Do any of you have any information on maple spore disese in woodworkers?
I have had one lung removed and am once again haveing trouble breathing,
My doctor wants me on 02 but nothing else to offer.
JigSawJohn
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John: I went to the CDC for general info just out of curiosity and they sent me a bunch of academic stuff (still readable)about peoples reaction to different woods; I posted it here #25039.1. My point being that they responded to my request and they will to you, if anyone has information on ''maple spore disease'' they will.
Good luck, KDM
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Thank you
I am now a seven year survivor at this point, and looking for at least 10 more years.JigSawJohn
Hard to know exactly your medical problem, but it seems that it might be an occupational lung disorder (pneumonitis). Usually this does not result in lung removal (pneumonectomy). Do you have any further info about the exact diagnosis? Any history of TB, smoking, asbestos exposure- what sorts of work have you done in the past?Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
About eight years ago or so I was sawing & turning spalted maple, a few weeks later my lung collapsed. After two weeks in the hopsital with tubes in my chest evacuating the chest cavity the lung heald.
Three months latter the lung collapsed again and back to the hospital for another round of the same.
My doctors said i had lung cancer. Days after the lung collaosed again they did a lobectomy of the right center lobe, then anounced that there was no cancer, but they did not know what it was.
A friend died two weeks latter, his wife said he was dieignosed??? with maple spore dieases. He and I had both been working with spalted maple and his wife said after he died the simularity of our cases required looking into on my part.JigSawJohn
Have you seen a pulmonologist (lung specialist)?
Occupational exposure to molds and wood dust can cause inflammation of the lungs, but that usually requires years of exposure, not days to weeks. Also, this is a relatively rare condition (other lung exposures to asbestos, coal dust, silicon or cotton thread are more common causes of problems).
Collapsed lungs can occur in young, thin, otherwise healthy persons (spontaneous pneumothorax), but also in older people with emphysema (lung scarring), often (but not always) with smoking histories.
If you are not seeing a lung specialist you should; the hospital where your surgery was performed should have tissue slides from the lung section that was removed. A specialist can review the slides and operation report and do some additional tests to help sort out your problem. I'm a heart doc (cardiologist) but have seen many patients with lung problems over the years- it sounds like you would benefit from a second opinion.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Thank you Doctor Glaucon
I never dreamed that they would have tissue slides, that another doctor could use for evaluation.
I have an appointment with a pulmenologist next month, ill ask him to look over these slides.
Thank you very much.JigSawJohn
You're welcome. You can hasten the process if you want. Ask for your records from the hospital- you will have to sign a release. I find it goes much faster if the patient requests the records directly and picks them up- it avoids the "check is in the mail routine" (i.e. the hospital says they have sent them when they are still in file). You'll want the discharge summary and operative report from your surgery admission. The hospital may want to send the slides directly, or your pulmonolgist may want to send them to a pathologist (specialist) he knows who is reliable.
Goood luck,Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
John, I'll defer to Dr. Glaucon as the expert on the medical issues. What he's said so far, without even seeing you, seems to make an awful lot of sense. But, one additional thought could be added, I think.
Don't visit some hospital in Jerkwater , USA and expect to get high quality, state of the art medical care. You need to get to a major medical center, preferably one with teaching or research programs, and get checked out.
Specifically, you need a major metropolitan hospital that specializes in Respiratory Disorders. Which one to go to? Well, US News & World Report Magazine, in its July 18, 2005 issue, judged "America's Best Hospitals" based on specialties. Get yourself a copy - maybe your local library has it or can obtain it on inter-library loan.
Read it and allow it to be the start of your research into what hospital to go to and, ultimately, what doctor to see. Call up the place and ask to speak to the head of the Respiratory Department, explain your problem and see if they'll give you a recommendation to a member of the staff.
Good luck.
