Guest guest Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Hi all, About a month ago I posted wondering about ribcage pain. Everyone was SO helpful - thank you! I did ask my Dr (Rheumy) about Costochondritis & pleurisy, but she said the location of the pain other symptoms did not indicate that. My pain is really localized on my upper right side & sometimes radiates around my back. It is very painful. I have given up on my GP as she just acts like I am bothering her everytime I call & my Rheumy has pretty much taken over. She originally sent me for an ultrasound as she was worried it was my liver & /or gall bladder. All came back ok. Then she sent me for a CT scan wondering if I had a broken rib or pneumonia that did not show up on the original xray. Well... no broken bones/pneumonia, but I have 5 small nodules in my lung as well as unexplained scar tissue on my 2nd & 5th rib on the right side.(Unexplained, as I've never had an injury/surgery there before that I can recall). No broken bones. She suspects (as was my initial self diagnosis) that my coughing from bronchitis tore some muscle/cartilage in that area. She said something like that could take 6 months or so to heal (especially for someone like me who doesn't get much time to rest with a toddler, two older kids, household, job & on & on....) She also said nodules can be common with RA & normally harmless. But I have always been RA factor negative (she just tested me again on Friday) & that she has only seen patients with RA positive showing nodules. My SED rate is about 3x what it normally is (wh/ is generally high to begin with). She is sending me to a pulmonologist & I'm just so worried...she also is confused about my scar tissue. She also pulled me off Orencia (which was helping) because I keep getting sick with infections - sad Can I trade this body in for one that works please?? Thanks for listening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Hi : I went through that with my lungs. The last time I had pneumonia, I had to have several x-rays done. The last one showed many lung nodule's, so my PCP sent me to a lung specialist. He wanted to make sure they were not anything to worry about. Worry I sure did. Over the next 6 months, I had more x-rays, and they were still there. He then sent me for a P.E.T. lung xray. Finally they were gone. He just had to take this time to be sure I had a good outcome, and for 6 months to go by. I have had pneumonia over 30 times in my life, and have Brocnhitis often. My lung lobes are scared from all the Pneumonia bouts. I followed up with several visits with the lung dr. and all is fine now. That was over 3 years ago.. It is good you see a lung dr., and give him time to x-ray you as many times as he needs to do. It is hard not to worry. I wish you the best.  Hugs,  Barbara From: Toz <keptoz@...> Subject: [ ] Lung Nodules? Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 7:34 PM  Hi all, About a month ago I posted wondering about ribcage pain. Everyone was SO helpful - thank you! I did ask my Dr (Rheumy) about Costochondritis & pleurisy, but she said the location of the pain other symptoms did not indicate that. My pain is really localized on my upper right side & sometimes radiates around my back. It is very painful. I have given up on my GP as she just acts like I am bothering her everytime I call & my Rheumy has pretty much taken over. She originally sent me for an ultrasound as she was worried it was my liver & /or gall bladder. All came back ok. Then she sent me for a CT scan wondering if I had a broken rib or pneumonia that did not show up on the original xray. Well... no broken bones/pneumonia, but I have 5 small nodules in my lung as well as unexplained scar tissue on my 2nd & 5th rib on the right side.(Unexplained, as I've never had an injury/surgery there before that I can recall). No broken bones. She suspects (as was my initial self diagnosis) that my coughing from bronchitis tore some muscle/cartilage in that area. She said something like that could take 6 months or so to heal (especially for someone like me who doesn't get much time to rest with a toddler, two older kids, household, job & on & on....) She also said nodules can be common with RA & normally harmless. But I have always been RA factor negative (she just tested me again on Friday) & that she has only seen patients with RA positive showing nodules. My SED rate is about 3x what it normally is (wh/ is generally high to begin with). She is sending me to a pulmonologist & I'm just so worried...she also is confused about my scar tissue. She also pulled me off Orencia (which was helping) because I keep getting sick with infections - sad Can I trade this body in for one that works please?? Thanks for listening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Hi Barb, I've been reading all the RA e-mails, and have not written before, Except when I read about your nodules on your lung. When I ended up in the hospital *(it will be 2 years ago in April), it was the RA doctor who notice the nodules on my lung, and what caused me to be in the hospital. She is the one who actually told the Pulmonary doctor what they were, and from having the RA. Once I was put on the prednisone (20 mg) for a month, I was retested by the Pulmonary doctor, and they had disappeared. I have not had any problems since then. Maybe ask your doctor about being on the prednisone - hope it helps, I know how scary it can be. My prayers are w/you Elena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Hi Elena. It took almost a year for all the nodules to be gone. I had many x=rays and the last one was the P.E.T. x-ray and it showed my lungs were all clear finally. The lung Dr. wanted to be sure it was not cancer. I have been on daily Pred. for almost 6 years now. I started on it when I was diagnosed with RA and have never been able to get off it. I try all the time but so far no luck getting off it. For me it is a wonder drug and I tolerate it very well.  I am glad your lungs are good now. It was very scarey for me going through all the tests until I knew they were gone.  Take care, and rest as much as you can.  Hugs,  Barbara From: elena manfredi <elenamanfredi1@...> Subject: Re: [ ] Lung Nodules? Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 8:27 PM  Hi Barb, I've been reading all the RA e-mails, and have not written before, Except when I read about your nodules on your lung. When I ended up in the hospital *(it will be 2 years ago in April), it was the RA doctor who notice the nodules on my lung, and what caused me to be in the hospital. She is the one who actually told the Pulmonary doctor what they were, and from having the RA. Once I was put on the prednisone (20 mg) for a month, I was retested by the Pulmonary doctor, and they had disappeared. I have not had any problems since then. Maybe ask your doctor about being on the prednisone - hope it helps, I know how scary it can be. My prayers are w/you Elena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2010 Report Share Posted March 6, 2010 I am glad that you are getting help for your cough. My husband coughed for years and his PCP said it was caused by asthma. He was on inhalers with expensive copays. His PCP xrayed his lungs in 2005 but did not xray again until 2008. By that time the damage was done. He has pulmonary fibrosis caused by RA, or rheumatoid lung. He was not diagnosed with RA until after the PF diagnosis. Just don't let a doctor ever tell you that you have to live with a cough. There is always a reason. I wish that we would have gotten a second opinion back in 2005. Lynn in Louisiana, hubby with rheumatoid lung caused by RA > > Glad to hear you got some type answer. I go tomorrow to complain about the > same pain. I hope the ultrasound shows nothing and this nagging cough will > soon go away. I get it every month and telling my PCP goes in one ear and > out the other. With her saying it is due to sinus drainage. Prescribes me a > nose spray and still nothing...no stop coughing even with throat spray and > lozenges. Glad you are at least getting your RA doctor to take notice as > they should. > > Irish > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.