Now That I Have Been Officially Diagnosed With Atrial Fibrillation.....

[Harrybaby666]

and its under control....I went down to Boston on June 9th and met with my pulmonologist.....I had a cat scan done in January to rule out a Pulmonary Embolism...which was ruled out...BUT.....They have found multiple Pulmonary Nodules predominately on my left lung, lower lobe. They told me that they are too small to biopsy, (they range in size from 2mm to 7mm) and so I have to go for a Cat Scan every 3 months to see if they increase in size.....if they do, chances are it is lung cancer...if not.....who knows......

Harrybaby is scared out of his wits right now.......but I am trying to use humor to deal with it....so...that being said.....Anyone got a cigarette? LOL LOL......KIDDING!!!! LOL

 

[Ross]

Umm hate to say it, but they could biopsy them. I'm betting you have blebs just like I do. They are noncancerous nodules on the outside wall of the lungs. I've had mine biopsied. NOT FUN AT ALL!!!! You wanna know how they do it? They fire a stapler across it to excise it. Cool huh?

The bad thing about these little biatches is that they can burst and cause your lung to collapse. That is what happened with my last surgery. Surgeon saw the blebs while working on my heart and just like every other doctor, just had to mess with them and biopsy one. My lung collapsed as a result and then the whole world went south for me.

 

[Harrybaby666]

If That Is The Case Ross, How Do They Make Sure They Don't Burst On You And Cause Your Lung To Collapse?

 

[Nancy]

Well, finally, you have an answer, and it wasn't all in your head and they will be monitoring it. But, I feel like Ross, that you need to have further definition of just what these things are, then you will have something they can help you with, maybe.

Thank goodness you went to Boston.

 

[Ross]

If That Is The Case Ross, How Do They Make Sure They Don't Burst On You And Cause Your Lung To Collapse?

Nothing you can do about it. They can remove them, but generally, they grow right back. I think I have one leaking on my right lung right now. I can feel the aiir escape, but it seems to be sealing itself off. I'm sure I'll find out soon if that's the case.

 

[Harrybaby666]

You know something there bub.....I hate to say this...but with all the medical issues that I have....one of these days, I am going to wake up dead.....LOL...I am just wondering.....How much can yours or my body take for medical issues?

Nancy, Yes....I am sooooo glad that I am going to Mass General In Boston.....It has made ALL the difference in the world, and they haven't belittled me, harrassed me, but have genuinely been concerned about me....now get this....LOL...One of the local cardiologists who saw me in the hospital here in NH told me NOT to go to MGH as the doctors down there were NOT doctors.......they were only "fellows"......needless to say.....Dr. Lance Briggs...the one who made this statement...will NEVER lay a hand on me again......He said the day that I was discharged to me: "What do I have to do to convince you that your heart is perfectly normal Mr. Lowell? " I said "Nothing......Because I know my body and I know something is wrong....." so he said, ok...we will try one last thing....an event monitor...I went to have it put on the next day....and not 2 seconds after I had it on, BAM!!! I went into A Fib... I am now on Rythmol...and doing great....no thanks to Dr. Briggs......I will stick with my main cardiologists at Mass General Thank You Very Much! LOL

 

[Harrybaby666]

Well, finally, you have an answer, and it wasn't all in your head and they will be monitoring it. But, I feel like Ross, that you need to have further definition of just what these things are, then you will have something they can help you with, maybe.

Thank goodness you went to Boston.

Nancy, I also found out that my PH could be causing a lot of this.....Dr. Cho explained to me that one can have PH and the Pulmonary Artery Pressures can remain stable...as long as a person does NOT exert his or herself...but if they do, then the PA pressures go right through the roof.....she thinks that this may be what is happening to me.....so....that being said, I may have to go to MGH and have a different kind of right heart cath done on my heart....they start off with the the regular right heart cath and if my PA pressures are stable they then put me on an exercise bike with the cath still in to see if the pressures go up....this should be good...LOL

 

[Nancy]

Harry, I believe PH can cause lung blebs, so that may be at the root of your issues. Dr. Cho sounds excellent and has a fine understanding of PH. I think you are finding out why I have preached all along that folks with suspected PH do not just go to any old doctor. They have to get a specialist who knows what the heck they are doing.

Your other doctors probably never saw a case of PH, and had no clue about how to diagnose it or how to treat it.

If that heart cath with exercise is what is needed, so be it. It is a step on the way to getting your condition under some kind of control.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Harry, I believe PH can cause lung blebs, so that may be at the root of your issues. Dr. Cho sounds excellent and has a fine understanding of PH. I think you are finding out why I have preached all along that folks with suspected PH do not just go to any old doctor. They have to get a specialist who knows what the heck they are doing.

Your other doctors probably never saw a case of PH, and had no clue about how to diagnose it or how to treat it.

If that heart cath with exercise is what is needed, so be it. It is a step on the way to getting your condition under some kind of control.

Its funny Nancy, The doctors in my area tried VERY VERY Hard to discourage me from going to Mass General....Its not that I have never wanted to go...but what it took was for me to completely ignore and get angry with the docs in my area and actually go to Boston without any referrals and such and I am EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THEM AND I AM GLAD I TOOK THE STEPS ON MY OWN TO DO THIS.....The cardiologist that dumped me is now once again my SECONDARY cardiologist as he was the one that I felt comfortable with when I had him before...I, however, follow what Dr. Calfon in Boston says...her word is GOLD.....NOT Dr. Eddinger's....As for proper testing for the PH....Dr. Eddinger tried to assure me that I don't have PH...however, Dr. Cho says that I Do......and she is willing to go the extra mile that Dr. Eddinger isn't. I am only keeping him as I do need someone local...but as I have said, Dr. Calfon and Dr. Cho's words are Law in my book...I completely understand where you are coming from...