ground glass opacities

[emma violet]

I had a lung nodule that is 1cm. It was followed every 3 months with a chest ct.The last chest ct showed right basilar posterior area of pleural parenchymal thickening. Bilateral lower lobe ground glass apacities and atelectatic changes.My daughter is being treated for allergic aspergillis bronchial pulmonary disease.When I showed the doctor at the walk in clinic my ct report he said I should be referred to a infectious disease doctor. Her chest ct only showed parenchymal thickening. Does my chest ct indicate anything?

[starion]

Dear Marina,
Of course, for allergies, avoidance is always the best  course (but not always easy or practical).  With dust mites, as I mentioned above, allergy control barriers help lots of folks, as well as laundering in very hot water at least weekly & dusting EVERYTHING often.  Food is sometimes easier to avoid (I avoid most of the things I know I'm allergic to).
The easiest way it's been explained to me is that each exposure to allergen we are sensitized to "fill up a cup" & we mainly start having symptoms & notice it when the cups starts to overflow.  If we can minimize the allergens we are exposed to, it keeps us further from the overflow level.  Thus, each little step we can take to reduce the allergens in our daily life (particularly our bedrooms), the more it helps us.
I've also found that I react to allergens more when my general health is at a lower level, so I try to keep as fit & healthy as possible.  There's lots of info about allergies at:
http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/medfacts.html#Allergy%20MedFacts (you can print it off your own printer).
One other thing that sometimes is overlooked for those of us with lung conditions is undiagnosed gastroesophogeal reflux disesase, GERD.  You can get more info about it at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html.
Sorry, I sure wish there were "magic cures," it would make us all so much healthier & happier!
Anyway, hope this info is helpful.  I've just started seeing a new allergist, hoping she has more answers than the one I've used & had allergy shots with for the past year.
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[Martina]

Dear Starion,
   Thank you very much for your information.
Do you know of any other treatment available other than allergy shots and antihistamine medications
    

[starion]

Have you taken alllergen reduction measures like covering ALL your bedding with allergy control barriers to minimize your exposure to dust-mites?  Also, if you can have no carpet in your bedroom & have your bedroom dusted and mopped frequently, it's also helpful.  Try to minimize the amount of dust in your bedroom & wash all bedding in very hot water once a week.  If you have drapes or window coverings, please also wash them in hot water weekly.  These measures can really make a difference if you're highly allergic to dust mites.
There's more info on the www.NationalJewish.org website, particularly in their MedFacts section about allergies.
Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI