I'm sick, really, really sick

[mesue]

I went to the dr. and he ordered a lot of tests on my lungs since I have breathing problems, I was hoping he would tel me I had some sort of problem that could be fixed with medication and life changes, but no that was not the news I got.

My lungs have calcified, big parts of them have virtually turned into hardened material and will not expand, my breathing is at 68% and there is no meds or much that can be done according to him, he is a pulmonary dr.. He said for me to come back in 6 months to see if it has gotten any worse, eeek!

He said he had never seen this in a woman before, he seemed perpelexed, he says this happens with exposure to asbestos and mining and severe cases of untreated pneumonia that caused scar tissue. I have had pneumonia and I think I have been exposed to asbestos.

[freeby4me]

Oh my gosh, that is super shocking. Did he give you oxygen or anything to help? You cant take an inhaler or a nebulizer or something, to help at all? Wow that is really terrible, Im so sorry.

[lassss]

If you smoke, now is the time to stop. He may put you on steroids and/or oxygen. I am sorry to see you going through this. It is very difficult to breathe. Take care of yourself !

[chib44]

Iam so very sorry your so sick hope you have more good days than bad Ill keep you in my prayers.Stay strong

[nightrider127]

Mesue, I am so sorry that you are sick like that. I hoe you get to feeling better real soon.

[mesue]

Thank you all. No he did not give me anything, just an appointment to be back in six months. I barely had anytime to spend with him, he talked to me about four minutes and then I found myself out in the hallway.

I did ask him about medication, but he said there was none to help me. I then ask him what I could do, he said surgery was a possibility to scrape the stuff off of my lungs, but that would only be if things got severe.

I quit smoking years ago and was cncerned about emphysema, but he said he did not see any of that.

Right now I feel pain in my lung area and can't walk very far without shortness of breath and I have to sit down a lot to catch my breath. I really don't know what to do, hubby wants me to get a second opinion and get an asbestos test.

[sheila_361]

This sounds like what my mom passed away from, they called it Non Specific Interstitial Lung disease and I hate to scare you, there is no cure for it , they can give you steroids but they only work for 1 in 10 people and they just help to give you a little bit better of a life it doesn't cure it.

I hope you start to feel better and the dr can help you.

[Jenefer3]

I think you should get a second opinion if it will make you feel better. You never know, you might like the second doctor more or he/she might spend more time with you explaining things to you and answering your questions. 6 months seems like a very long time to just wait and see, but that's just my thoughts.

Regardless of what you decide to do, my thoughts will be with you :hug

[Army-Mom]

I will be keeping you in my prayers.

[cabby92]

A doctor delivering that sort of life altering news should spend more than 4 minutes before shoving you out the door. If you are not comfortable with this doctor and his manner shop around. It's hard to be a partner in your own care when you aren't provided with proper information.

When my son was diagnosed with cancer the doctor spent several long appointments explaining the diagnosis, treatment plans and possible outcomes. He even drew pictures. That's the kind of doctor you should partner with for your own care.

[catdance]

Oh, I am so sorry to read this!
I really hope there is another Dr., you can see to find out more specific information and ways to ease your pain and hopefully a way to help this problem.
I will keep you in my prayers!

[Pepsi4me]

:hug

[VenuStar]

hugs

[ladybugva]

I am so sorry to hear about that. I would consider a second opinion or at least call some one and tell them you were diagnosed w/ this and tell them you want time scheduled to ask questions.

[tsquared]

Yes definately get a second opinion.

[dcut4]

I agree with everyone about getting a second opinion. Most insurance companies will pay for one but you might want to check that out first.

Remember that the doctor WORKS FOR YOU. You are paying him good money for care and if you are not happy take your business elsewhere. For him to lay this type of news on you and then basically walk away...fire him and get someone new.

[gmyers]

I believe you should see another pulminolgist too. They wouldn't let my husband leave the hospital without oxygen and he was getting 83 percent. You really should be on oxygen if you're getting 68 percent. I can't believe he didn't prescribe it for you. My husband has a hard time breathing with the amount he's getting. You really must be having hard time. The operation he was talking about. I saw a man on the news that said he could hardly walk to the kitchen and back before he had it, after he had it he said he felt a lot better.

Please go to another pulminologist. I've watched how my husband suffers with breathing spells and he's getting 83 percent. You must be really having problems breathing. There's no need for that doctor to let you suffer like that. If he wont give you oxygen go to the emergency room and tell them the level oxygen you're getting they'll prescribe it for you. It's terrifying not being able to breathe and you shouldn't have to go through that when oxygen will help you.

[Lild]

I would seek a second opinion too....even if it's just to get a doctor that will talk with you more if the results are the same...
I will be praying for you...I'm so sorry..

[BeanieLuvR]

I have to agree with everyone else about getting a second opinion. You deserve more time talking about your condition to get to ask questions. It was terrible him delivering that news and shoving you out the door. I will be praying for you. Hugs.

[Mom2-3boys]

My dad has interstitial lung disease, and it can be vary hard on him. He has the same, walk a little then gets out of breath, some days it's worse then others like very humid days. His is a results of pneumonia and scar tissue from several blood clots in his lungs. Now whenever he has serious breathing problems he has to be seen because for him a flare up of his ILD is very similar to when he has had blood clots, can't take any chances.

I too would get a 2nd opinion!

[YankeeMary]

I would be outraged. Do not take this doctors lack of care. Call and DEMAND a follow up, get your results, let him know that he is uncaring and that you are disappointed. Then take your records and find a real doc that will help you through this, even if the end results are the same, you will have understanding and compassion to get you through it. I am sorry you have an illness and that the doc you went to is so uncompassionate.

