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wtkjkd · Feb 3, 2008, 10:43 AM

How long would it take for a pulmonary abcess to become the size of a golf ball

supriya _82 · Feb 4, 2008, 05:50 AM

1) How big it is now?
2) You do not wait for it to "grow" to the size of a golf ball.
3) If it is really a pulmonary abcess I doubt you would be in a condition to type this question
4) If it actually looks like a "golf ball" on X-ray it probably is not abcess but something else.

wtkjkd · Feb 4, 2008, 08:01 AM

I've seen a specialist and he said it was an abscess the size of a golf ball. I've had several x-rays and a ct scan. I'm going at the end of the week for a broncoscomy. Is it abnormal for it to be that size? Have you or do know of someone who has had this same condition? If so would you mind sharing your experience with me thanks:confused:

supriya _82 · Feb 4, 2008, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by wtkjkd

I've seen a specialist and he said it was an abscess the size of a golf ball. I've had several x-rays and a ct scan. I'm going at the end of the week for a broncoscomy. Is it abnormal for it to be that size? have you or do know of someone who has had this same condition? if so would you mind sharing your experience with me thanks:confused:

If you have had a CT scan and it says abcess, thebn perhaps it is an abcess. It is difficult to label it as abcess on X-ray alone. Because when on an X-ray you see a white golf ball shape literally (well rounded, it suggests something else). But I realise that you're your doc was speaking figuratively.
Now the bronchoscopy would enable to sample some of the abcess and have it sent for analysis to determine the choice of antibiotics.
I have to ask you for:
a) your symptoms
b) your age
c) your ethnic origin (because though tuberculosis is rare, it has a prediliction to asian and african origins. Not so much in caucasians.)

wtkjkd · Feb 5, 2008, 11:17 AM

I'm 36 yrs old. My symptoms have been extreme fatigue I had a bad case of pheumonia in sept. and it hasn't cleared up. The specialist doesn't think it's TB because that was also my first thought. I should correct myself the pheumonia has cleared I just seem to have some sort of bacteria because every time I get a head cold it goes right to my chest . I've had a persistent cough sharp stabbing pain in my right side when yawning or sieghing. It's my understanding that with TB I would have to be in close contact with a person who has it and for quite a period. I am a full-time washfloor person in a laundry dept. for a hospital. Hopfully this will help to give me more ideas so I can ask the doc. Thank you for responding and I look forward to any other thoughts you might have. By the way I'm caucation female.

supriya _82 · Feb 5, 2008, 12:13 PM

The fact that you work in a hospital, albeit the laundry, you are more exposed to infections than an average Jane and hospital acquired infections are notoriously resistant to antibiotics. The fact that it has been 5 months since your pneumonia is persistent, is a case in point.
I hope that you are not a smoker or have quit as a result of this infection. Also I assume that you do not have any pre-existing illnesses like diabetes or something affecting your immunity, preventing the disease from resolving.
I think a Bronchoscopy with some sample material for analysis is the way to go.