Anyone had chest imaging showing inflammation?

[cappygal]

I am wondering if anyone has had imaging of their chest area which showed signs of inflammation? What type of scan was it? My team don’t want to do an MRI despite me asking and I’ve had a CT scan BUT no one seems to be able to tell me what the definitive imaging should be? I’ve had diffuse chest pain for almost a year (suspected costochonditris), almost three years on and off. Along with hand, wrists and hips joint pains. Last hand and wrist Ultrasound showed signs of inflammation and thickening. But yet I can’t get help/diagnosis and feeling down 😢 Thank you in advance 🙏

[Matilda_1922]

For over a year I had a chesty cough. Saw my GP a few times and my chest sounded clear so was a viral infection. In July went to my gp and while I was there I started coughing. They gave a 5 day course of antibiotics and asked me to have a chest X-ray although I had one done for Rheumatology the same week. Saw another GP mid August who said I had an inflamed lynth node on chest X-ray. So asked me to do a sputum specimen. This showed a bacterial growth so gave me more antibiotics. Which helped for a short time.

Chest X-ray by Rheumatology showed no abnormality.

Cut the story short I was eventually referred to a respiratory specialist in November and following a lung scan was diagnosed with bronchiectasis in December.

At least I have a diagnosis

You need to push it as if I didn’t I would not have a diagnosis.

Hope you feel better soon x

[cappygal in reply to Matilda_1922]

Thank you so much Matilda_1922 🙏I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis but hopefully now the doctors can help you. Did you have a CT with or without contrast? My CT was with contrast. x

[Matilda_1922 in reply to cappygal]

With contrast

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Matilda_1922]

Yes a CT can show everything and although scary you need to know so you can treat the problem and I hope your brochiectasis is under control with meds and you feel alright. x

[Magymay in reply to Matilda_1922]

I've been coughing since October .They just blame immune system

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Magymay]

Sorry to hear that and I was coughing for two months and it gets you down. Change of weather and central heating always make me sinusey so I ignored mine at first. x

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Magymay]

See your GP if it feels worse. x

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Magymay]

I work in a hospital and exposed to infection and was told the risk of getting an infection was slightly higher than the norm.

[NeonkittyUK]

I've just had to have a CT scan after a cloudy bilateral area on a chest X-ray which was done just before I was finally prescribed antibiotics three weeks ago. I should have had them in November but a new GP refused despite knowing of my RA and Rituximab so I was furious I was left to go so downhill and had a difficult December indeed. Wheezing and coughing and unable to sleep. The respiratory consultant said he needed to check Mtx hasn't done anything to my lungs so a CT was done last week a week after the antibiotics were finished. My results showed completely clear so he said the X-ray was certainly an "episode of infection". He told me he thought very much it was an infection before I went for the CT.. But had to check given the meds I've taken for RA. So what I'm saying is that a CT is very precise and they take many images front and back and enlarge to check every detail so I think anything major would have showed up on yours had there been some problem. The radiologist or consultant should have written to your GP so can you ask them to explain if the consultant hasn't? I know costochondritis can be so painful. Good luck. x

[cappygal in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Thank you NeonkittyUK I think it’s the worry that I haven’t had anyone explain to me what the CT scan could show, rheumatology wise that is. I’m glad to hear that yours came back clear. X

[NeonkittyUK in reply to cappygal]

My replies keep disappearing so hope this hasn't posted twice. Can you ask your rheumy's sec to get her/him to phone you? x

[cappygal in reply to NeonkittyUK]

Hi NeonkittyUK it was a respiratory consultant who ordered the scan, my Rheumatology team are still requesting the images after 4 months 😔 I’m chasing down as I had believed they’d viewed them but it turns out they haven’t. x

[Magymay]

Hi there cappygal.I have PSA suffering all my life since 8yrs old till now 52yrs was always told growing pains or docs actually said I was attention seeking .What a joke 😏but people can't see our pain !.On20my metoject every week .runs inside out of me for two days and total fatigue for three .and feel like bus ran over me every morning .PIP Appeal tomorrow but it's a joke !I know loads of people who have had knee or hip replacements getting it for 4yrs but they will get better we on the other hand will have this for life so who is this supposed to benefit .Its an absolute joke .I wish I wasn't here right now I'm so angry with this situation .Makes me sick 😖😖😖😖😖😖😖

[Magymay]

Forgot to say cappygal I've had costochondritis for 4months now Gabe me fenbid gel it didn't help .It's such a horrible painful thing butvthey said it common in peoplecwith our condition .Sincerely sympathise with you .I've had to take solpadeine Max to dull thecpain .Think yourctaking heart attack .Not nice . Fed-up with it pal 😖hot water bottle helps a bit. 😉.

