1. < Lung Health

Lung nodules & scared!

Posted by pattymac @pattymac, Mar 19, 2017

March 1, 2017 at 7:44 pm
I had a Ct in December 2016,showed 3 nodules 6mm,5mm&4mm in right upper lobe! Last week I had a Ct bc of a different issue and ER Dr told me I had 1 nodule in my right upper lobe that was 8mm and subpleural and a tiny subleural nodule in my left lower lone and small scattered lymph nodes throughout the paratracheal region? What does this mean?Pulmononlogist called finally after a few weeks and finally radiology compared both Cts and was told I need Pet Scan which is next Tuesday. I feel frozen and numb! He said it was triangular in shape and something about right hiler? Gosh I can't even think. Advice please

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tdrell | @tdrell | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @pattymac "I had scope done &!you were right that it didn't hurt :) Everything was fine except..." + (show)
@pattymac

I had scope done &!you were right that it didn't hurt 🙂 Everything was fine except left vocal cord is Not moving:((((( right one is working fine! Dr wants me to wait 6 months to see if voice comes back on it's own before any kind of surgery. If he can't perform whatever surgery he needs to then I will be referred to a teaching hospital bc it's something he can't do? Now I'm worried and still coughing? He said talking is fine but I have to wonder if I'm not making it worse by talking? Any ideas?

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Pattymac...Call the Dr who did procedure and ask if you should talk or not.tdrell

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pattymac | @pattymac | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a left vocal cord that doesn't move as well. I eventually had surgery at Cleveland Clinic (over 300 miles from my home). They put an implant in the non-working cord so that it would close up with the right vocal cord and my voice/swallowing improved greatly. Not all doctors have been trained to do this type of surgery so you should be grateful that he is willing to refer you to someone who is experienced. He might have told you this already, but drinking lots of water (keeping the throat moist) is good, also try not to cough continually or clear your throat (use hard candies or cough drops) to help your throat/vocal cords to heal quicker. The continual coughing and/or throat clearing will keep the area irritated - something that you don't want to do. It will be difficult and will take some restraint on your part - but do your best! Keep in touch and let us know how we can support you over the next few months. Teresa

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Thank you and I will keep posting bc I have to go to pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon again.I have a question though.My cough is because of the biopsy so who should be treating that? Also I would have to go to a teaching hospital in Indiana bc of my insurance so I have no clue? I'm really upset about this voice so does that mean its paralyzed or not since he wants to wait 6 months to see if it comes back? I cant sing at church now and he said i could take halls but drink alot of water and i try to drink 1 iced coffee w/almond-milk and 5/16 ounce bottles of water a day.Also I had tonsils out years ago and have no uvula in my back throat! Im a mess, lol! Infectious disease Dr coming up this month too.I hope its not anything scary

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pattymac | @pattymac | Jun 11, 2017

Also did your voice change with vocal cord implant? Did it hurt and how long off work please?

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2 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a left vocal cord that doesn't move as well. I eventually had surgery at Cleveland Clinic (over 300 miles from my home). They put an implant in the non-working cord so that it would close up with the right vocal cord and my voice/swallowing improved greatly. Not all doctors have been trained to do this type of surgery so you should be grateful that he is willing to refer you to someone who is experienced. He might have told you this already, but drinking lots of water (keeping the throat moist) is good, also try not to cough continually or clear your throat (use hard candies or cough drops) to help your throat/vocal cords to heal quicker. The continual coughing and/or throat clearing will keep the area irritated - something that you don't want to do. It will be difficult and will take some restraint on your part - but do your best! Keep in touch and let us know how we can support you over the next few months. Teresa

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@pattymac Please be assured that you are not a mess, you are doing OK. Try to keep focused on what is good right now. No cancer diagnosis and other things are looking good for you. Not having a voice is difficult. Before my surgery I always sounded like I had laryngitis and always felt too tired to talk. Regarding the specialist, you will get referred to the right specialist for the vocal cord problem when it becomes necessary - and maybe it won't be necessary to have surgery. Perhaps after the next 6 months everything will start coming back to normal. Just wait it out as best you can. I'm praying for you - I know your anxiety is high - but try to take control of it as best you can. Teresa

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @pattymac "Also did your voice change with vocal cord implant? Did it hurt and how long off..." + (show)
@pattymac

Also did your voice change with vocal cord implant? Did it hurt and how long off work please?

