First x ray shows something on lung...then years later, second x ray shows nothing on lung...

[TCE]

So 3 or so years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a terminal disease. You can't do anything to make it better, but you can stop it from getting worse (i.e quitting smoking, etc.). My mum is now 75 years old.

Obviously this came as a huge shock for her, and the whole family. My mum does smoke though but since being diagnosed with COPD, she tries to vape much more instead. She was also prescribed strong inhalers, one for everyday use - morning and evening, another for when she gets breathless.

Roll on 3 years later, just the other month she had another chest x ray for her lungs. This x ray showed there was nothing on her lungs at all, which is obviously excellent news for all of us.

A couple weeks ago, she saw the nurse to check out her breathlessness, etc.. She did a blow test on a machine or something, and it came back that she did really well on it, and nurse was very surprised. Again, more excellent news. She's now had blood tests to see what can be causing this breathlessness for her.

My question is, how does one x ray years ago show something on her lung, for her to be diagnosed with COPD, then 3 years later, have nothing on her lung? Also, what do you think could be causing her breathlessness?

Thanks.

 

[Pliny Pete]

Maybe God reached into her lungs and took out all the filth like Keanu Reeves in Constantine

 

[boingyman]

It's possible to be misdiagnosed with COPD if using an x-ray alone. Was her initial diagnosis confirmed with a spirometry? Did they do any other testing for a possible differential diagnosis?

 

[TCE]

It's possible to be misdiagnosed with COPD if using an x-ray alone. Was her initial diagnosis confirmed with a spirometry? Did they do any other testing for a possible differential diagnosis?

I'm going to visit her tomorrow so I'll ask her then. Possibly misdiagnosed, that will make sense, and is very good news.

The nurse said to still keep using the inhalers she has been subscribed, as well.

 

[Red Beard]

Hi, Sherdog doctor here. Maybe it was gas? She have gas?

 

[TheNinja]

The body is an amazing thing and can heal from most things if it's treated properly.

I have no idea though.

 

[Damo321]

Sounds like your mother has super mutant healing powers, harvest some of her blood, it may come in useful later on in your life!

Also pics of mother’s front lungs!

 

[Sycho Sid]

Maybe God reached into her lungs and took out all the filth like Keanu Reeves in Constantine

Lucifer did that to make Constantine stay on earth instead of going to heaven

 

[SirRealKiller]

It seems that it is likely an error by the first radiologist and/or improper confirmation of a DX by the doctor. May have bee she had a respritory infection of some sort causing stuff on the x-ray and radiology read it wrong and Dr. didn't do appropriate follow up to confirm.

 

[UberHere]

So 3 or so years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a terminal disease. You can't do anything to make it better, but you can stop it from getting worse (i.e quitting smoking, etc.). My mum is now 75 years old.

Obviously this came as a huge shock for her, and the whole family. My mum does smoke though but since being diagnosed with COPD, she tries to vape much more instead. She was also prescribed strong inhalers, one for everyday use - morning and evening, another for when she gets breathless.

Roll on 3 years later, just the other month she had another chest x ray for her lungs. This x ray showed there was nothing on her lungs at all, which is obviously excellent news for all of us.

A couple weeks ago, she saw the nurse to check out her breathlessness, etc.. She did a blow test on a machine or something, and it came back that she did really well on it, and nurse was very surprised. Again, more excellent news. She's now had blood tests to see what can be causing this breathlessness for her.

My question is, how does one x ray years ago show something on her lung, for her to be diagnosed with COPD, then 3 years later, have nothing on her lung? Also, what do you think could be causing her breathlessness?

Thanks.

XRAY or CT? Standard of care is yearly CT for lung cancer screening in high risk patients. XRAY won’t show anything until too late.

 

[UberHere]

It seems that it is likely an error by the first radiologist and/or improper confirmation of a DX by the doctor. May have bee she had a respritory infection of some sort causing stuff on the x-ray and radiology read it wrong and Dr. didn't do appropriate follow up to confirm.

This is also possible. X-RAY will show pneumonia.

 

[Red Beard]

Also pics of mother’s front lungs!

This popped me lol

 

[SirRealKiller]

This is also possible. X-RAY will show pneumonia.

And an x-ray alone is not an appropriate way to DX COPD. A CT and appropriate lung function tests should have been done as well and a follow up x-ray probably should have been done in a month or two to see if there was any change.

 

[Richmma80]

DEI hire

.. better hope it was the first guy

 

[TCE]

And an x-ray alone is not an appropriate way to DX COPD. A CT and appropriate lung function tests should have been done as well and a follow up x-ray probably should have been done in a month or two to see if there was any change.

I'll let her know all this tomorrow when I visit her, thanks.

 

[Ohio_Rizz]

She could have coughed it up, like a standard phlegm ball. When it was a copd phlegm ball.

 

[William Huggins]

An X ray like a blood test is only a snap shot, it could've been an infection.

 

[Osculater]

Doctors are dumb you should use Google instead

 

[Osculater]

See a different specialist

 

[Osculater]

Lucifer did that to make Constantine stay on earth instead of going to heaven

Lucy is a jerk!