[cappygal in reply to Magymay]

Magymay really sorry to hear what you’ve been through. Do you have any imaging done on a regular basis? Like ultrasound or x ray? x

[Magymay in reply to cappygal]

Waiting for MRI.sorry about rant yesterday was so stressed .😰It is so frustrating when your explaining how bad it is and they just don't see how hard it is .Need to shake this gloom off me .I'll have nice glass of non alc wine and cheer my self up 😊hope your well👍

[cappygal in reply to Magymay]

No need to apologise at all Magymay I completely sympathise and emphathise with you. Been through an appalling ESA thing myself recently and want to appeal but instead am going to write a damning letter that explains why it’s such a shambolic and unfair system with patronising assessors who are utterly clueless about invisible illnesses 😡 Might write to my local MP too, but they are Tories. But that’s the current government for you. The system is broken beyond belief and is letting down good human beings . It makes me angry 😤 Rant over!

Wishing you well with your PIP appeal and your MRI scan. Enjoy your non alchoholic wine 🍷 X

[Magymay in reply to cappygal]

I'm so thankful that someone can relate to this .It's soul destroying .The stress makes you worse and then they say if your condition has worsened they can't take that into consideration.I'm at a loss with this system .It's crazy.They said where did I get walking stick and I replied that I'd bought it myself because I've fallen a few times .They asked why I had it if physio didn't give me one but it is because my condition is worse .Can't they except that I'm obviously getting worse.MTX8doesn't work for everyone.It's like talking to a brick wall.I'm just not at a time where I can commit to an employer because I'm so ill but they're doing everything to force me into it .They so want to say I'm fit for work because the government is forcing them to.Theresa May needs to wake up and smell the coffee.She has not got a clue .shame on them all👎

[phil_54]

Hi, I had a chest xray and was told i had an inflamed cartlidge in the middle of my chest and the chest pain can be really painful at times i was told that it definatly is chostocondritis this has been going on now for nearly 2 yrs i have used different pain relief but doesnt seem to help much and not sure if its the cold getting on my chest or purely the inflamation so not sure what the next move is so i would push for more investigation and a proper diagnosis

Good luck

[cappygal in reply to phil_54]

phil_54 interesting that it showed on X-ray, I wonder if I should have someone else look over my scan. I’m going to push the rheumatology team to do that.

[Magymay in reply to phil_54]

Hi Phil yep me I was told costochondritis in October .I'm in agony with it .When I wake in morning and try to move it's like someone stabbing you in heart and think someone's kicked my ribs in .Solpadeine Max in morning helps but too many give you headaches.Non codeine during day .then two at night and hot center bottle soothes a bit

[phil_54 in reply to Magymay]

Hi Magymay, you are exactly right it really is that painful i have tried different pain relief but nothing really helps much i plan to speak to rheumy on next review but dont have to much confidence probably just have to grin and bare and keep taking max ibuprofen.

Best wishes

[Lizard28]

I had a chest X-Ray which showed doctors somthing was wrong but it wasn't clear enough, they then sent me for a high resolution ct scan. You don't need the dye for this one, but it gives them a much clearer picture. Mine showed inflammation in the lungs, pneumonitis. It is usually caused by an allergen but not in my case as inflammation going into my organs bit by bit. The only thing that cured it was steriods unfortunately. There is more radiation with this type of scan so they don't do it unless they suspect something. I had another one a year later when a further X-ray showed somthing suspicious but fortunately for me it wasn't inflammation this time.

[cappygal in reply to Lizard28]

Sorry that hear about pneumonitis 😢 Hope you are okay. I had a contrast CT scan so not sure how different they are 🤔Do the steroids help you? Did you have any reactions to them? x

[Lizard28 in reply to cappygal]

I'm not sure what the difference is between the scans, I was already in hospital getting treated for pneumonia, after the scan they took me of antibiotics and said I had to go on high dose steriods, I absolutely hated being on them but they did work, I cudnt breathe properly so they were the right drug. Apart from giving u an appetite, upset tummy, made me anxious, blew my face up, give u fat deposits under my chin and back of neck, had loads of energy tho lol. My friends don't want me near them when I'm on them, this was my second dose of being on them and it took over a year to get off them. I'm giving hydroxy a chance now, not really sure if they are helping, but will keep on them for now. Hope they get your problem sorted out, take care xx

[Cynthialcj]

I have it and take muscle relaxor. The pain wraps around my right ribs and in my left rib ..the inflammaion is still present but pain is gone.

[cappygal in reply to Cynthialcj]

What muscle relaxer do you take if you don’t mind me asking? Is your pain a stinging like pain, sometimes mine feels like itching, stinging and tightness in a band like feeling around my ribs. It was very sharp before. x

[Cynthialcj in reply to cappygal]

Hi cappygal mine feels like knife stabs or burning, my fibromyalgia gives me stinging pain, but still symtoms of fibro..its flexeral 10 mg per day..its helped ,my calves feel like that also..and arms, like i want to rub it but not comfortable to be touched.

[Mistress]

Hi At the beginning of my journey and not being to get my numbers down I was also sent for a ct scan.

We're going on an " inflammation hunt" was how it was worded, and they found an inflamed appendix, I had no pain... I opted to have it removed and thank goodness because when it was removed it was ready to burst. If your rheumy thinks you have inflammation please ask for a ct scan you never know what's going on in there...

[KittyJ in reply to Mistress]

M15TRE55 I’m not sure if you’ve realised but this post is 3years old so you may not get a reply 😊

[Mistress]

Thanks for letting me know