took my pulse duiring the second incident and it was around 60 (normally its around 80).
Forgot to mention that I'm a 52 year old Female.
Thanks again for your help
Mar