I have some serious concerns for my health. Sorry for posting here but I don’t want to worry my family with the issue at the moment. I have been having issues with upper right side back pain for a few months. Was originally diagnosed at being due to having poor posture and working a desk job and bein on a computer all day. About 2 weeks ago I started to get a dry cough and some shortness of breath along with some general fatigue. I went to the doctor again to get checked out and this time the did chest X-rays. The doctor viewed and said she didn’t see anything alarming but would still send them to radiologist for further review. Great so I’m in the clear and can move on with my life. Not so fast. Two days later I received a call stating that the radiologist found an “artifact” on my left upper lung and wanted to schedule a CT scan in order to check everything out further. I have always had Health anxiety but this has pushed me overboard. I have two young kids (3 and 5) and can’t help but think that through my dumb and selfish acts I’m going to deprive them of having a father growing up. I know that’s the worst case scenario but that’s where my mind goes.
I’m 38 and quit smoking last year. Smoked for about 17 years in total. All my pain and symptoms were on the right side and this “artifact” appears on upper left side. Doctor was very nice and told me not to worry and they were just doing this to rule out it being anything else but an “artifact”. I’m terrified to say the least. She stated it wasn’t a nodule or mass and corrected me when I referred to it as something suspicious. Also stated the fact it is on the left side as opposed to the right would be promising if is was in fact anything due to havin no symptoms. I’m worried my doctor is trying to keep me calm and keep my anxiety from goin overboard as she knows I have HA. Don’t really know where to go from here.