Well my doctor just called with the results of my CAT Scan. There is a lot of scar tissue on my lung now, and what appears to be a 3 cm abcess at the base of it. The doc says the abcess shows signs of “infiltrate” meaning that it appears to contain or be surrounded by infection. The radiologist has suggested as a saftey precaution that I be given a test for tuberculosis. My doctor thinks it is extremely unlikely that I have tuberculosis but we're going to do a test anyway just to make sure. So I'm going to run in to the doctor's office now to have that done. It will take two days to determine the results of that.
A matter of concern is the fact that I still have some infection in my lung, and what to do about it. After 24 days on the antibiotic, if it was going to wipe out the infection, I would think that would already have done so. My doctor says she is going to share my CAT Scan results and information with a pulmonologist and see if he recommends any change in my treatment, like perhaps a different sort of medicine. My doctor is glad to hear that I haven't had a fever in almost two weeks, and says that if I weren't feeling better, she would generally hospitalize someone with this sort of injury.
So far nobody has repeated the idea of sticking giant needles in my side to drain out infected fluid, and I hope nobody does. That prospect still terrifies me. I sincerely hope that if that has to happen, I can be sedated for it.
Getting nervy over here. Jesus will this thing ever just go away?
It will, Chuck. You'll get better. As long as you persist until you're satisfied that it's gone, and you don't completely trust the doctors to take care of you. (Although it sounds like your doctor is doing a good job.)
You're feeling better. That's the most important thing. Now just stick with whatever treatment they recommend until the tests show that you're completely better. I don't know anything about lung abcesses, but maybe you'll need a steroid of some kind to reduce inflammation so the antibiotic can work in that area. My doctor described that to me once when I had an infection that wouldn't clear up. I have no idea how valid or generally applicable the idea is. He prescribed prednisone, which would have the side effect of making you more energetic. I've also seen doctors use albuterol for the same purpose.
Hang in there Bro – there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Donna
I'll echo that: hang in there.
Those abscesses are probably what makes getting rid of the infection slow. It's good that they've found them.
Hang in there!
Keep breathing! Show those lungs who's boss!
Keep strong bud! We are all here for you…
I'm sure you'll be fine. Keep us posted.
Jay