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How does one find a diagnosis... apart from pestering a GP whom typically will suggest a chest infection/re-occuring pluritic problems or asthma.
I know how you feel GP's know the science but have lost their listening skills. Anyway change GP until you get what you want, I tend to find 3 visits are needed for them to act, express your concern perhaps say you worked heavily with asbestos. I'm sure others have better advice.
diagnosis for asbestos/pleural plaques etc.. is usually via chest X-ray as first port of call as well a spirometry (lung function). If you're loved one has a history of working with asbestos then this will need checking out. To be honest most GP's are pretty switched on to asbestosis and mesotheloma so as long as there is a valid historical reason where exposure may have happened they will usually be pretty rapid in response
Exactly Tails. my old Art tutor has lived with aspestos poisoning for years and is treat-able it doesnt have to mean cancer!!! - but how the **** do they diagnose it? blood? - chest xray?, ct scan?
Tazzy chest x ray showed "aggrovation in both upper lobes of both lungs" but with a previous rib/punctured lung in that (right side) area the plural lining is already scarred.
non smoker by the way....
you don't get asbestos "poisoning" it's small fibre size causes lung damage from inhalation exposure causing scarring leading to various occupational diseases from pleural plaques where the scar tissue leads to a reduction in the elasticity of the lung through to cancer of the pleural cavity (mesothelioma)
i am not all that well informed and im defo not googling it to scare the shit out myself - your input is genuinly helpful. i realise its not "poison" but thats what they used to call it....
have a look on the NHS website and the HSE
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asbestosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/what-it-can-do.htm
to be honest there are a lot of other industrial dusts/silica/coal dust etc which can also cause scaring/reduction in lung function so it could be many things. Just because there is some scarring showing up doesn't automatically mean that it will progress any further or turn into anything more sinister. You Need to discuss this with your GP, rather than on a forum TBH.