Ask the Health Librarian

Hi am just wondering if you ever had any diagnosis of your problem.  I see your post was 6 months ago.  Please let me know if you have any more information.  What happened, did you find out what the problem was and how are you now?

I am 40 - two children, have a beautiful baby girl 16 months old, and have noticed a slight wheeze since pretty soon after her birth. Noticed when I used to breast feed her or rock her to sleep at night.  It was and is still very slight wheeze.  I am also coughing and throat clearing.  I am fortunate to have good insurance and went to my pulmonologist who ran Xray- then CT Scan- b/c my cough is chronic.  They found a small nodule in my lung -very small, and its shape was what they termed benign in appearance.  I went back after two months and had another CT scan, which showed no growth.  I just had another CT Scan last week and wont find out results until next week when my doctor is available.  It has been 4 months since my last CT that showed no growth so I am worried and anxious awaiting results.  I am a former smoker, since 19 years old- more of a social smoker but would binge smoke on the weekend- so I dont know what to expect.  I am still wheezing but very upset that my doctor never seems to be able to hear the wheeze.  I hear it very clearly when I am at home, not all the time but definitely when I exhale fast and hard.  Maybe next week he will hear it.  From what I understand you have to have a nodule monitored for two years with no growth before it is determined to be benign.  Even if that is the case, I am very worried as to what this wheezing is coming from.  They have me on reflux medication for a year now- allergy medication and albuterol inhaler but the wheeze is still there.  I feel also at times a little rattling feeling in my windpipe when I exhale.  I am just wondering how long its going to take for someone to find out what is causing this wheeze and I guess sooner or later it should show up on my chest CT scan-  CT scans are supposed to find even really small tumors.....I just wish I could breath properly with no wheeze, no cough, no mucus........

I am surprised your doctor didnt order a chest Xray, he should have at least offered it to you- they are not that expensive. I think at my doctors office the price they submit to insurance is about 25$- they could have cut you a deal since you are paying cash.  Its just not right.   Also if you are still having this coughing up blood and not breathing properly with wheezing........can you find a public hospital in your area and go to the emergency room......tell them you cant breath etc.......they are obligated to take you in- you will definitely have all the tests performed that you will need to diagnos the problem.......and if you cant pay they are still obligated to take you.