Chest Xray

[zara]

Why would doctors need a chest x-ray if they know what the problem is?

My doctor mentioned that maybe I should have this done. I've been having recurring pains for about a month. It started out as sharp pains and she gave me a shot which helped, but then they came back. Talking exacerbates the symptoms. Then I started having a dry cough and some shortness of breath so I went back and it turns out I got bronchitis. So, she put me on antibiotics and gave me an inhaler of albuterol. This helped me to breathe, but the pains never completely went away. Now they are dull or catching, sometimes sharp. She can still hear sounds when I breathe.

What other information is needed? I don't get it. :blink:

[zara]

PS. Yes, I am a stubborn patient.

[Lily]

Doc is probably checking to make sure you havent got pneumonia which will show up on x-ray. Also lots of other things show up on x-ray, sometimes pleural effusion i.e. ab accumulation of fluid in the lining of the lungs related to lupus. So the doc is doing the right thing by you. Whenever tests are ordered then ask the doc why they are doing them,it's part of a good doc patient relationship and after all it's your body :)

love
Lily

[AnM]

Hey Zara & Welcome,

Chest x-rays are important for doctors to check. This can let your doc. know if there is anything else going on.

The hard time breathing- shortness of breath- and stabbing pains, is something very important to check and make sure nothing else is going on. It could just be Pluerisy, which many of us get, and a chest x-ray can help to see that.

So, it's a very common exam to be done, and it's good she is doing it. Since, u had said u have symptoms lasting even after the Bronchitis.
Although, it could just be the Bronchitis still there a bit.

So, you don't know for sure, and this will help know what's going on. Chest x-rays don't take that long at all. So, it will be fast and painless. ;)

Wish u the best on it n hope you feel better (I'm also trying to get better from Bronchitis).
Take care,
Alicia :coffee: :flowers:

[zara]

I should communicate better with my doctor. If I write things down I'm fine. I'm one of those people that when I walk out of the office, I think--now why didn't I say this or that, and why didn't I ask such-and-such question.

My initial reaction to the chest x-ray was that it is expensive and overkill. I'm pretty sure I don't have pneumonia. My chest doesn't hurt all the time either. It did this weekend some and while I was in LA off and on. At the onset of the problem it hurt most.

When/if it gets unbearable again, I'll have her do the x-ray. :nurse:

[Lily]

Hi again Zara,

If you can afford it I'd have the test. Your words keep ringing in my ear, "my Grandmother died from lupus" and that your mother didnt realise how sick she was. Incidentally my mother didnt realise how sick she was, and she died young probably from lupus, not diagnosed because of her stubborness partly and partly because her gp wasnt very knowledgeable and she didnt follow things up.

Soooooo when my problems became known I figured I owed it to myself and my family to secure the best medical care I could, get diagnosed and get on some medication to help. If you arent diagnosed and dont have the diagnostic tests they want you to have then this may gather speed and you could find yourself surprisingly quite ill one day. Better to tackle it now wouldnt you say?

I know the tests are expensive and we have to go for so many, but if they can establish what you have for sure and start you on correct meds now then things have got to be a whole lot better for you. It's easier to damp down something now rather than wait till it becomes a big ogre that's harder to control.

Please give it some thought. Lupus is very very unpredictable if that's what you have.

love
Lily

[zara]

Heart failure!

If I start swelling I'll get checked out. I just hate spending money on things that are unnecessary. Today, I'm feeling better. I understand the concern. That's why i'm brushing up on my knowledge. So many people talk about having a weird symptom here or there and then they go to the doctor and get tested and they find nothing. It takes time, I know. Maybe I'm developing lupus, maybe not. You guys are very supportive though and I appreciate that.

[AnM]

Zara,

Just my opinion; but why wait for something to become unbearable? If there's something going on ie. your chest, etc., then u could find out sooner than later and get treated.

A lot of times when u wait for the unbearable, u end up in the hospital, b/c now it's worse than it was.

I personally, don't think it's "spending money on the unnecessary" when it comes to our health. Our health should be worth the money. don't ya think.

I'm just concerned as u said, and u should take these things as the doc. being concerned, and necessary.

Things can linger, and then before u know it, can become even more that unbearable. It's just the reality of things that need to be taken seriously and carefully.

If u do have Lupus, or another illness, it's always important to keep yourself checked up on. Chest x-rays are actually also part of the initial exam w/ a rheumy.

Just think about it. I hate for something to be going on w/ u, and u not checking it, and getting the meds. u should be on that could help and not have it get worse. If it's the Bronchitis still lingering and u still have it and don't get checked, I know u said u don't think u have Pneumonia, but it could Very well turn in to Pneumonia.

