In order to make sure that my lung is in good condition, I went to see my family doctor. After “hearing” my lung through stethoscope, the doctor suspected pleural effusion or water retention (积水) on the right lung.
He referred me to Columbia Asia Hospital – Puchong to have a chest x-ray.
Findings:
- There is mild right pleural effusion.
- Bilateral apical pleural thickening noted.
- The lungs are clear.
- The heart size is within normal limits.
- Normal vascular marking seen.
- Normal mediastinal contour and no hilar lymphadenopathy.
- The rib cage is normal.
The pleural effusion area is on the lower right of the lung (mirror image - left is right, right is left). The healthy one should be like the lower left lung with a nice tip pointing down. Due to accumulation of water on the right side, the tip is missing.
There is pleural thickening on the top part of both lungs. Quote from the internet, bilateral apical pleural thickening is
thickening of the lung lining at the top portion of both lungs. It may also be called apical "capping". It is thought to be due to inflammation or swelling that happened in the distant past. Generally it doesn’t cause problems.
Don't worry about the bright long bar on top of the lung. It is florescent tube outside the lung; not something funny and shiny that grows inside my lung :-)
Doctor said the mild pleural effusion should not cause difficulty in breathing as what I have experienced. Then what could be the cause? Could it be due to the stiffening of the joints on the chest that reduce the elasticity of the lung cavity?
Upon doctor’s recommendation, I am going to see a rheumatologist (joints specialist) in Puchong next Tuesday.
I will also present the chest x-ray findings to my haematologist in the coming follow-up on 16 February.
See you next post :-)
4 comments:
Dear David
Do you still exercise regularly ? We should spend more time at the park and do physical exercise such as walking for 30 - 45 minutes per day.This is one of the best exerises for our age. I have been doing it for few years and the result is good. I also take USANA for 2 years and it really helps a lot. Besides I eat a lot of sweet potatos these few years. Seu Chuong
Dear Seu Chuong,
I stopped for quite sometime, mainly due to breathlessness. I used to eat steamed sweet potatoes before I was diagnosed with Leukaemia but didn't each much nowaday. I didn't take any health supplement apart from the normal diet.
Great to know that you are fine.
May God bless you!
David
Dear Brother,
I wish you happy new year and this year will be better than last year.
From sister Ting Ching Ching from Japan.
Dear Sister Ching Ching,
I wish you & your family a happy and healthy Chinese New Year!
May God's presence be with you always!
Brother
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