What could I suffer from?

[Grandma50]

I had pleural effusion back in Sept. and still have the pain. The doc did a CT scan last week and compared it to the Sept. CT scan.  He said my lymph nodes are definitely larger now, although the effusion is gone.  He said my lung tubes are mildly dilated, there is some scarring and that the larger lymph nodes indicate infection and/or inflammation.
I have never smoked but have been confined in a small room with a chain smoker for years (that's changed now.)
Whenever I take a deep breath, a sharp pain seems to start in the middle of my body and run upwards to my shoulder.  Neither of my lungs expand fully.  What could I have?

[National Jewish Health]

There are many, many causes of pleural effusions.  What you want to know is what was found when your doctors removed the fluid in September.  What was their diagnosis?  Did they specifically look for cancer cells or tuberculosis?  Did they do a pleural biopsy?

Also you need to ask, what is the cause of the lymph node enlargement?  Whatever it may be, you will need to have a biopsy of the lymph nodes to establish the correct diagnosis.  Saying it is infection and/or inflammation is not good enough.  You need to know more than that.

You should arrange to be seen by a lung specialist, also called a pulmonologist.  This specialist will be able to answer the above questions and determine what diagnostic tests should be done at this time.

[Grandma50]

I have been having moring couph producing phlem for 3 or 4 years now.  I have had all the heart tests and this is not my heart.  And my left upper arm hurts too.  I am a 58 year old female and am very overweight.