Hi, I am new to this board and do not have mesothelioma or any other diagnosis relating to asbestos. I have read through other topics on this forum and can see that my post is not typical, I hope that by posting this I am not offending anyone. I would really like to hear from anyone with mesothelioma what their initial symptoms were, and if their condition immediately showed up on scans. I'd be especially interested in hearing from those who had asbestosis or similar diagnoses prior to developing mesothelioma.
I am a male of around 30. Three months ago I was fit and healthy: active job, 20 minute 5k runs, played sports, 80 mile bike rides, non smoker. Never had any respiratory issues besides pneumonia as a toddler, and fortunate not to have any other health issues.
At the beginning of May I had a dangerous encounter with asbestos cement sheeting buried beneath an old concrete shed base with some other metal and rubble. I didn't realise what it was at the time and spent around two hours digging it all up, breaking the sheeting in to many, many pieces as it was stuck between the concrete and other rubble. I did this without a mask in a dusty environment and was moving around the dust, dirt and rubble with a shovel.
After I realised what I'd dealt with my blood ran cold. At the time I thought I'd probably be OK nonetheless, or at least wouldn't know until decades later.
Around ten days later I experienced a viral-type illness with cold, sore throat and mucus cough. After this cleared up (the cough taking a while longer than other symptoms) I haven't felt right. My breathing is different, I feel short of breath and as if air is grating over my throat / through my lungs ... hard to describe. Low key constant sore throat, mild tightness in chest and some intermittent dull chest pains. The cough improved but any time I exert myself it is worse, same with the sore throat. Most alarmingly fatigue has progressed from feeling nearly as energertic as normal through the whole of May (albeit grotty from the symptoms), to becoming very profound whereby short moderate exertions now leave me feeling dead tired. The fatigue seems to have increased particularly in the past 3 weeks, and I have now taken time off work as I cannot keep up.
I realise that it is almost unheard of for asbestos exposure to effect someone with no latency period, but my body has changed drastically in the past 3 months since this exposure happened. I am sick with worry.
I had a chest X ray two weeks ago that showed no cause for concern, and bloodwork done which also suggested everything was fine. Not anaemic, oxygen saturation 98% at rest. The NHS care has been great but I worry that I have no further avenue to explore my issues as understandably it seems that I am totally fine.
But my body does not feel like it always has. Movement which wouldn't even register as exercise previously now leaves me tired. My breathing and chest do not feel right nor does coughing in relation to any. Some of my finger/thumbnails have raised/rounded a little which I believe may be early signs of clubbing. I feel like I'm going crazy and don't know what to do next. It is effecting my life as I cannot do the normal everyday things in my life let alone all the active things. My mental health has gone down the toilet.
I don't have any specific questions really, but I'm looking for advice from others. Did anyone have symptoms for a while but struggle to get a diagnosis as nothing showed up on scans? Is it common to have normal haemoglobin and oxygen saturation levels whilst living with an asbestos disease?
It probably sounds like I'm just cracking up and am worried over nothing, but I can't stress enough how much I broke up the asbestos sheeting and how profound the subsequent changes in my body have felt.
Sorry again if this is the wrong place to post this. I have searched for more appropriate forums to discuss asbestos concerns and it is thin on the ground - most sites are for compensation claims and legal enquiries. I can imagine how annoying it must be to have someone without mesothelioma using the board to worry and I am very sorry if my post causes any offence. I feel alone and desperate and would really appreciate any advice or shared experiences.