Take care n I hope u continue to feel better!!!
Alicia :coffee: :flowers:

[zara]

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking everything you're saying into consideration. I'm trying to just take things day by day and not jump the gun. Things just get worse if I get worked up about it.

[bananawear]

Zara- I first discoverd that I had lupus related heart problems through a simple chest xray for pneumonia and an enlargement of the aorta showed up. I also had pleurisy at the time. Once they got my pneumonia under control ( I had bronchitis that was not going away) they got me in to see a cardiologist for an echocardiogram. and they found that I have the enlargement of the heart and also a thickened heart valve that is causing an irregular heart beat. This - orignially detected from a chest exray from a cough.

Now I am on two different heart medications that help to regulate my heart rate and keep my blood pressure up high enough to prevent dizzy spells. I'm glad my dr. found out about it early rather than me being sick for a long time with out knowing what the heck was going on.

A chest ex ray is not expensive and only takes about 10 minutes to do, they usually to a front and side view of your chest.

Take good care- Chris

[zara]

I'll see how it goes this weekend and if things still persist I'll make an appointment with my doctor. I have to admit, I've had some dizziness lately and I tried a light workout tonight and couldn't go past level one on the stationary bike. Level one is supposed to be nothing! I was getting funny a feeling though.

It was a little embarrassing. I put my sweatshirt over the screen so people couldn't see how much effort level one was causing me. :(

My initial question that started this thread is beginning to sound a little bullheaded to me.

[Maxx]

Follow up chest x-rays are for your safety.
The docs usually want to see if there is an improvemnt.
If not, then it helps them narrow down the source of the problem so you don't end up in the hospital with pneumonia, Congestive Heart Failure, or something worse.
If you are feeling "lightheaded" I would suggest going back to the doctor.

Good Luck,
Deb

[Clare.T]

My initial question that started this thread is beginning to sound a little bullheaded to me

To me too. Get off your bike ! Or rather on your bike , to doc's.

Hugs from Clare :flowers:

[hurley]

Hi Zara - I have had pneumonia every year for the past 4 years (gp said I'm getting a pneumonia and flu shot this year). I can tell you that it doesn't always hurt ALL the time. Sometimes an occasional pain, sometimes upon taking a deep breath, and as it gets worse upon taking every breath and then eventually the pain becomes excruciating and does not go away. Regular doses of antibiotics won't take care of it. They might ease the sx for a while but it will return with a vengence. This has been my experience, anyway. :(

I can't tell you what is causing your symptoms, but I would do all I could to take care of my lungs.


Hugs.

:flowers:

Julie

[zara]

Ok. I made an appointment to see my doctor. The past couple of days have been miserable. Sunday night I hardly slept at all because I had pain that fluctuated from feeling like someone was sticking a dagger in me to catching pain. :o

Yesterday, I was just depressed over it all and still in pain but not as bad. I popped into chat for a split second, but didn't feel like talking.

Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully they can fix me.

[Clare.T]

Way to go ! Let us know what happens,

Clare

[Maxx]

Glad to hear you are going!


Deb

[zara]

I went to see my doctor on Monday after having a really crappy week last week. However, when the appointment came around I wasn't feeling too bad, which of course is dismaying because I wanted to be able to show my doctor my symptoms.

So because of that I was all worried she would blow me off but she didn't. She listened to everything I was saying and regarding me seriously. I simply presented my history since our last visit and in the interest of objectivity, let her come to conclusions.

:nurse: We did the chest x-ray which came back clear--THANK GOD--I was getting worried about this because of all the pain, plus my pulse is high a lot. (It would be bad if it showed pathology on a day I was feeling ok!)

She took some blood and put me on a 6-day course of tapering methylpredinosolone. I'm supposed to check back in a couple of weeks. :thumbs:

[zara]

I'm feeling like poo again. The medication helped, but it is over now--except for prevacid, which isn't doing anything for me. The pleurisy is hinting at me again, but it's not bad. My joints hurt and I have no energy.

My doctor checked my EBV again. It is still "reactivated". I've looked this up and it is usually associated with dysfunctional immune systems--great. :cry:

I'm not sure if she did any other blood work.

Things aren't looking good for me and I don't know what to do. I think my doctor is waiting for my blood work to flip positive, but she won't say what she thinks is going on...dodged the question.

The infectious disease people mentioned that maybe I should see a rheumatologist a while back, but I figured they were overreacting until I looked into it--and kept getting worse.

Anyway, I hope I feel better tomorrow.

[Lily]

Sorry you are feeling so lousy again. I think the infectious disease people gave good advice, a Rheumy referral should be next on your agenda - good luck and let us know how you get along.

love
Lily

[zara]

Yeah, I know Lily. I'm just apprehensive about it.