hi again everyone,
I hope you all are having an awesome holiday season so far and staying well and taking good care of yourselves.
So, I’ve recently begun to experience what seems to be shortness of breath, it’s very mild. I notice it mostly while talking, particularly on the phone. I have to stop and take a breath more than I ever did before. It reminds me of when I was pregnant but I am not pregnant so I can’t help but be worried about this. I notice it other times too but it’s most noticeable with talking. I have also continued to have back pain in my mid back, what feels like behind the ribcage. It’s a dull ache that comes and goes. It’s been maybe two months of that.
It got so bad that I had to go to the ER a few weeks back and they were concerned that I had a pulmonary embolism because my D-Dimer came back very elevated but after doing a CT scan they ruled it out and kind of just sent me on my way.
They did say that my lung cyst is stable, no changes noted. So that’s good news I guess.
However, the issues have continued. I made an appointment with my Pulmonologist but they can’t see me until January 24th unless they have a cancellation.
So, anyways, I have worked up the courage to finally be open about my real concerns with my lung issues. I’m not sure if any of you would be able to shed light on this, maybe Dave could whenever he has the time?
So, I am a recovering addict. I have been sober for 5 years. I’m ashamed of this but I have really turned my life around. I met my husband and started a family and I am doing great. Well, I was doing great until this CT scan caught this “cyst” in my right lung.
Doing research I have seen that drug abuse can result in emphysema. I guess my ultimate question is could that be related to what I have going on? I was able to see my CT scan at the hospital and they showed me on my lower right lung where I have a large round cyst. It was thin walled and perfectly circular and quite large. It wasn’t connected to any of the sides of my lung but more centered in the middle of the bottom portion. They nurse was quite impressed with the size of it.
Could it be that this is a result of my past? Of damage I had done to my body due to my drug use? Could this turn into something like emphysema as in, being an early manifestation?
My pulmo said that my past has nothing to do with this but I can’t help but wonder. He doesn’t know the details of my past just that I have a history. The details are that I used for a very long time. You wouldn’t think that if you spoke to me but that’s the truth.
Could the pulmonologist be wrong about that and maybe this is actually something else?
I wouldn’t be worried if it weren’t for the symptoms I have began to experience. But they are there, as much as I have tried to ignore them.
I hope I am not offending anyone with this post, this really is just about my journey and health history. You are all wonderful, kind people and I greatly appreciate your time.
I am just trying to educate myself and understand the possibilities of what is going on with me. I realize anything is possible, but how likely is it that my past could have caused the cyst in my lung? I guess that’s the question I have really had all along but been too ashamed to ask.
Anyways, lots of love and light to you all this season. Thanks so much for taking the time to read. I’m feeling afraid and alone in this, I don’t want to worry my family and my counselor just said to set up an appointment with my pulmo but that’s so far away.