Nodule on Lung - Tell me this'll be okay...

[Dancemom03]

DH fell again last weekend. He went to the ER on Monday for xrays to make sure that he didn't crack a rib. Thankfully, they were badly bruised, still very painful but not unbearable. They didn't mention seeing anything abnormal before he left but in today's mail he received a certified letter from the hospital saying that there was a nodule on his lung that might require investigation.

His father, grandfather, and sister all had emphysema. His grandfather, and his sister died from it. His dad died at 60 after colon/prostate cancers spread. Other DSIL had uterine cancer but is in remission.

It's a holiday weekend. The doctor hasn't returned our calls - despite four calls and frantic conversations/promises from his office staff. The office is now officially closed. DH already takes anti-anxiety meds and, with prior heart issues, the last thing he needs is to be left in limbo worrying until Monday or Tuesday.

To complicate matters, we're scheduled to leave for vacation at the end of next week. By Monday, we'll be within that five day cancellation penalty mark.
He's really looking forward to time away. It's been a hard year and we had to cancel our scheduled vacation last year.
For me though, his health comes first and I'm more than ready to cancel right now. I almost picked up the phone a few minutes ago. The only thing stopping me is that I'd feel really awful if it turned out to be a minor issue and, in our holiday weekend/no news panic, we over-reacted.

Anybody know anything about a "nodule" on the lung showing on the x-ray? It won't stop me from worrying but any info/opinions right now would be greatly appreciated...

 

[rparmfamily]

I've been told I had a nodule in my lungs, I think. My memory is bad, LOL.

I had hurt my arm/shoulder and it showed up in the xrays. They were white spots (like quarter sized) in my lungs...several of them.

I got a MRI and it ended up being calcium deposits. The doctor in the ER asked me if I grew up in the midwest (I was living on a military base in Italy when they found the deposits), which I thought was a strange question. I said actually yes...I grew up in Ohio, by Cincy and he said asked if I grew up by farmland or on a farm and again, I said yes. (grandfather had a farm in the 80's that I was on a lot) He said something about the type of fertilizer used in the area and the birds ingesting it and the chemical getting into the air thru their droppings? Basically he said I had inhalded some and my body attacked it and calcifiled it.

I was freaked for the week while I waited to get in for my MRI...my father died from lung cancer so I was really worried.

 

[happygirl]

I will send up a prayer for you

 

[chirurgeon]

I am a cancer survivor and get regular CTs for screening. My oncologist mentioned something on my lung, but as it has never changed in the multiple CTs. I had several bouts of bronchitis in my life and the dr. said that was probably the reason for the mark/whatever on my lung. to you and your DH.

Kim

 

[Disney Doll]

I know it's easy for me to say, but lung nodules are often nothing more than an inhaled "something" that the body calcifies around. My mother has one...she has had a couple of CT scans for it a few years back, it hasn't changed, who knows what it is??? She didn't grow up very rich or with very good health care, so it could have been something from her childhood or whatever. She's almost 83 now and hanging in there pretty well, even with her lung nodule!

Truthfully, even if it is "something", it's not like you are going to speak with an MD Monday and be in the hospital Tuesday, so don't cancel your trip. Chances are, it's a minor thing and the hospital is doing a little "CYA" by notifying you. In general, most x-rays/scans/MRIs etc. are "read" fairly quickly after being done and if they thought there was a "major" issue, they'd have called immediately, not sent a letter that would arrive a few days later.

If DH isn't symptomatic...constantly coughing, short of breath, coughing up blood, pain (other than the rib pain)...then I would speak with his MD on Monday, but don't panic.

I know,easy for me to say. I always tell people "Don't bleed until you get shot".

 

[JanaNs]

You don't need to answer this and it may not matter but does your husband smoke? My mom had lung cancer and when it was first detected it was in an xray but they didn't call it a nodule they said it was a shadow. They had to do a broncoscopy to get tissue to do a biopsy. I did google lung nodule (which I wouldn't suggest for medical issues because it's information overload) but it did say that the majority of lung nodules are non-cancerous. I am also saying a prayer for your DH and you.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have a bunch of them - turns out to be sarcoids, and mine is asymtomatic. I am supposed to go for lung function tests yearly, but I'm not very good at going. However, I would go if I felt my breathing was becoming more difficult. It was scary going for a routine xray (I used to smoke), and getting a call from my doctor a few hours later, telling me she needed to see my right away! I ended up having a full lung biopsy, and now have a lovely scar.

 

[Dancemom03]

Thanks everyone. Still waiting on a call from his doctor. We'll be finding a new one very shortly as this isn't that unusual lately and I think DH is finally becoming almost as frustrated with his doctor's failure to routinely follow-up on things as I am.

He hasn't smoked since he was 20 - more than 30 years ago. We do live in the country but not on a farm. He works in automotives though so he's always inhaling something he shouldn't so perhaps that's it. It does make me feel much better. I googled lung nodule but after reading a few of the articles, decided I was better waiting for more info. I just wish it'd come soon. I really am way too Type A when it comes to my family and their health/happiness.

