MetaChat - So...Just had my first chest x-ray...

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28 January 2014

So...Just had my first chest x-ray... →[More:]Over the past five months or so, I've developed a pretty chronic dry cough, as well as a general, overall feeling of...bleh. The cough comes in fits and it really tiresome and exhausting. So, after endless badgering by my missus, I finally got over to see my PCP of thirty years today. And, he immediately sent me out for a chest x-ray. I guess I'll be crossing my fingers.

For the record, I'm not a smoker, and never have been (save for the college years smoking that "alternative" weed)

While I was there with my doc, he browbeat and strong-armed me into finally scheduling a physical. I'm soon to be 56 and have never had one. Ever. I suppose I'm due.

post by: Thorzdad at: 13:27 | 21 comments

Thinking of you. I am glad you got this checked out.

posted by bearwife 28 January | 13:43

I hope that this is all clear. . .

posted by danf 28 January | 16:22

Just got a call from the doc's office. X-rays look clear. So...Yay. I guess.

In a sick, perverse way, I was kind of hoping they'd find something, so we could hang an easy reason for why I have this cough. Of course, anything an x-ray would show probably isn't something I'd actually want to have wrong with me. Doc's first, best guess now is something called Silent Reflux. Wants to give me some free samples of Nexium to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for the well-wishes!

posted by Thorzdad 28 January | 16:37

Silent Reflux is my favorite remix of the classic Christmas carol.

posted by mullacc 28 January | 16:46

mullacc, I just refluxed all over my keyboard.

Glad to hear that your x-ray was clean, thorzdad. I get that you are still frustrated at the unknown provenance of your cough, and I hope that the Nexium does the trick.

posted by msali 28 January | 17:04

Did you start any new medications 5 months ago?

posted by Obscure Reference 28 January | 17:28

Nope. No new meds.

posted by Thorzdad 28 January | 17:39

Silent reflux is annoying! Hope if it is that, the pills fix it. I realized I had that for a little over a month, so I cut out basically all the food and drinks that are good in life and then it disappeared.
Now I am back eating normally and things are better, I guess pressing reset worked.

Anyway, if you want to try that too just avoid caffeine, soda, tomatoes, cheese, chocolate, garlic, spicy things, and like anything with flavor for a few weeks to see if things change.

Good luck!

posted by rmless2 28 January | 18:36

Good luck. A lot of things can trigger a cough like that. Some causes are obvious but in the end it's process of elimination for most of them it seems.

posted by Doohickie 28 January | 18:45

Good news and it's good that you're getting checked out in general. It took a torn acl for me to go to a doc (I'm in my 50's) and now I grudgingly go every year.

You do need to listen to your spouse and follow her advice more often!

posted by mightshould 28 January | 18:52

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating for me. For the most part, I'm not prone to weird crap like this. I'm usually very obviously broken and there's no question what has to be done. This hunt-and-peck-and-hope method of diagnosis is...irritating.

posted by Thorzdad 28 January | 19:06

So 56 is when we are supposed to start having physicals? Cool, I'll schedule my first one in about 4 years ;-)

posted by dg 29 January | 02:58

I hope you get an answer soon. I just had my first back x-ray. First one not involving a broken or possibly broken bone.

posted by arse_hat 29 January | 03:36

Yes, clear answers will be nice.

dg, 50's seem to be when the body starts payback for all the former abuse *sigh*, often in inexplicable ways. You need the 150000 mile service.

posted by mightshould 29 January | 05:53

Yeah, I talk glibly about getting a check-up in four years while I limp around with a knee in agony after hiking only 20km today :-(

posted by dg 29 January | 06:26

I hope you get an answer soon. I just had my first back x-ray. First one not involving a broken or possibly broken bone.

Ouch. My back has been my primary health issue over the years. I've had two surgeries on it, the last one coming about three years ago. It wasn't pretty. Damned ruptured discs. I hope your back x-ray doesn't lead to anything involving sharp little knives.

posted by Thorzdad 29 January | 08:01

eeesh. Hope you get to the bottom of your chest issues, Thorzdad.

posted by gaspode 29 January | 11:36

Thanks Thorzdad I hope it's something that can be healed without surgery.

posted by arse_hat 29 January | 17:10

Well good news. My back is in very good shape overall. I just really irritated the soft tissues something fierce. Doc said probably 3 more weeks of pain but I now have a brace and new meds and the chiropractor is doing some traction stuff so it's managable.

posted by arse_hat 30 January | 17:27

That's great news, arse_hat!
As I mentioned, I've been through a lot of back issues over my life, and I would not wish those problems on anyone. You don't realize just how much work you back does until you've had major surgery done on it.

So, it's just a tissue irritation? No bulging disc?

posted by Thorzdad 30 January | 17:59

No bulging discs or spurs on any other bad stuff. Other than bit of wear to be expected in a 50 year old apparently everything looks great. I hear you about the amount of work the back does. Everything affects your back. Pick up a mug of tea at your desk and you can feel it down by your hips. And I still am amazed that something can hurt this much this long and not involve long term injury.

I can't imagine what it much have been like to have this stuff go on for a protracted time.

posted by arse_hat 30 January | 22:28

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