xray

[ever_hopeful_in_NH]

i saw my xray and it showed a fairly large white spot on the bottom of my right lung.  my doctor said i have "lung damage" from smoking and advises to xray in a year.  this does not sound right to me.  i do not trust HMO's.   I think they control the doctors decisions on who to treat and how much treatment to allow.  i have quit smoking and feel pretty good except a nagging awareness (small ache) in the area of the white spot.  can someone help me.  i don't know whether to worry or not.   thank you.

mary

[ever_hopeful_in_NH]

thank you so much for your reply.   it was most helpful.  even tho i heard what i already knew and did not want to believe.  i have a very slight shortness of breath.  (i can do 40 min. on the treadmill at 3.8 miles per hour).  my cough has decreased since quitting smoking 9 days ago but i do feel i have some build up of mucus in my lungs but no heaviness feeling.   i intend to fight this damage with a clean lifestyle and healthy living combined with a natural and herbal regimen.   thank you again.  i too am a grandmother and enjoy my grandaughters more than anything.  is your COPD under control  can you halt the progress?   take care and enjoy your grandson.

[lynnkay]

I have never had to deal with an HMO, but I have heard they are a hassle. I really don't know what to say to you, as I do not want to scare you. You seem worried enough. But then again, I feel I should shoot you straight. What you have described does not sound right to me. But, remember I am no medical expert whatsoever. I do understand about the large white spot on the bottom of your lung. It showed up at the bottom of both of my lungs, when I was xrayed in Oct. 07. I was a smoker at the time and had been one for approx. 35 yrs. I was 50 at the time of diagnosis. My diagnosis was moderate stage COPD-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. My family doctor diagnosed it with a lung xray and a breathing test called a spirometry. Very simple breathing test, that shows the amount of air you can blow out of your lungs and how fast. I then got a second opinion with a pulmonary specialist. Both doctors confirmed COPD. I am not saying you have COPD. But, if you are not satisfied with how this doctor handled this and obviously you are still worried, then maybe if possible, get a second opinion. Doctors can be very vague when it comes to these type things. My family doctor ran these tests on me, told me I had COPD, gave me some inhalers and that was that. I was left in total shock. Since then, I have researched COPD in depth on my own. Now, I know and understand the lung disease I now have. But, I do understand totally how you are currently feeling. The great thing is that you have quit smoking. This can greatly slow or even stop the further progression of the damage to your lungs. I would check further into this though. Just to be on the safe side. You did not mention any shortness of breath, heavy feeling in the chest, coughing, build up of mucus in the chest, etc. These are the symptoms I had at the time of my diagnosis. All symptoms of COPD. So, if you are not having these symptoms, then that is also good. The lung damage was discovered in time, before these symptoms could develop. When these symptoms start occurring, then COPD has progressed usually into the moderate stage. In the moderate stage is when people notice these symptoms, know that something is wrong and seek medical care. Not always the case, but usually most always. That is what I have read in my research of COPD. I wish you the very best outcome on this.