Can anyone answer my question?

[tine]

Hi

Can anybody help please?

I had a CT scan of my chest which the doctor says showed a strong possibility of my having connective tissue disease, now I have had time to digest this information I have some questions. I know that there a loy of you out there with a wealth of experience so I thought that I would pick your brains if you don't mind.

Here goes:

What is 'connective tissue disease' ?when I looked this up all I got was a list of diseases
Why would this show up on a CT scan of my chest?
Does this mean that something wrong with my chest?

Now that I am actually typing out my questions - I can't remember what they were .... how daft is that????

Sorry my brain is blank and refuses to work again - if anyone can help with info on the above I would be really greatful

Tine xx

[Lily]

Hi Tine,

I guess my first question to the doc would be can I have a copy of the report on my CT scan. I would then go and check out what it said,do some research and determine the possible causes for the findings, bearing in mind my own problems and health issues. That would give me a better idea exactly what he means and if it holds some validity. Is he referring you to a Pulmonologist, or some other specialist to investigate this more thoroughly?

I'm not sure how a CT scan would show evidence of a connective tissue disease, but then I'm no doc. I think you need to get him to clarify his statement a bit better, because now he's got you wondering.

We use the term connective tissue disease here to indicate a number of diseases of autoimmune nature, there are other things that could be classed as connective tissue diseases in the broader sense, such as Ehlers Danlos (a sometimes inherited or spontaneous abnormality of the connective tissue) and things like Marfans Syndrome, also either inherited or spontaneous problem - neither of which are autoimmune in nature. Generally though its things like Lupus, Sjogrens, MCTD, UCTD, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleraderma etc they are described as connective tissue diseases.

Have a good talk with him to clarify what he's said. In those early days of investigation I often walked out with more questions than answers. I made sure though they were addressed next appt., time permitting and we developed a better doc/patient relationship because of it.

love
Lily

[alobreto]

I have to agree with Lily that your best bet is to talk to the doc and also get copies of your CT and any other testing results that you don't already have in hand to put into your health file.

It's a good idea, also, to write questions down between doc visits as they pop into your head. That way, not only can you research the answers when you're ready, but you can take the questions to the appointment and ask your doc about YOUR specific situation in relation to your questions.

I wish you well as you move forward!
Angela style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/flowers.gif