Chest CT scans show things.

[greatmomrunning]

Hi, I am 41 years old.  In chronic respiratory failure.  On O2 24 hours/day.  First CT scan showed interstitial/aveolar disease and thickening, second CT scan 5 months later showed, none of those, but several small nodules, possible fibrosis and atelectasis, but no active lung disease, then 3 months later CT scan showed atelectasis, no nodules, no mention of aveolar or interstitial lung disease or fibrosis.  In looking for answer to why hypoxic.....dr. (who has two certifications in sleep studies) has concluded that I have severe sleep apnea (55 episodes/hour desat to 74%) and it is carrying over to daytime and that the ct scans with their varied results mean nothing.  Had positive methylcholine challenge...yet last pft relatively normal with midflows decreased at 64% of predicted and airway resistance slightly increased- signifying mild obstructive airway disease with no change with ventolin/atrovent.  I am confused.  Is it normal for the cat scans to be so varied?  Is it normal for sleep apnea to cause daytime hypoxia?  I have episodes with cough, wheezing, flushing and high blood pressure..putting me in hospital....multiple times.  Have you ever seen anything like this before?  Do you have any ideas for me what might be going on and what to do?  I am having a hard time believing it is all sleep apnea related.  Please help.

[greatmomrunning]

The wait thing is exactly what I think!  Thanks so much for posting.  Good luck to you!

[Victoireh]

Does sound strange. Is it possible the hospital that does your CT-scans are mixing them up with some one else's. I don't know sometimes the body does weird things. I once had it where I produced all of these weird blood test results and looked into further...only to find no problems! However, I still get funny things no and again happening with the body.

In regards to your pulmonary function tests, showing mild obstruction is confusing considering your oxygen problems. Maybe there are two diseases at play here, each compounding the other. There could very well be sleep apnea, but it is only adding to possibly another lung disease that is present.

I think you pulmonary specialist doesn't really understand what is going on in your body and is waiting it out to see what time will tell. I see a pulmonary specialist rather regularly too and I get the feeling she also is just observing my lungs to see what they do next...as I don't really fit the typical profile of an asthmatic. I guess patience is call for, despite all the confusing information. Take care.