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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Lung Scar Tissue
Answered by
MN
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Lung Scar Tissue
by medv4380, May 29, 2008 02:37PM
When I was between 6 and 9 months old I inhaled some sort of unknown nut/organic object. Eventually it started to affect my breathing and my parents took me to the local hospital. They were turned away for a full month because the doctors sluffed them off as hysterical first time parents. Eventually some lab tech convinced the doctors that one xray wouldn't hurt and it would get my parents off their backs. The xray exposed the object and was then rushed to Salt Lake City for an operation to remove it.
My parents were told this left scar tissue and would put me at a higher risk of all types of lung disease.
Over time I seem to have developed a bit of a chronic cough. Once or twice a year I get a cough that stays for 2 or 3 months. It's triggered by getting a cold in the winter or by the pollen in the spring. It seems to be getting worse since when I was in HS it only lasted a month. I only had a doctor look into the cough once when i was about 13. The doc saw what he called mucus in the xray or something and prescribed some meds. I didn't know what the meds would do but later found out that he thought that if I threw up a bit that the mucus would be nocked loose and I'd be fine. After that I don't go to doctors for the cough any more. I'd rather deal with the cough then take something that makes me feel worse.
Now I'm dealing with a doctor who seems to want to put me on blood pressure medication. It seems to float between 120/80 to 120/90. I don't think he gets the fact that I don't care if my blood pressure is elevated and am at a higher risk of a heart attack in 20 to 30 years. And since other doctors and nurses say my blood pressure is fine it makes him sound like a drug pusher. I'd rather die of a heart attack then of lung failure over time any ways if I had a choice.
Honestly I want to know what is going on with my lungs but I have no clue were to start since I've been given so much bad info before.
My parents were told this left scar tissue and would put me at a higher risk of all types of lung disease.
Over time I seem to have developed a bit of a chronic cough. Once or twice a year I get a cough that stays for 2 or 3 months. It's triggered by getting a cold in the winter or by the pollen in the spring. It seems to be getting worse since when I was in HS it only lasted a month. I only had a doctor look into the cough once when i was about 13. The doc saw what he called mucus in the xray or something and prescribed some meds. I didn't know what the meds would do but later found out that he thought that if I threw up a bit that the mucus would be nocked loose and I'd be fine. After that I don't go to doctors for the cough any more. I'd rather deal with the cough then take something that makes me feel worse.
Now I'm dealing with a doctor who seems to want to put me on blood pressure medication. It seems to float between 120/80 to 120/90. I don't think he gets the fact that I don't care if my blood pressure is elevated and am at a higher risk of a heart attack in 20 to 30 years. And since other doctors and nurses say my blood pressure is fine it makes him sound like a drug pusher. I'd rather die of a heart attack then of lung failure over time any ways if I had a choice.
Honestly I want to know what is going on with my lungs but I have no clue were to start since I've been given so much bad info before.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Jun 02, 2008 04:59PM
, Jun 02, 2008 04:59PM
It is possible that the foreign body you aspirated in infancy, left you with either a small portion of chronically diseased lung or a scarred, narrowed bronchus, both of which could lead to recurrent cough, with or without infection. You should see a lung specialist, called a pulmonologist, and almost certainly have a CT scan of your lungs. It is possible that the problem is localized to a relatively small portion of lung and probably that removal of that portion of lung could be curative.
As for your blood pressure, there is a big difference between 120/90 and 120/80, the first clearly in the hypertensive range and high enough to eventually cause end-organ damage to your kidneys and blood vessels; the second nearly normal. This is not an urgent problem but is definitely not a problem you should ignore. You would do well to engage in some sustained ambulatory/at-home blood pressure monitoring to get a more accurate sense of your blood pressure level, most of the time. This could be arranged with your primary care physician. In most instances, mild hypertension can be well controlled, with minimal medicine.
As for your blood pressure, there is a big difference between 120/90 and 120/80, the first clearly in the hypertensive range and high enough to eventually cause end-organ damage to your kidneys and blood vessels; the second nearly normal. This is not an urgent problem but is definitely not a problem you should ignore. You would do well to engage in some sustained ambulatory/at-home blood pressure monitoring to get a more accurate sense of your blood pressure level, most of the time. This could be arranged with your primary care physician. In most instances, mild hypertension can be well controlled, with minimal medicine.
