Question about a lung cavity....need advice

[vestgirl]

I'm going to first explain my situation and then ask the question.
I have run into some bad luck lately with getting lung infections.
For six months last year, I kept on telling my doctor that I
was sick and they did not know what I had. I kind of bounced back
and forth from oral antibiotics and Tobi trying to kill what
they had thought was inside growing in my lungs. Finally they found
that it was a combination of allergic bronchial aspergillas.
psuedamonas, and pneumonia. I was diagnosed with allergic
bronchial aspergillas for the first time. I was put on IV's right
away of course in December of last year. Afterwards, I felt a whole
lot better. Unfortunately, 8 months later, I am on home IV's
today for two weeks fighting off an infection yet again. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> It is
not fun being sick. I have a cavity now in my lungs (a dense
area) that has formed because of the past infections that
was harboring in my lungs. I know this sounds like a different
question. Is there a procedure where they can cut out the cavity to
decrease infections? As well as will cutting out the cavity help
with preventing lung infections? Should I do that? Because I feel
as though with the cavity now inside of me the mucus and bacteria
now have a feeding ground to produce more of themselves and get
settled in that area of my lung. If anyone has any advice I would
appreciate it. Thanks .<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[luke]

Jen,

I am assuming your doctors are referring to scarring or the "fibrotic changes" that effect our lungs. To answer your question...sometimes when an area of the lung is the source of chronic infection they can remove that lobe. However, I have never heard of them doing a lobectomy due to scarring. I am interested... what tests did they do to diagnosis your ABPA and how are you currently treating it?

Luke

 

[vestgirl]

Whenever my allergic bronchial aspergillas acts up I take vfend. A
blood test was done when I was diagnosed with allergic
bronchopulmonary aspergillas. Right now I'm on IV's due to a
mucoid strain. So mainly I'm doing cefepime through IV's twice
a day, taking oral cipro 750 mg, pulmazyme(twice a day), hypertonic
saline solution(twice a day), doing tobi through my nebulizer(twice
a day), and doing my vest three to four times a day. Yes, I
feel like a walking pharmacy. Thanks for replying
luke.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">  

 

[EnergyGal]

I would ask them what your cavity looks like and ask them how normal that is for a cf person. I would think that it is very normal. I am just stating this because it sounds like they told you something without giving you too much detail and now you are worrying and that is not helpful to you right now. To me I saw cavity like circles on my cf lung xrays and I thought that was bronchiastasis which is a part of CF in moderate to severe cases.

I think you are doing a fantastic job in taking care of yourself. You go girl and you will succeed in beating your infections. Just believe that you can do it.

There will always be infections with CF from time to time but staying on top of it all is where it is at. I give you five Stars * * * * *

 

[vestgirl]

When I looked at my xray, as you described, I saw one cavity like
circle in the upper part of my right lung. My right lung is the
worst when comparing both my left and right sides. When I have an
infection the cavity like circle is white, along with the rest of
my lungs on the xray . I know when an xray is white in areas
it basically means a lot of fibrosis and mucus. But
when I am healthier, clear of infection, the cavity like circle
looks like an air like bubble. It never goes away and I am worried
because it has become more dense then my last xray which was
taken in December. I do not like the fact that these
mucus monsters( like u see on the mucinex commercials) are building
a home and throwing parties up in there without my permission.
Thank you for the reassurance that it is normal for CFers to have a
lung cavity, you calmed my worries. The next time I see my doctor I
will ask him more about it. Thanks for the five stars. Btw I
luv the quote in your profile! Hope you are doing well.

 

[EnergyGal]

You are welcome Jen. Being postive really helps me. I learned how much a positive attitude can help when you are so sick. It is like night and day. I am not miss positive all day long trust me but I try to keep in mind to have a mindset that is.

I have learned when someone tells me something I have no knowledge of, I say please explain what you mean I do not understand. Or if I understand but do not know why the person is stating something to me, I say why is that?

edited to add Only if the subject pertains to me or else I mind my own business.

 

[vestgirl]

I agree with you Risa. Your mind set really plays a role on your
health, when I am positive I feel better both inside and out. And
yes I do have my down time where I'm not always miss top of the
world. But I'm always making jokes. For example when they were
putting in the pic line I was like "wow I'm sweating like
whitney houston" lol. Even though it was sooo cold in that
hospital my nerves made me sweat sooo much hehe. And that poor
doctor was all up in my arm near my armpit putting it in. I was
like oh wow he is in for a treat hehe. I often refer to the
stuff in my lungs as my goodies <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Just little things like that
helps make everything easier. I think that things can always
be worst and all of us are dealt with cards and we got to role
with it. And oh yes, I am always asking questions. Even to you
lovely experts on the forum. I do not always believe that doctors
have all the answers. The doctor that I have now is amazing, but my
old doctor had told me that I will never reach a higher PFT then
60%. Lets just say when that doctor had told me that, I had felt as
though he had given up on me. I switched doctors and now I'm with a
great doctor who believes in me. Even though 79% is not exactly
where I want to be, it went up. So with all my jibber
jabber of typing, with a positive outlook and the thought of not
always caving in to what the doctors might think, skies the
limit.  

 

[EnergyGal]

That is wonderful Jen. CF is a real challenge and having a great attitude makes it so much easier to deal with this tough disease. Sounds like you are such a nice lady to be around. They must love you at the doctors office. That is good that you do not accept limits. Time to workout <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> I am working on my goals too.
Thank you