Jump to this post

@pattymac My voice was much stronger after the implant. Usually when women have this type of surgery they have a slightly deeper voice than they used to have - but it feels so much better not to be exhausted and not to sound so raspy all the time. I wasn't working at the time I had the surgery - I had just retired, however, the pain is not that terrible after the surgery. They gave me a lot of prednisone (to reduce inflammation) as well as pain pills. I've never liked to take pain pills so I just used Tylenol and it all worked out OK. Please know that if you have to have surgery (and you really don't know that yet) you will most likely do just fine. We are living in a time of medical technology that gives people back their voices and that really is great, ins't it? Keep up your courage, you will get through this! Teresa

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @pattymac "Also did your voice change with vocal cord implant? Did it hurt and how long off..." + (show)
@pattymac

Also did your voice change with vocal cord implant? Did it hurt and how long off work please?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 - Thank you Teresa, for sharing your experience. This is something that I am unfamiliar with. I am confident that your words of 'wisdom' based on your experience are going to be encouraging to @pattymac and to others in this situation.
Hugs,
Rosemary

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Linda | @llwortman | Jun 11, 2017
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@pattymac I'm glad that scope went fine and that it wasn't too uncomfortable. I have a left vocal cord that doesn't move as well. I eventually had surgery at Cleveland Clinic (over 300 miles from my home). They put an implant in the non-working cord so that it would close up with the right vocal cord and my voice/swallowing improved greatly. Not all doctors have been trained to do this type of surgery so you should be grateful that he is willing to refer you to someone who is experienced. He might have told you this already, but drinking lots of water (keeping the throat moist) is good, also try not to cough continually or clear your throat (use hard candies or cough drops) to help your throat/vocal cords to heal quicker. The continual coughing and/or throat clearing will keep the area irritated - something that you don't want to do. It will be difficult and will take some restraint on your part - but do your best! Keep in touch and let us know how we can support you over the next few months. Teresa

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I agree ! linda

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pattymac | @pattymac | Jun 16, 2017

Today at 6:06 am Reply 7829575 Problem?
Hi all, still coughing and cough medicine otc isn't doing much. I went to see Pulmonologist the other day and he put me on an antibiotic for ten days. I asked him if I should still do lung function test and he said it was the least of my problems? I'm not sure how to take that comment either but going with it. I was reading about lung aspiration and it scared me. Since my left vocal cord isn't moving is it just an opening that any food can go to my lung? Why would I still be coughing from mediastinoscopy and bronchoscopy done on May 12th? This is scary

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6 replies
Linda | @llwortman | Jun 16, 2017
In reply to @pattymac "Today at 6:06 am Reply 7829575 Problem? Hi all, still coughing and cough medicine otc isn't..." + (show)
@pattymac

Today at 6:06 am Reply 7829575 Problem?
Hi all, still coughing and cough medicine otc isn't doing much. I went to see Pulmonologist the other day and he put me on an antibiotic for ten days. I asked him if I should still do lung function test and he said it was the least of my problems? I'm not sure how to take that comment either but going with it. I was reading about lung aspiration and it scared me. Since my left vocal cord isn't moving is it just an opening that any food can go to my lung? Why would I still be coughing from mediastinoscopy and bronchoscopy done on May 12th? This is scary

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Hi Pattymac:I have been quietly reading your discussions. I am sorry to hear you are so scared. I want to ask if you are taking time just for you, everyday where you can just sit and quietly relax your body and mind, head to toe? When I was guided to do this, with paced breathing, post lung cancer surgery the healing was significant. My vocal cords felt swollen for a few months. It took at least three months for those delicate areas to calm down, I did not even dare to cry. Give your body, mind and spirit time to heal and with your brilliant mind think about how the healing process can help calm your fears. Have you read any of Dr Amit Sood&apos;s  books? Happiness is one of my favorites because it helped me understand a lot of my being scared. You have a lot of people who truly care about you don&apos;t you? Let me know what you think of Mayo Clinic Dr Amit Sood&apos;s books or his free daily on line messages available through his website. Integrative medicine programs helped me learn how to control my ding scared & now i can literally blow my fears away. You deserve a big cyber hug;-)All my best,linda 

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 16, 2017
In reply to @pattymac "Today at 6:06 am Reply 7829575 Problem? Hi all, still coughing and cough medicine otc isn't..." + (show)
@pattymac

Today at 6:06 am Reply 7829575 Problem?
Hi all, still coughing and cough medicine otc isn't doing much. I went to see Pulmonologist the other day and he put me on an antibiotic for ten days. I asked him if I should still do lung function test and he said it was the least of my problems? I'm not sure how to take that comment either but going with it. I was reading about lung aspiration and it scared me. Since my left vocal cord isn't moving is it just an opening that any food can go to my lung? Why would I still be coughing from mediastinoscopy and bronchoscopy done on May 12th? This is scary

Jump to this post

@pattymac Hi Patty: I agree with @llwortman as she suggested Dr. Amit Sood's book. He really does offer some very practical suggestions for dealing with our emotions. Please consider that.

With regard to your fear of aspiration - I can understand your fears. Do you have any swallowing/choking problems currently?

If you are having swallowing problems I recommend you eat slowly and have small meals. Softer foods that don't require a lot of swallowing might be a good idea as well. Proteins from fish, eggs, etc. might work better than beef, etc. that is harder to swallow.

Keep in touch and give Dr. Sood's book a try - I'm sure you will gain something from it. I wish you a peaceful day! Teresa

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