Telectasis and phlegm

[GDanker]

Amongst my many lung ailments, a recent CT scan showed what was thought to be scarring may be telectasis. When I get a diagnosis of any kind, I always look up whatever information that I can on the Internet. Sometimes, however, the one question you ask is almost impossible to find and it can be frustrating.

Also, it's always an advantage to hear from people who actually experience the symptoms. My question is this, I do not have a problem with phlegm or mucus. Is this a good sign or does it just vary from one person to the next? Does it make any difference in the outcome? Also, what are some experiences that people have had with this condition? Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hi i think you mean Atalectasis i have it in lower lobes both lungs it means in my case partial collapse of the lung

[GDanker in reply to Hidden]

Yes, looked it up again and it's actually Atelectasis. I was sent results of my CT scan and the images but as a layman it's hard to make heads or tails out of an X-ray image. They don't seem to be sure if it's scarring or this condition. Will have to make an appt. with my doctor again. Thank you.

[Izb1]

Sorry I can't advise you GDanker I have never heard of this and had to look it up. I hope it isnt causing too many problems for you x

[Alberta56]

Hello I don't have talectasis and I don't even know what it is. I can only tell you that before I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis I used to cough up buckets of phlegm, but since I have been put on a proper management regime (medication and exercises) I only produce it when ill. I think you're right that it varies from person to person.

[GDanker in reply to Alberta56]

Yes, probably varies from person to person. I need to be more consistent with my breathing exercises also. Thank you.

[Hellodolly]

Hi thereI was diagnosed with atelactasis of the left lower lung via ct scan after getting pneumonia in 2018. It basically means the lung has collapsed a bit and the sides have stuck together.

At the time my symptoms were persistent cough and mucus, but over time those have subsided. The pneumonia and a lifetime of bronchitis have resulted in a diagnosis of scarring and bronchiecstasis. I think at some point they will do another chest x ray to see if the atelacstasis has cleared itself , as it sometimes does apparently. Covid got in the way of my follow up appts at the chest hospital.

I have lung function tests every few years and the function is not perfect but not declining, which is an important measure of how the lungs are doing, so make sure you have a baseline against which you can measure any change.

Best wishes

Dolly

[GDanker in reply to Hellodolly]

Typed in wrong space - see below!

[GDanker]

Yes, it's a good sign, I guess you could say if one stays in a stable condition. I recently had a CT scan of my lungs and everything was the same except that what was once thought to be scarring, is now possibly Atelectasis. I haven't seen my doctor since but got the results through an email and I was just curious whether this condition was one that produced phlegm or not. I thought that would be a way to know if it is scarring instead. I know that not all people react the same to the same illness. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

[Hellodolly in reply to GDanker]

Hi there

I don’t think it’s as clear cut as that, like most things to do with the lungs.

It’s probably phlegmy infections like pneumonia which start the problems of both scarring and atelacstasis.

I can only speak from my own experience, which is that phlegmy pneumonia caused them both, but when that calmed down I still had both scarring and atelacstasis, but with no concurrent phlegm.

But lungs can me mysterious and someone else may come along with a different experience.

[GDanker in reply to Hellodolly]

I was 24 when I had a very severe bout of pneumonia and it almost killed me. That was the beginning of the scarring but I was young and for many years had no lung problems. I smoked until just a few years ago and it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I started to feel the difference in my lungs.

A severe inflammatory condition of another nature and too much to go into here set it all off to where my breathing was affected.

Somewhere along the way, I also, unbeknownst to me, contacted asbestos and have no idea where or when but it is stable and my doctor doubts that it will turn into mesothelioma.

There are also emphysematous like changes in my lungs but not progressing too quickly. Now I have the "possible" atelectasis diagnosis added on. All in all, the symptoms are not as bad as they could be and I am grateful for that!

Also, I am glad to have found "Health Unlocked". It's a great support group where one can receive and give support to others!

[Hellodolly in reply to GDanker]

Hi there

I’m so sorry that you discovered asbestos on top of everything else.

We have similar trajectories otherwise. Inflammation and immune problems can create havoc too in my experience.

And yes health unlocked is great - full of helpful and friendly people.

Did you get an immune appointment to look at all your ig levels? That was an eye opener for me.

[GDanker in reply to Hellodolly]

Hi Dolly,

I just recently had bloodwork done but there are a few tests that I'm not sure exactly what it is that's being measured. I will ask my doctor when I go again in a few months. It sounds like it would be very useful for a person to know. The better informed one is about one's own conditions, the better chance of improving one's health.

I've started to write these kinds of questions down or else I forget once I'm in his office! It's easy to do - you get distracted by other stuff and don't remember until you're home!

I'm glad to hear that your lungs are in stable condition.

[MoyB]

I'm like you - I have to look things up if I've not heard of them before! I certainly hadn't heard of this one, so you've brought something new to the forum. I can't help, I'm afraid, but I wish you well and hope you soon get some answers. xx Moy

[GDanker in reply to MoyB]

Thank you.