Lung Rumble- Should I take Prednisone?

I don t recommend the use of plastic shields vs face masks; is is stipulated that the face mask offers superiors protection. The infectious particles are forced upwards from the plastic mask; STILL it is a better choice that nothing.
Since it was indicated that wearing masks were a problem for fractured, my intent was to offer the best worst solution rather that another unsuitable one.

@fracturedd, I agree with @merpreb. You don't want to delay follow-up or medical care because of a mask.

Facemasks are recommended over face shields. Facemasks fit snugly against the face and provide better protection to prevent respiratory droplets from leaving your mouth and nose and potentially infecting another person nearby. See more from American Lung Association here: https://www.lung.org/blog/covid-19-masks-and-shields

Mask brackets are cage-like frames you wear under your mask. Their effectiveness hasn't been tested, but proper fit (like with any mask) is important. See more info here: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-face-mask-brackets-work-and-are-they-safe/

Have you considered contacting the hospital to find out what accommodations may be possible for you?

@merpreb Thank you! I will defenitly give it a try. I'm sure the hospital will let me come in super early, but it is still a very busy hospital. My blood tests were all perfect, my walk test is good... I don't know,, I really hate to expose my self to germs right now. I think the lung rumble is a side effect of going on and off prednisone this past year. I've never taken prednisone in the past. I selpt all night without my chest rumbling and woke up clear lungs- so this is good. Hopefully I will keepp improving. I'm going to place the order now for the mask inserts, I'm excited to try them!

This is probably a stupid question, but does a CT scan show what's causing the rumblings or crackling in the lungs? The doctors could never have figured out my problem with a paralyzed left diaphragm without the various xrays I had, and I should think they would be really important for diagnosis and monitoring purposes for everyone with lung problems. I've been postponing getting a mammogram and going to the dentist because I'm in three high risk groups for COVID and the people doing the procedures are right in your face. I know they are important but not life threatening. I didn't even consider not doing the xrays and tests to get to the bottom of my breathing issues, because they might have been life threatening. I hope you will think about getting the CT scan now if your doctors need the results to evaluate what's really going on with your lungs. A lot can change in a year. The x-ray technicians are masked and can stay several feet away from you; and the hospital where I had them done required masks and made every effort to allocate safe distancing between patients and clean surfaces. Good luck! Nancy

@colleenyoung I'm sure they will accomodate me, however it is still an obstacle course of a hospital and very busy. I just don't feel comfortable. If my doctor said she wanted me to,, then of course I would. She said- she is ok with holding off as of right now. However I'm going to try those plastic inserts, maybe I will feel more confident in be able to keep my mask on. Fingers crossed 😉

@nla4625 - There are no stupid questions on Connect. Crackles are caused by the "popping open" of small airways and alveoli collapsed by fluid, exudate, or lack of aeration during expiration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crackles
I do believe that most scans would show the reason for cracklings but if you have a left paralyzed diaphragm then it most likely would not show up. You will need to ask your doctor why.
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I share your concern about exposure.
I rely on my doctors advice on this one. If a "virtual" is reasonable she opts for that, but in certain situations a "face to face" is called for.
It a RBA, (risk benefit analysis). Do a degree, it is also a measure of your risk tolerance.

Maybe I should clarify my "cracklings" Most people with lung diesease will have cracklings heard only with a stethoscope, very common. Which I have always had in the base of my lungs, but only with stethoscope listening, I have never felt it just with an inhale. The crackling I am complaining about ---- I'm able to clear with a "cough attack" which will allow me to rid my lungs of clear mucus. But it would return at least twice daily, that was not normal for me, I never felt rumbling before. It was driving me crazy because I'm constantly anticipating the next rumble and cough attacks are not pleasant. The past 3 days I have had less mucus and have not felt the crackling, hence I'm able to clear my lungs with just a normal throat clear (like a post nasal drip type feeling). So I'm not sure if any of this makes sense, everyones lung disease is different.