Follow up x-ray pneumonia

[Scooby1967]

Hi everyone. I rang my surgery today to see if my follow up chest x-ray results were in. I had possible pneumonia diagnosed 4 weeks ago, apparently the 'possible' meant that the mass on my x-ray was tiny, anyway the surgery said my results were in and I had to make a telephone consultation appointment with the doctor to discuss the results and the next available was in 2 weeks time. I'm so worried that when they said possible pneumonia they weren't sure about the diagnosis and it could be something more sinister, now I'm worried sick about having to wait another 2 weeks 😔 the receptionist said it doesn't say urgent on the notes but they are going to message the doctor to say that I'm anxious and is 2 weeks ok. Has anyone else been in this situation?

[Hidden]

These stupid receptionists. If you do have pneumonia it needs treating right now, not after another 2 weeks. It is not for them to make you wait just because it does not say urgent on the report. Do get hold of the practice manager and tell them that you need treating now. Don't let them mess you about.

[Lol1944 in reply to Hidden]

hear hear

[Ern007]

At my GP - The doctor tell reception to tell me to ring, Tell them you need to know.

[Patk1]

Could u try 111,tell thm how anxious u are and need to b seen.if you've an infection,it needs treating x

[Badbessie]

Please correct me if I am wrong. This x-ray was a follow up from having possible pneumonia four weeks ago. That the results are non urgent should give you comfort as nothing requiring urgent treatment was found. My daughter works in a doctor's surgery and if they believed you had anything sinister then you would have been given an urgent two week hospital appointment to be reviewed by a specialist in that area. The x-ray would have been reviewed at the place it was taken at and the doctor would base it's priority on that report. Given that the person who reviewed the x-ray as given it a non urgent tag you can assume nothing sinister was found.

The reason why the doctor wants to speak to you could be many. You could still have some fluid on your lungs which will take time to disappear and the doctor may send you for another x-ray in a few months.

I have had numerous episodes of pneumonia one requiring hospital admission and from experience I have found that changes to the lung fields do happen and take time to get back to "normal".

You are obviously worried but from what you have written in this and other posts what is being done is routine. Pneumonia can affect the lungs for a long while after infection and some people require more follow up than others to ensure everything is alright. Personally I believe your anxiety is letting your imagination take charge. I do not say that as a criticism but from someone who does suffer from anxiety.

I have had the same worries which are understandable. From my own experience I always feared the worse even on a routine follow up but they have been baseless. Please let us know how you get on.

[Mooka]

I had an X-ray in January 6 weeks after I had hospital diagnosed pneumonia. It was ordered by my respiratory consultant before he saw me. I was amazed it still showed up on X-ray. Apparently this is perfectly normal. Probably the reason it takes a while to get over as our lungs are still healing. Good luck with your results I’m sure you would have been seen quicker if needed.

[Numptybrain]

I think if it was more sinister you would have found out before now or definitively been called for more testing. So don’t worry. Pneumonia takes time for the lungs to heal and if they’ve seen anything on X-rays Ct scans they’ll have you on 3 months ct or want more tests doing.

Take care

Wendy x

[watergazer]

When I had pneumonia and weeks later I had a follow up X-ray , I was summoned to the doctors very quickly as the radiologist said it looked sinister. They thought cancer but ended up being bronchiectasis which was slowing down my recovery. I know you are worried however in my experience if it looked bad they got me back to the doctors and arranged a scan. Take care. As others have said a chat with your surgery about your anxiety may get you in sooner xx

[anng18]

Hi Scooby,

I had a chest xray done 6 weeks after pneumonia. I was told it was normal, but when I saw the results some years later it mentioned the over inflated diaphragm.

However, I do think if it was anything urgent you would have been given an appointment much sooner, as said above.

[BionicLady]

Pneumonia is so seriously for most if not all of us on this forum!

The problem is, patients easily slip through the net!

I would get in touch and put in a more formal complaint to the Practice Manager, this is not good enough and you need to be treated for this, two weeks is unacceptable.

I wish you luck and hope you so feel better soon.