Flovent questions plus worries about asbestos

[pianojazzgirl]

After a lifetime of nearly perfect health (except for kidney stones two years ago), I am confronted with some weird symptoms, lots of testing and anxiety that is steadily ramping up. All that to put in perspective what is going on right now...

So I've been seeing my family dr quite regularly over the past couple of months as we've been trying to figure out what's wrong with me. I've been having some weird symptoms, the most worrisome being intermittent tingling in my face and mouth. I am going for an MRI of my brain (to rule out MS) on thursday.

Besides that I have also had a nuisance cough for the past two months, so he sent me for a chest x-ray. The x-ray indicated some sort of inflammation or irritation of the lining of the lungs, and he has put me on Flovent. This was 2 days ago, and I haven't seen any results, though my understanding is that it can take some time to see results. My question, for those who have used it, is how long is it likely to be before I start feeling some relief. I have been coughing regularly (just a dry cough), and my chest/lungs also hurt. I don't have any trouble catching my breath or wheezing or anything like that.

Now.... my anxiety is already up because of the weird symptoms as yet without diagnosis attached. Then I talked to my mom about everything that was going on, and she is worried because it turns out that the house I was brought up in was insulated with that asbestos-laden insulation (I forget the name of the stuff - Vermiculite?). And I actually had some contact with the stuff because as a kid I used to love to play up in the attic where this !@#$ insulation would fall onto the floor through loose or missing ceiling tiles! Now I'm totally freaking out that I might have lung cancer or some other asbestos related lung-disease.

Does anyone know if my chest x-ray would have shown distinctive signs of those diseases (cancer, mesothelioma, etc), or the presence of asbestos fibres, or the signs be there but be mis-interpreted as generic "inflammation" as was seen on my x-ray. (Basically what I want to know is am I in the clear because I had a chest x-ray and no one said "oh, looks like you have cancer", iykwin).

And, does anyone know if the face-tingling stuff could be related to lung cancer.

(I have sworn not to do "Dr Google" as it always gets me even more worked up).

So, all that said, I've been trying to stay as calm as I can. I'm wondering if I should call my dr ASAP (actually he's not in the office until Fri, though he did give me his email address to use in an emergency since I've been having the face tingling stuff). Or should I give a few days (how long is reasonable?) to see if the Flovent clears things up?

I'm pretty much in a full-blown panic right now so having trouble getting perspective. Information, opinion and calming words would be so greatly appreciated.

[Uxor]

I don't know about flovent in particular. But the active in it is the same as one of the 2 actives in advair, and I know it's pretty quick when used for bronchial stuff. Flovent only comes in one strength and it's the same as that for advair for that component. Are you sure your sucking in the powder. There isn't anything in the device to expell it into your lungs. I work in qc for gsk and a lot of the complaints come from people that didn't know they had to suck it in. sorry don't know anything about vermiculite exposure. Hope you feel better soon.

[pianojazzgirl]

Thanks for your response. Yes, I have been inhaling it. My pharmacist and dr both went over how to use it with me, and dh has used it in the past so I *think* I understand how to use it. Are you saying that after 2 days of use I should notice a difference?

[WuWei]

Could you try some Rescue Remedy and magnesium, or Epsom salt baths to help you through the anxiety?

It all sounds very confusing and inexplicable at the moment, but will probably all work out fine. We all have a lot of exposures to toxins and many people are coughing and have inflammation issues right now with flu season, etc.

The face tingling isn't likely related to lung cancer. Asbestosis is more often related to a long exposure, not an occasional one. I wonder if the flovent is increasing your anxiety.

I'd focus on what you can do, what you can control. Consider adding nutrients to your diet to strengthen your immune system, such as vit A, B, C, D, food folate, iodine, K, magnesium, zinc, whole food probiotics. Green smoothies, bone broth, cod liver oil, coconut oil, etc.

It will be ok, not knowing is very hard!


Pat

[goldfinches]

Originally Posted by WuWei

The face tingling isn't likely related to lung cancer. Asbestosis is more often related to a long exposure, not an occasional one. I wonder if the flovent is increasing your anxiety.

