White spots on lungs

[JennaShi]

Hi all, it’s been a while. Since being off quarantine, it seems life has sped up and I’ve been overwhelmed by all of things to do. We’ve had alot of support people coming in and out of our house since being off Covid and I’m ready for some quiet.

Found out my daughter had contracted the Delta variant from the girl she was “in close proximity to” on the bus. I’m so glad we doused everything in chemicals with 70-90% cleaning alcohol and that no one else got sick. She is partially vaccinated and will be getting her 2nd shot next week. That means everyone but little miss will be vaccinated.

School starts back up full day next week as well and I am thankful to say that we survived the summer. It’s not been a favorable summer and will be glad to put it behind us.

I do have a question, I am often winded; walking up the stairs or putting couch covers on etc. it doesn’t matter what the activity is. You could also call me out of shape, but this is something Ive had going on for a while, prior to Covid (I never got Covid just to mention). Saw my rheumatologist and she pointed it out and asked me if I get phlegm; I don’t. Is this normal in Lupus? She wants to do a ct scan of my lungs so I have an appointment set up for next week to see if I might have signs of Intersitional lung disease? Brought up Sjogrens and Scleroderma but ai don’t have either nor do I have signs of either. Which brings up my two other questions:

Is it common in lupus to have nodules on your lungs? I finally got my xrays back from my med post trip and they show alot of white spots, I’m assuming their nodules. Also, does anyone experience what feels like a popped out rib and pain in the lower section but xray say no fracture or dislocation?

I feel like all kinds of weird stuff keeps happening!

Rheumy says lupus isn’t active due to lab results but why is my neuropathy seem to be progressing? As well as more frequent flairs? She also noted tender joints on toes and hands.

Photo of my lung xray ( pa at medpost was looking for pneumonia due to Covid but came up clean. No nodules were mentioned on the report either.. not sure why? Ohh, and round thing in sternum area, I believe that is my hard bump! Hope to find out what that is too.. I think it’s near my manubrium sterni? I’m not good with bone names or sternum section names for that matter lol

May be hard to see; i had to take a photo with my phone of the computer screen

[Jmiller623]

White spots are lymph nodes and not nodules. That circular thing on your sternum is normal. It’s actually your the top of your aorta sticking out. I’m not a radiologist but know my way around a standard CXR. I’d say this looks pretty gosh darn normal.

Shortness of breath with lupus is very very common. There are so many causes for it. Make sure to keep note of what things help and what doesn’t. Let your physician know. Sending hugs. ❤️xx

[JennaShi in reply to Jmiller623]

Jmiller, thank you for your response, I’ve honestly been worried about both things for a while now and have seen X-rays on Google without the circular white spots so it has stressed me out as it can be confusing for someone with no experience! The big circular spot in the sternum area seems to be exactly where my bump is so that has been equally confusing. But that is good news and I appreciate you telling me this😅💜. Again had no idea that breathing problems can stem from lupus. My rheumy, although reasonable, doesn’t really explain these things and it’s hard to know what to ask. I will have more time to read so and maybe understand more. If I post a picture, would you mind taking a look at my bump? I will be seeing a doctor soon as well, but maybe you can help point me in the right direction as to what to ask for testing wise. All that I have found is bone cancer and that’s probably why drs discourage googling lol

[Jmiller623 in reply to JennaShi]

Not really sure I could say much of what is going on from a picture. One thing to think about is costochondritis which can cause inflammation where your ribs meet your sternum. I have prominent bumps on my chest from this. Right worse than left. This can also cause shortness of breath since you lose elasticity in your rib cage.

Feel free to post a picture. Just not sure I can say much about it. Lots of weird MSK stuff happens in lupus with no rhyme or reason.

[Roarah in reply to Jmiller623]

I have a history of costochondritis and it has not flared at all since I stopped wearing underwire bras. I am on the larger bra size so had used under wire since I was 11 and I think it caused much of my inflammation and pain. I did make taking a deep breath very painful so it did feel like I was often out of breath. If you think this might be what is going on try using tanks and looser bras for a while to see if it lessens. Posture focus and stretches using a door jam helped me too.

[Jmiller623 in reply to Roarah]

I’m on the smaller size. I haven’t worn a real bra in years. I only wear sports bras. It’s always there for me. I’ve had it for about 15 yrs even prior to lupus diagnosis. You can press on it and run your fingers down my sternum. It’s bumpy on the right. Nothing has really helped it. It is always tender to palpation. I just live with it.

[JennaShi in reply to Jmiller623]

Do the bumps ever go down or do they stay the same? Wow, it didn’t know it could do that, yeah there just seems like so much complications from Lupus that people don’t talk about. Do you experience shortness of breath also? I know I have a lower left rib that sticks out more prominently and causes me pain from time to time but it hasn’t gone back in to look like the other side. Strange stuff, that’s for sure!

[JennaShi in reply to Jmiller623]

Did you by any chance get my tag? I will look for it and let you know which post it is.

** its in the 7 month post with the title: For those with Pectus Carinatium (I think that’s how it’s spelled).

[Roarah]

I was going to ask if your rheumatologist saw nodes because it looks like a text book clear X-ray to me.

Normal chest X-ray

[JennaShi in reply to Roarah]

She didn’t say anything and it wasn’t ordered by her. I did ask because I wanted to know and she just went off the paper report. When you look up white spots on lungs in google, it comes up as nodulesSo I wasn’t sure as I don’t have experience.

[Roarah in reply to JennaShi]

I think if the radiologist does not mention any concerns you are likely ok. My husband has been followed for five years to monitor nodules in his lung. His have remained stable so likely no concerns but he is a former smoker and has CRC so he is followed. His reports always mention nodes and their size so if you had any they would be listed and sized in your report.