[bichonlove]

Actually if you can get the diagnosis of the problem stemming from asbestos- there is money that a lawyer can get for you in monthly payments. you would have to check on line for it. Its worth checking into.

[sheila_361]

From what I've heard, the Term Non Specific Interstitial Lung Disease is so that people can't sue for asbestos poisoning, after my mom passed from this disease, a lady whose brother died from the same thing told my dad that.

[gmyers]

My husband wanted me to tell you to please go see another doctor. He knows what you're going through and it made him mad that the doctor treated you that way and didn't even give you oxygen to help you breathe better. We really do hope you find someone that will help you and I'll keep you in my prayers.

[maranatha4]

My husband wanted me to tell you to please go see another doctor. He knows what you're going through and it made him mad that the doctor treated you that way and didn't even give you oxygen to help you breathe better. We really do hope you find someone that will help you and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Excellent advice. Please get a second opinion.

[Shann]

I would be outraged. Do not take this doctors lack of care. Call and DEMAND a follow up, get your results, let him know that he is uncaring and that you are disappointed. Then take your records and find a real doc that will help you through this, even if the end results are the same, you will have understanding and compassion to get you through it. I am sorry you have an illness and that the doc you went to is so uncompassionate.

I completely agree w/ Mary, what kind of "Dr" gives their patient such bad news and then scoots them out the door all in 4 minutes? :hug

also.. can't he be reported for not really doing his full job? yeah he diagnosed you but he didn't even give you time to ask q's and get answers and whatnot.

[tngirl]

I agree with your hubby and the others, you need a second opinion. I hope things work out and you get better. Bunches of us miss you and our 'heated" debates...it isn't the same without you!

[speedygirl]

Sorry to know that you have to go through all of this. I agree with the others, get a second opinion and find a doctor that is proactive and doesn't give you anything but a "go home, there's nothing we can do and come back in six months." That's just bad medical practice to give someone bad news then offer them no solutions or even support.

[msmom79]

I AM SO SORRY -I DO HOPE YOU GET TO FEELING BETTER SOON-AND MAYBE A SECOND OPINION IS IN ORDER(((((Mesue)))))

[wobblypops]

No advice from me but I will keep you in my thoughts.

[mesue]

Thank you everyone for your kindness and advice. I guess I never really thought too much about the fact that if only 68% of your lungs are working properly, I should be on oxygen. Maybe that is why I have become so forgetful and stay sleepy all of the time.

I am going to go see my nurse practitioner and see if there is another pulmonary specialist in my area and also ask for the tests to see if I have this from asbestos.

[gmyers]

My husband stays tired a lot too. The doctor told him lack of oxygen will do that to you. You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel with the oxygen. We had to stop using it last year because we didn't have insurance anymore. And now that my husband has it again he said he can really tell a difference in how he feels. Not as tired and out of breath as much. I really hope you find a good doctor and feel better soon. Breathing problems are hard to deal with. My husbands pulmonologist told him that if you're getting less than 85 percent osygen you're not getting enough to do the everyday things you need to do. Like just walking around or stuff. Thats why you're so tired all the time. He said you're working twice as hard to breathe as someone that doesn't have a lung problem and that will wear you out too. Thats whats happening to my husband and I believe to you too.

[Mom2Shaun]

I'm so sorry to hear you're going thru this! It certainly sounds as if a 2nd opinion is a must, as well as oxygen. I hope you get everything you need and start to feel a lot better immediately! Hang in there!

[jcw]

will be keeping you in my prayers

[ssgjeg]

Always get a second opinion. As many as necessary until you get a doctor you feel comfortable with. Also make a list of questions to take with you to ask the doctor. With news like this it's so easy to forget things that you wanted or planned to ask. I hope you feel better soon and maybe with a different doctor better care.

[PrincessArky]

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

[Freebeemom]

Wow, I am really sorry for your situation. I would definately go and get a second opinoin. There are law suits that you can file regarding asbestos exposure...not that this is the solution at all. I am so sorry for your situation.

[squirt661]

I am also so sorry to hear this, and you should get a second opinion. My husband uses a portable nebulizer and 2 poofer hand held canisters also twice a day. It's no fun watching him needing help to breath. Prayers from me for you also.

[BlueBerriTerri]

I'm sorry, mesue. You are in my thoughts and prayers, and BIG HUGS to you.

[iluvmybaby]

Thank you all. No he did not give me anything, just an appointment to be back in six months. I barely had anytime to spend with him, he talked to me about four minutes and then I found myself out in the hallway.

I did ask him about medication, but he said there was none to help me. I then ask him what I could do, he said surgery was a possibility to scrape the stuff off of my lungs, but that would only be if things got severe.

I quit smoking years ago and was cncerned about emphysema, but he said he did not see any of that.

Right now I feel pain in my lung area and can't walk very far without shortness of breath and I have to sit down a lot to catch my breath. I really don't know what to do, hubby wants me to get a second opinion and get an asbestos test.

Get a second opinion and as asbestos test, my prayers are with you and your family, I hope that you are able to find something to help you

[sunniekiss]

Sorry to hear about this. I would also be looking for a second opinion. Is there a teaching hospital near you?

[buglebe]

You happened to get an uncaring dr. Go to another dr. Get the diagnoses written down, in writing you can read and then start researching the diagnoses yourself. That is how we find out most about ourselves. Dr's are not supposed to give artificial hope but they are not supposed to dash any hope and give a diagnoses like that with no explanation. I have been at the bedside and seen some sorry *** dr's at work, move on to another one. For a life threatening illness or one that is going to make you feel as miserable as this one does you need a sympathetic dr who is going to make you feel as good as possible and live as long as possible.