DH has had a real issue with strength in his legs for a few years now. His knees frequently give out without warning and he collapses - that's what made him fall and prompted the ER visit. His GP has done a lower lumbar MRI and various blood tests. Testosterone injections have followed the MRI without improvement but, despite follow-up visits, nothing else has been suggested. (sadly, his dr is more of a rubber stamp than an explorer and, until now, he's been fine with that)
The ER doctor noticed that the weakness has now begun to affect his arms and ordered an MRI of his brain, referring him to a neurologist we'll meet later in the month - as long as nothing horrible shows up on yesterday's MRI that requires immediate attention that is.

We'd just gotten over the shock of the need for a brain MRI and worry about possible implications when the certified letter from the hospital arrived today. I'm beginning to wonder if we shouldn't just turn off the cellphones, throw the bags in the van, and go now before anything else goes wrong. It's been one of those stressful & scary kind of weeks. They say it'll likely be Tuesday before yesterday's MRI report is back, and now we have a nodule to worry about too...

 

[Disney Doll]

Sounds like you do need a new MD for DH...with unexplained leg weakness which now seems to be extending to his arms and an MD that isn't an good diagnostician...well, you need a good diagnostician. The neurologist is a good thing to do as well....

I often caution people when they read things on the Internet about thier conditions that they should try and read things from reputable sites...WebMD is usually pretty good as is the Mayo Clinic site. Often, every horror story about a condition is what people wnd up seeing, and they get all panicked over what turns out to be nothing.

Best of luck to you & DH....

http://mayoclinic.com/health/lung-nodules/AN01082

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Just wanted to send you a hug, friend.

Keep us updated!

I would go and have fun at Disney as long as DH isn't experiencing any other symptoms.

 

[Dancemom03]

Thanks everyone. Still no word from the doctor. I guess we'll be lucky to hear from him on Monday now. By then I'll be researching other doctors in the area. Many of the local GPs, ours included, aren't accepting new patients. The area has just grown too fast for them to catch up. I'll update when I find something out.
After talking, we're still planning on going but I'd have no problems cancelling either. well.... ummm... okay, I admit it... I'd pout a bit... BUT his health is more important than anything else... we can always plan another vacation when he's able to fully enjoy it.

Before this happened, I was planning on renting him an ECV from one of the medical suppliers off property so he'd have it for the entire stay. It's not that he can't walk but there's no telling when he might fall. He fussed that he'd be embarassed but now that appears to be moot point. An ECV it most certainly will be, or we'll be sitting around the BC together while the girls and our friends all go out without us...

Muwahaha... after more than thirty-two years of marriage, resistance is futile...

 

[imabrat]

It'll be okay.

I'm a bone cancer survivor, and the type I had, if it relapses it shows in the lungs mostly. 3 months after being announced in remission, a nodule showed in my lung. It turned out to be due to 2 things; The contrast from the CT scan picked up "extra", meaningless stuff (the nodule) which was due to a cough I had at the time.

Please don't worry. If it was something bad, they most likely would've called back much, much sooner.
And definitely find a new doctor or get a second opinion!

 

[jlima]

Muwahaha... after more than thirty-two years of marriage, resistance is futile...

Good Attitude!

 

[Ohiodislover]

I've been told I had a nodule in my lungs, I think. My memory is bad, LOL.

I had hurt my arm/shoulder and it showed up in the xrays. They were white spots (like quarter sized) in my lungs...several of them.

I got a MRI and it ended up being calcium deposits. The doctor in the ER asked me if I grew up in the midwest (I was living on a military base in Italy when they found the deposits), which I thought was a strange question. I said actually yes...I grew up in Ohio, by Cincy and he said asked if I grew up by farmland or on a farm and again, I said yes. (grandfather had a farm in the 80's that I was on a lot) He said something about the type of fertilizer used in the area and the birds ingesting it and the chemical getting into the air thru their droppings? Basically he said I had inhalded some and my body attacked it and calcifiled it.

I was freaked for the week while I waited to get in for my MRI...my father died from lung cancer so I was really worried.

Same exact thing w/ me. I had a CXR last year, and had to have a follow up CT scan, but this is very very common in Ohio. My Dr about fell over when I told him that my childhood playhouse was in an old chicken coop. Well, we did clean it, and put up curtains

To the OP, Hope everything is OK. Best wishes. Too early to panic though, IMO. But how scary.

 

[powellrj]

Same exact thing w/ me. I had a CXR last year, and had to have a follow up CT scan, but this is very very common in Ohio. My Dr about fell over when I told him that my childhood playhouse was in an old chicken coop. Well, we did clean it, and put up curtains

To the OP, Hope everything is OK. Best wishes. Too early to panic though, IMO. But how scary.

I have the samething. I know just about everyone in my family has them and we have never lived in Ohio or on a farm, but we grew up in the Ohio valley part of Indiana. The Richmond, Connersville area. I know its easy to say, but try to relax over the weekend. They won't do anything over the weekend anyway because my DDIL is in the hospital right now waiting until Monday for tests. Good luck and try to relax.

 

[Disney Doll]

Truthfully, even if it ended up being bad news, I probably wouldn't cancel a vacation that's a week away. A week isn't going to make a bit of difference in any treatment plan.

 

[chell]

Go on vacation to escape from the real world, sounds like you guys need it. You need to escape from all the stress you both have been under. Go and have a wonderful time!