x-ray shows cloud on lower right lung

[foggysail]

I developed a dry cough, with no wheezing early this summer that I ignored until about 5-6 weeks ago. I visited my doctor who found nothing wrong but did prescribe a nose spray, Fluticasone Propionate. His thought was it could be pollen or some type of irritant. Shortly after the visit I started to have a shortness of breath. I waited 3 weeks with no improvements before calling my doctor. He recommended a nose/throat specialist for me to see.

Visited the  nose/throat doctor who also found nothing wrong. He suggested it could be asthma. Now by that time my coughing mysteriously diminished along with my shortness of breath although I continued to have a tickling in my right lung area. I requested a chest x-ray which was done. I received the results yesterday and have been climbing the walls since. I was told the x-ray shows a cloud over the lower right lung; their office forwarded my x-ray results to my doctor but he is away for a few days.

I am a non-smoking male aged 74, physically active in great health. I did smoke in my late teens/early 20's for about 4-5 years. Average then was 1 pack/day. I take no medications other than my self prescribed 500mg after meals of Endur-Acin, a sustained release niacin for cholesterol control. I have been on niacin for over 10 years after my blood tests showed high cholesterol. I have no blood pressure or sugar problems. I am 5'9" and weigh about 165. I gave up all red meats and alcohols over 25  years ago with hopes to improve my survival odds. I have never taking illegal drugs of any kind.

The only allergies I have are cats and horses. Our cat is long gone and I am never around horses.

Today my coughing has just about stopped along with the shortness of breath I experienced. I still have a tickle in my right lung area. My worry is the clouded lung.

Thank you for any comments/suggestions anyone offers

[National Jewish Health]

It is difficult to know what is meant by, "a cloud over the lower right lung" and any speculation about the cause would be dependent upon a more precise description of what was actually seen.  "Cloud" is not a term generally used to describe chest x-ray abnormalities.  The initial illness, that has now resolved, could just have been an episode of acute bronchitis due to infection, allergy or irritant.

There should be a physician providing coverage for your doctor in his absence.  You should call that doctor and request a more detailed explanation of what was seen on your chest x-ray and the implications of it. If he is unable to do that, and the chest x-ray was read by a radiologist, ask for the radiologist's name and call him/her.  You need to have objective confirmation of what the chest x-ray showed.

[foggysail]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE!!!

Wednesday, two days ago  I received a call from my physician's office alerting me that he has returned, he has read the x-ray report along with his advice not to worry, there is nothing seriously  wrong.. No other information but I have an appointment with him on 30 Oct, next Tuesday afternoon.

As to the coughing, it still lingers. I am not going to ignore  what ever the cause for my problems happen to be. I will post what I learn from my appointment for the benefit of others.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND SUGGESTION.

[foggysail]

I just returned from a pulmonary appointment, here are the results. First, I am feeling much better. Coughing has subsided to the point where it close to being gone. I was given a pulmonary test, told the results were normal.

The x-rays showed three small polyps, it was these polyps that the nose/throat doctor's office girl  identified as a "cloud." The polyps are not close to each other at all. This was my main worry and of course, so was the coughing.

Back in 2004 I had a chest x-ray for some reason, but in any case, the pulmonary doctor had both the 2004 and the 2007 x-ray side by side. They looked identical! No size changes and they could have been there for many years.

Summarizing, I feel myself returning to good heath. Nothing found by three doctors, passed a pulmonary test and finally nothing new in the x-rays.

I want to thank all that took the time to read about my problems which are now dissipating. A special thanks to the National Jewish RN-DC who took the time to reply.

Good health to all--

Thanks,

Foggy