I’ll defined opacity in R lung

[Dixiebelle]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can shed some light..? I have had a flu which lasted 3 days and developed into an intense, dry hacking cough lasting 2 weeks. Took a course of anti biots which stopped the coughing and have only a small residual cough left bringing up some clear mucous. My doc sent me for a chest X-ray, prior to receiving the anti biots and the report says they found an “ill defined opacity projected at the R midzone, anterior to the inferior R hilum 85x50mm”. My doc has recommended another course of anti biots and a repeat chest x Ray in 10 days before seeking a CT scan.

Anyone have a similar finding during a chest infection? They never stated it was pneumonia on the scans but my doc thinks it could be inflammation as a result of the virus. I am now almost 100% better. Very little cough. Non smoker. 47 years old. L lung is clear. I did have some intercostal rib pain from the intense coughing which has now eased. But Of course I’m worried!!!

[Hidden]

As your GP sent you for the xray before the antibiotics went to work it could be that the infection showed up. They are looking after you by looking again now that you are feeling better. The best measure of how you are is how you feel and hopefully you are now very much on the mend.

[Dixiebelle in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for replying littlepom. Yes I’m feeling fine in myself but sick with anxiety and worry. Most of what you google says LC has very little warning signs until too late. I’m jut holding on to the hope that the cough has mostly subsided now (still have 2 more days of anti biots) and I’m feeling ok. Amoxicillin didn’t work at all but Augmentin has. Thanks so much again. I’m sure I’ll be back asking more questions in time. X

[Hidden in reply to Dixiebelle]

Oh dear Dixiebelle.

Rule number 1 DO NOT GOOGLE!

There is such a lot of rubbish out there and you will only terrify yourself.

Logically, if there was a suspicion of lung cancer to worry about you would have had a persistent cough before the infection and you would still have a persistent cough. Also abnormalities which would suggest those kind of changes would have shown on the xray instead of signs indicative of an infection.

Amoxicillin is a next to useless antibiotic with chest infections these days so it is not surprising that your doc then gave you augmentin which is a different type of ab.

If you have had a virus which resulted in a secondary bacterial infection which your descriptions point to, it takes a long time to recover. The fact that you feel so much better is a good sign.

Concentrate on getting well and don’t waste your energy on pointless worrying. You are being watched by a good GP and you have a second xray coming up.