Yes, DH deals with past asbestos issues nearly daily as his job. It's very clear that damage from asbestos is more from daily exposure over time. Like, if you were a brake pad installer 30 years ago. Just playing near/in it occasionally shouldn't cause you harm now. I would venture to say many of us had quite a bit of exposure over our early years.

[lerlerler]

The only part of your story can help with is the Xray question...

Mesothelioma generally shows up in an x-ray as looking like fluid in the lungs if at all... not diagnosible from an xray at all. WAAAAYYY more tests required to detect it... ending with a biopsy. As you may know, no "tumor" is ever visible with pleural mesothelioma, as your mesothelia is only a few cell layers thick.

I'm sure you are fine.. as a pp mentioned asbestos in an incidental recent case is probably not horrid.

Continuous exposure as a child (for example, sharing a bed with a swing shift worker from the shipyards that didn't shower before bed and came home covered in asbestos dust for YEARS?) is bad.

[pianojazzgirl]

Thanks mamas.

Unfortunately I actually did have continuous exposure to asbestos as a child as the attic floor was littered with that insulation and I played there often (sometimes daily, sometimes weekly) for over a decade. This would have been from 20 to 30 years ago. Maybe (hopefully!) that wasn't enough for harm to be done. I am certainly feeling very anxious about it though.

So, lerlerler - If, on my x-ray, there was seen "inflammation" (as my dr said) in my lungs is it unlikely that it could have been Mesothelioma since that would have presented as fluid?

For now I will keep up the Flovent, hoping for some relief. Maybe on Friday I'll give my dr's office a call. Sound like a reasonable plan? (my freaky-outy brain is having a hard time filtering what's reasonable or not).

[kittynurse]

My son takes Flovent for asthma and if he has been off it it takes a few days to kick in.

[pianojazzgirl]

Thanks kittynurse! I am still coughing but my chest has stopped hurting, so that's a good thing!

[LoisLane]

When my son would take Flovent for his viral-induced asthma, we'd start it two weeks before the start of school to be at a helpful place. One or two days would do not. The salbutamol (sp?) -- the rescue inhaler -- can have effects felt immediately (or so my son and doctor said) but the Flovent is kind of like a slow and steady prime.

It also can effect mood -- I second the recommendation for Rescue Remedy and epsom salt baths. Good luck.

[lerlerler]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

Thanks mamas.


So, lerlerler - If, on my x-ray, there was seen "inflammation" (as my dr said) in my lungs is it unlikely that it could have been Mesothelioma since that would have presented as fluid?

My limited and very anecdotal experience recalls that it was indeed fluid causing the beginning of the diagnosis. Your mesothelia is the lining that keeps the lungs moist

PLEASE remember that less than 2000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed a year (contrary to what those shyster lawyer commercials make you think!) and that a full 98% are men over the age of 70 who worked in the building industry or shipyards

Occams razor applies here... Occam's razor (the simplest solution is usually the correct one)you have a COUGH not a rare and insidious type of cancer that most MDs have never seen!!

best of luck!

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by lerlerler

My limited and very anecdotal experience recalls that it was indeed fluid causing the beginning of the diagnosis. Your mesothelia is the lining that keeps the lungs moist

PLEASE remember that less than 2000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed a year (contrary to what those shyster lawyer commercials make you think!) and that a full 98% are men over the age of 70 who worked in the building industry or shipyards

Occams razor applies here... Occam's razor (the simplest solution is usually the correct one)you have a COUGH not a rare and insidious type of cancer that most MDs have never seen!!

best of luck!

Yay for this post! I was pretty sure that I could use a good reeling back in to reality.

So, Flovent along, and if in a couple of weeks I notice no difference I contact my dr at which time I can let him know about my asbestos worries. Sound like a sound plan?

[lerlerler]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl

Yay for this post! I was pretty sure that I could use a good reeling back in to reality.

So, Flovent along, and if in a couple of weeks I notice no difference I contact my dr at which time I can let him know about my asbestos worries. Sound like a sound plan?

glad to be of service!!!