As a member of one of those major teaching hospitals, I agree with you, but up to a point. Another way to achieve a good result is to make certain that the pulmonologist is board certified (physicians must take subspecialty boards and recertify at least every 10 years, after taking additional 2-3 years of subspecialty training). You can find out if a physician is board certified at the ABIM web site
http://www.abim.org/who/index.shtm
Many smaller cities and towns have excellent subspecialists who I would send a family member to.
You can also get help by calling the American Lung Assoc.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
You folks are great, I am very pleased that you all have taken the time to help, keep them comming I read everthing you send.
May God bless everyone one of you.JigSawJohn
Also look up the term "maple bark strippers disease."
Dr. Glaucon:
Good advice. Thank you.
But, do you think someone who has little or no formal contact with medical professionals can place that much faith in the designation of board certification?
Are there any other things someone looking for a physician to treat a condition should know or do on his/her own behalf?
I mean personalities are a factor I suppose but, what else should one ask of this person they're meeting for the first time?
Any thoughts?
Thanks.Griff
You should always look for a board certified physician when seeing a specialist.
Always. If not, then what's the point?
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Pronunciations
amphotericin B
aspergilloma
aspergillosis
blastomycosis
candidiasis
coccidioidomycosis
computed tomography
cryptococcosis
histoplasmosis
mucormycosis
sporotrichosis
Aspergillosis is infection caused by the fungus Aspergillus that usually affects the lungs.
Aspergillus is very common and is frequently found in compost heaps, air vents, and airborne dust. Inhalation of Aspergillus spores is the primary cause of aspergillosis.
Aspergillosis usually affects open spaces in the body, such as cavities that have formed in the lungs from preexisting lung diseases. The infection may also occur in the ear canals and sinuses. In the sinuses and lungs, aspergillosis shows up as a ball (aspergilloma) composed of a tangled mass of fungus fibers, blood clots, and white blood cells. The fungus ball gradually enlarges, destroying lung tissue in the process, but usually does not spread to other areas.
Less often, aspergillosis can become very aggressive and rapidly spread throughout the lungs and often through the bloodstream to the brain and kidneys. This rapid spread occurs mainly in people with a weakened immune system.
In addition to causing infection, Aspergillus sometimes produces an allergic reaction when it is present on a person's skin or mucous membranes (see Allergic Diseases of the Lungs: Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis).
Symptoms and Diagnosis
A fungus ball in the lungs may cause no symptoms and may be discovered only with a chest x-ray. Or it may cause repeated coughing up of blood and—rarely—severe, even fatal, bleeding. A rapidly invasive Aspergillus infection in the lungs often causes cough, fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
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Aspergillosis affecting the deeper tissues makes a person very ill. Symptoms include fever, chills, shock, delirium, and blood clots. The person may develop kidney failure, liver failure (causing jaundice), and breathing difficulties. Death can occur quickly.
Aspergillosis of the ear canal causes itching and occasionally pain. Fluid draining overnight from the ear may leave a stain on the pillow. Aspergillosis of the sinuses causes a feeling of congestion and sometimes pain or discharge.
In addition to the symptoms, an x-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan of the infected area provides clues for making the diagnosis. Whenever possible, a doctor sends a sample of infected material to a laboratory to confirm identification of the fungus.
Prognosis and Treatment
Aspergillosis that is present only in a sinus or a single spot in the lung progresses slowly. The infection requires treatment but does not pose an immediate danger. However, if the infection is widespread or the person appears seriously ill, treatment is started immediately. Aspergillosis is treated with antifungal drugs, such as amphotericin BSome Trade Names
FUNGIZONE
, itraconazoleSome Trade Names
SPORANOX
, or voriconazoleSome Trade Names
VFEND
. Some forms of Aspergillus are resistant to these drugs, however, and may need to be treated with a caspofunginSome Trade Names
CANCIDAS
, a newer antifungal drug.
Doctors treat aspergillosis in the ear canal by scraping out the fungus and applying drops of antifungal drugs. Fungus collections in the sinuses must usually be removed surgically. If fungus balls in the lungs grow near large blood vessels, they may also need to be removed surgically because they may invade the blood vessel and cause bleeding.
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