Ok, went to the GP. She thinks my chest is clearer. Even though I feel wretched.
She has ordered a set of blood tests to see if it shows anything odd.
I pinned her down on the issue of the x-ray.
It actually said 'confidentially this cannot rule out the possibility of a lesion' !!!
But she said the helar was an area where connective tissues and lymph nodes gather together and it is likely that the lymph nodes would be enlarged in the case of an infection. So I shouldn't panic. I'm not in the High Risk category - ie: never smoked etc...
So bloods tomorrow...one step at a time....
Thanks for your comments guys. Much appreciated that someone is taking the time to listen.
I woke up this morning still feeling wretched and coughing nothing up. Its been 5 days since the antibiotics started. I rang the GP and made an appointment to see her today at 3. I hope she has some good advice.
Lee
I think your concern if valid. Have you seen a pulmonologist??? If not I would! White spots on a lung xray are scary. I'm one to err on the side of caution. You obviously aren't feeling well. With the antibiotics you should start to feel some improvement. Do you have a fever? The spot could be a lot of different things. Be persisent with the docs until you get a definitive answer. I've just heard one too many time from docs "not to worry", both personally and others, when they turned out to be wrong. Medicine is an art. A lot of docs aren't always great at it. They get it wrong a lot.
So don't settle with the dx until you feel better.
Thanks for your advice and kind words.
I will go back to the GP if I'm not feeling better in a day or so - the antibiotics run out on Friday I think.
The weirdest thing is I have no phlegm at all. I don't know what the doctor heard on the stethoscope but all I have is a tightness in my chest and an irritation that makes me cough. Oh - and the pain in my shoulder/back.
I have never smoked and I drink loads of water each day.
I guess in the back of my mind I'm worried that its connected with the 'abnormal x-ray' the radiologist flagged up. Would these symptoms be the kind of thing that would be caused by an slightly more prominent hilar?
Hey Lee,
If this does not go away with the antibiotics, sometimes you have to be on another round of them to get rid of a tough URI. So say after a week, or even 5 days if you aren't feeling better you could always call the doctor and ask. Another thing, if you go, go back, and are not feeling validated, please seek further care. If you continue to have this trouble, if you can see someone dealing with asthma allergies and immunology. Maybe they can help prevent things like this. Do you smoke? If you do , this of course will slow healing and make it worse. Do you keep hydrated? If you are thirsty, or not hydrated enough, simple things you can do at home will helpfully help loosen the congestion. Tea, soup, liquids (I have to avoid milk when sick) are optimal. Another thing that helps me with the dry cough when I have it, even though I do have one all the time and it gets annoying is to get hard candies, or throat lozenges (not cough drops...just plain old lozenges. Also, call the pharmacist and ask what you can take safely OTC for congestion. I hope you feel better.
Peace
Can people see this post ok? Its my first time here.