Hi there,

On Wednesday, I went to the doctor’s office because I have not been feeling very well the last few months or so. She ordered a chest x-ray because she suspected bronchitis. Well I don’t have bronchitis but she did see, what she thinks is a “small nodule” on my left lung. The x-ray is being sent to a radiologist at the hospital for further review because she wasn’t sure it is a nodule. Hopefully she will have more information on Monday. (she also ordered lots and lots of blood tests) By the way, I am a 45-year-old female and yes, I do smoke.

So, anyway I have a few questions. Hopefully someone can help me out. First question: If this is a “nodule” what questions should I ask her? What type of follow up should she be ordering? She said something about a CT scan being the next step. Does that sound like the right move? Should she be referring me to another type of doctor? She is a GP.

I don’t mean to sound like I don’t trust my doctor its just that we just moved to this area over the summer and Wednesday was my first visit to this clinic. So I have no idea what kind of doctor she is. She did seem very thorough though and very nice :)

Any advise, help or whatever would be greatly appreciated!

JC[FONT=Comic Sans MS]

JC,
THere are 1000 things that run thru a persons mind. All I can tell you is carry a small notepad in your pocket and when you think of a question write it down. When you go see the Doc take it with you! You will go blanc as soon as you walk into that room.... your head spins 100 different ways and then you will have this to refer back to when you need it

Please ask your GP for a referral to a lung specialist and insist on a CT scan. Best wishes to you

I had the same experience. I was not feeling well before Thanksgiving and thought I had bronchitis, my doctor noticed a nodule on my lung. I had a CT scan done and the radiologist said it was an 8mm non specific pleural based nodule. After seeing a lung specialist...she feels it is from exposure to histoplasmosis (bird droppings). From my experience it might be helpful for you to ask these questions:

Is the nodule calicified?
Is the nodule symetric?
Can the nodule be biopsied to confirm or get a diagnosis?
Follow up xrays and ct scans?

The above questions should be able to get you some answers. Best of luck to you and I hope this helped.

Sharlie