right upper lung

[crispyg]

I'm a 47 year old male.  In November of 2011 I awoke in the middle of the night coughing and couldn't breathe.  I suffer from GERD and I accidently inhaled quite a bit of it in my sleep.  I ended up with chemical pneumonia.  They ordered a CT of my lungs and found many nodules that was from asperating the stomach acid, and was in the hospital for three days waiting for it to "calm" down.  It did with Albuterol treatments and other meds, the pulmonologist told me to have another CT in February.  All of the little nodules cleared up by then except a couple that were stable and seen before on previous scans.  I was then told to have a follow-up CT in August. This CT showed a new focal lung opacification in the right upper lobe measuring 7.9 x 9.2mm in diameter.  This is ill-defined, noncalcified and non-specific in appearance.  The Pulmonolgist wants another CT in late December. This new thing showed up in just 6 months.  I am a former smoker of 20+ years (haven't smoked in nearly 9 years)  worked in a coal-fired electricity plant for 2 years and was definitely exposed to North American asbestos.   It hurts if I take a deep breath on my right upper back near my shoulder. Should I be worried about this? Should I call the doctor and tell him about the pain or just wait until late December for the next CT?

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

That the majority of the lesions cleared-up with treatment is very reassuring.  Also what you describe suggests that you are getting appropriate follow-up care and recommendations from your pulmonologist.   I suggest that you call the pulmonologist and report the pain.  Notification would give him/her the opportunity to reconsider the entire course of this problem to decide if the presence of the pain you describe warrants further investigation now, rather than waiting until December.  There is always the possibility that the pain is not related to your chronic lung condition and you should give your doctor the opportunity to make that decision.

Good luck

[crispyg]

Thanks for the input.  I'll check with my Pulmonologist to let him know my symptoms.