Resolved question:
I am a 57 year old female, over weight. I have been told that I have emphasema by a doctor who did a cat scan approximately 9 months ago. I dont smoke but used to over 25 years old patientago. I started feeling like I was getting the flu around March 2014. But never quite got it. It starts with stomach pain in the middle of my stomach, some cramps, then I feel as if a toxin of some sort is going thru my body. The back of my neck aches, my glands behind my ears hurt, my skin become so sensitive I get chills, my eyes burn, my arms become difficult to lift as if I worked out. I get really fatigued and some times disoriented. I sometimes get nauseous, get a slight headache. I just feel overall lousy. I had a cat scan of my stomach and they found nothing but clogged arteries, which my primary told me not to worry about now. My cholesterol levels are fine. I had a sonogram of my uteris and that was fine. I had plenty of blood tests, all have come back fine. No diabetes, no lyme disease (been tested twice for that). I also had a colonoscopy, and a endoscopy, both turned up nothing really except a little bit of diverticulitis. Also told "dont worry about it." I also just had my gallbladder removed because they thought that was the problem. It wasn't. I am short of breath and dont have any energy to do anything. I cannot get an appointment with a cardiologist until next month. My doctor doesnt have any answers and wants me to take antidepressants. I dont want to take any meds, especially when I know taking an antidepressant isn't going to make whatever it is I have wrong, go away. I have not yet been to see a pulmanologist, which I have an appointment in September for. I started to think I may have some sort of parasites but my primary doesn't think so. I did spend a month before I got sick in Florida and ate quite a bit of fish. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated. I can forward my blood work if needed. What I need more than anything, is a good doctor here in the Albany, NY area that can help me. Thank you very much for any help you can give me. Jackie Lashinsky
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pulmonologist
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com.
Dear patient,
I understand your concern and will do my best to help you.
Can you please explain why your primary had to make a diagnosis of Emphysema?
Can you also describe your shortness of breath? Like how often and when do you get it, aggravating and relieving factors?
You don't seem to have other symptoms of Emphysema, though you have a smoking history.
Were your blood counts normal? What about ESR?
I'd appreciate if you could send me your blood reports for a verification. Please do upload the reports of all the tests you have done so far, including the CAT scans.
Your symptoms are non specific, and at present not fitting into any solid diagnosis of a lung disease.
Also I presume the CAT scan which was done recently did not reveal anything else of great significance.
When was the time you attained menopause? Hot flushes of estrogen deficiency can present like this.
Another possibility is lack of proper ventilation in your room. Its called sick building syndrome. A proper cleaning of room from any moulds, allowing proper air transfer by cross ventilation with adequate air supply and vacuuming of floor, carpet, curtains will do.
Try some aerobics,especially in early morning. They will help to breath more fresh air and keep you refreshed and happy.
Antidepressants have a nerve stimulating action at doses lower than whats used for antidepressant action. If your doctor has prescribed them to you, it would be best to take them and see for improvements instead of being prejudiced.
I hope this was helpful. Please reply to the above questions and upload your test results in the follow-up.
Feel free to discuss further.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Jacob George,
MD, FCCP, IDCCM.