Tea Posted August 15, 2020 Posted August 15, 2020 Hello I am Tausha and I am here for my 85 year old grandmother. Last Christmas I could tell she had lost significant weight. This past week she went to the hospital and they found a spot on her cat scan. They told her to come back in a few months to do another scan so they can monitor it. She is feeling awful, coughing phlegm and she weighs 90 lbs. She lives in Odessa Texas and the Lung specialist there has dismissed her weight loss and doesn’t seem concerned. Her family is very concerned... we are unsure of what to do and due to coronavirus What risks we should take. If anyone knows the appropriate people to reach out to for her. Please let me know.
LexieCat Posted August 15, 2020 Posted August 15, 2020 Hi, Tausha, and welcome. I'm sorry your grandmother isn't well. If they found only a "spot" on her CT scan, it's doubtful that would be making her cough. If it were big enough to be causing a cough they would not be simply monitoring it--they would be actively testing for cancer. Many people have "spots" or nodules and if they don't change, they may be harmless. Still, her feeling "awful" and coughing up phlegm, along with the weight loss, is reason for concern. Does she have a primary care physician? It sounds like she should get a thorough medical exam. Do you know whether she's been tested for COVID?
GaryG Posted August 15, 2020 Posted August 15, 2020 Hi Tea: .Where did they find the spot? How big is it? What was the rational for sending her back home? Did they perform a broncoscopy? Coughing phlegm can be from multiple sources like pneumonia, COPD and even common cold.
Tea Posted August 15, 2020 Author Posted August 15, 2020 Negative for COVID. Been to PCP twice in the past two weeks. The symptoms have been going on for awhile she’s had pneumonia twice in the past year and has a 30 lb weight loss. She went to the hospital last week because she couldn’t breathe and said she felt like she had COPD. That’s when they saw the spot on the cat scan. Sorry about the lack of information this is the information that I have been able to get from her. I don’t live in Odessa. I am trying to get down there next week.
Tea Posted August 15, 2020 Author Posted August 15, 2020 I will try to find out the specifics on the scan and I am sorry if I do not belong on your forum. I’m just very concerned and feel like I’m missing something.
LexieCat Posted August 15, 2020 Posted August 15, 2020 I'd suggest asking her to consent to your talking to her doctors. There are probably standard consent forms (or forms for medical power of attorney) online. I wouldn't want to have to rely on what she is able to tell you--illness can cause minor confusion that could affect her ability to provide you (and her doctors) with accurate info, And don't apologize--you are more than welcome here and we would like to help you get to the bottom of what's going on with her.
BridgetO Posted August 16, 2020 Posted August 16, 2020 Hi Tea and welcome. I'd suggest she ask for a referral to a pulmonologist (lung specialist) Best of luck to you both. Bridget O
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