Feeling overwhelmed

Posted by elduderino2077 @elduderino2077, Apr 1 1:39pm

Where to begin?
I will try to make this as brief as possible.
In 2011, at the age of 38, I suffered a heart attack. During an appointment with a Cardiologist afterwards, he conducted a stress test on the treadmill that saw my O2 level drop into the low 70s. The cardiologist decided that a minor leaking heart valve wasn't as important as getting me in to see a pulmonologist.
The 1st pulmonologist ran PFTs, CT Scans then on to a bronchoscopy followed by an open lung biopsy. His explanation of the results were that I had "End stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.". He added that my lungs were producing a maroon/grey glue like substance with crushed glass in it. He said he didn't know what it was but he'd ask some of his associates. I didn't understand what the other stuff meant so he explained about the scarring, the honeycombing... That there was no fixing it. So I asked the obvious question, "What's the bottom line?". He answers with, "It means you have about 2 years.". With that he decided that my career with the State Department of Corrections was done and I should probably go on disability and take it easy with what time I still had.... So I did...
13 years after that diagnosis I am now on my 3rd pulmonologist. All I can say about the 2nd pulmonologist is that he did annual PFTs and CT Scans and pushed for me to be evaluated for a transplant... Which I almost agreed to.
I decided he didn't have my best interest at heart when I started seeing his assistant instead of him. She proved to be useless when, during my final visit with her, she had a different patients file pulled up on her computer where I could see it and proceeded to tell me they found a nodule in one of my lungs that they wanted to biopsy and tried to show me an X-ray that wasn't mine. I asked, "Are you sure?". She insisted she was, pointing to the nodule on the X-ray. I asked her what my name was. Irritated, she read the name that was on the screen in front of her... I pulled out my driver's license, showed it to her and asked again, "Are you sure?". She was getting pissy at this point. She looked at my license, looked at the screen and got real quiet as clicked on the tab that showed the patient information with a photo of the patient on the screen. She started to apologize but I just walked out without saying another word.
Now my 3rd, and current, pulmonologist looks at my records, looks at me and says, "I don't think you have what they said you have.". I sighed in relief and said, "Thank God because neither do I.". Afterall, I'm feeling pretty good for an 11 year old corpse.
Now granted it's been a slow process so far but, he's now testing me for genetic causes and autoimmune diseases that could be the root cause.
He's already done a biopsy and found pretty much the same stuff the first one found... He even sent a sample to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the Doctor there said he couldn't make heads or tails of it either without seeing the original pathology report.. which I didn't have at that time but have since acquired.
So much for the short version, sorry.
Just needed to vent really.

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frouke | @frouke | Apr 1 3:40pm

My goodness what a scary story, I already have lost a lot of faith with the medical community but after reading what you have been through I am seriously blown away. On top of everything they even gave you such a dismal outlook on your life expectancy, at the end of the day you are still here G-d bless you and sound very much like a very spirited person. Thank goodness you were able to make sense of this situation and made sure that you were listening when they had the wrong file, I like how you walked out of the room when she was trying to apologize, people like that shouldn’t be allowed to get into the profession in the first place, thank you for sharing your experience and I’m glad you’re doing well, amen.

frouke | @frouke | Apr 1 3:44pm

In reply to @frouke "My goodness what a scary story, I already have lost a lot of faith with the..." + (show)

@frouke , p.s. I noticed that your message was posted on 2077, I realize it’s a typo but in some way it works for me:)

stevelc | @stevelc | Apr 2 9:20am

In reply to @frouke "@frouke , p.s. I noticed that your message was posted on 2077, I realize it’s a..." + (show)

@frouke
It’s not a typo but rather part of his username: elduderino2077

frouke | @frouke | Apr 2 10:11am

In reply to @stevelc "@frouke It’s not a typo but rather part of his username: elduderino2077" + (show)

@stevelc okay thanks for explaining this to me.

louiset65 | @louiset65 | Apr 2 1:13pm

My story is about my husband who had a nodule on his lung in December 2025. His appt for the Pulmonary doctor was in January. We got a call night before the appt and they said the dr had to cancel till the end of february. We werent happy so we made appt with drs assistant. Drs assistant and another Dr from office referred him to a Biopsy surgeon. They decided to do a bronchoscopy biopsy in February. He went to the hospital after talking to several nurses with his list of medications. They ALL told him he could take his Blood Thinner. Even at the hospital he mentioned his Blood Thinner and they said it was okay. Now in operating room half way thru the procedure someone realized he should not have taken the Blood Thinner so they decided to Abort the procedure. Then another appt for another Biopsy the end of March . Then they called and said they had to cancel that appt because the hospital operating room wasnt available and they had to push up the biopsy to week later. The biopsy was finally done on 3/31/26. During the biopsy the lung with the nodule collapsed. So a tube had to be put in to inflate the lung so that meant an over night stay. Here we are at 4/2/26 4 month after intial diagnosis of the nodule and we still dont know if the nodule is benign or cancer. Hopefully we will know in a day or two.

louiset65 | @louiset65 | Apr 3 9:03am

In reply to @louiset65 "My story is about my husband who had a nodule on his lung in December 2025...." + (show)

@louiset65 we got the report and it is cancer from his kidney cancer 3 1/2 yrs ago. It metastasize to the lung. We are devastated. He will see his doctor on Monday so we know what we have to do. Has anyone had this experience ? And what was your outcome. Thank You

elduderino2077 | @elduderino2077 | Apr 3 9:04am

In reply to @louiset65 "My story is about my husband who had a nodule on his lung in December 2025...." + (show)

Oh, my... That's another matter all together...
I am so sorry to hear that.

capuccinofrost | @capuccinofrost | Apr 11 9:22am

I will keep Him in prayers. The long time sient waiting to have a procedure and the way it was dealt with is not something a person wants to go through with a procedure in the waiting.

I'm so sorry this is happening now. There are Holistic doctors. They work more in healing than chemo. As with all places it's best to tead their website and try and find out who the person is and how they work.
I've read a large group of people replies being helped holistic.

There are many berbal products that can heal and help.
Chinese acupuncturists can help many times

frouke | @frouke | Apr 11 9:23am

It’s just so sad that you went through so many setbacks before they finally treated your husband, it’s stressful enough when you have a nodule and waiting for help is excruciating. Have they been able to stage the nodule in his lung? I hope they get it out soon, if possible I would go with a lobectomy depending on the size of the nodule, please keep us updated on how things go, I will pray for you and your husband for the best outcome, amen 🙏

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