Hi all, I am new to this forum as I am very nervous about my condition. Some background first. I was a smoker for 20 years. from late teens to mid 30's. By the time I quit, I was smoking 2 packs a day.
When I smoked, I constantly got chest infections where I would cough up blood and other nasty stuff. But since I quit about 5 years ago, The chest infections have stopped coming, and my health has improved.
About a year ago, I started spitting up blood, it happened quite often, usually in the morning when I waked up. and I got worried, and went to the doctor. He checked my chest, said it sounded fine, and had an x-ray taken. Again, it was all clear. He said that my gums could have gingivitis (not sure of the spelling) but when I brush my teeth, I usually get gum bleeds, so I assumed it was that.
It's always remained in the back of my mind especially since I was a heavy smoker for such a long time. But since the doctor gave the all clear, I forgot about it and stopped thinking about it.
Now, this week, out of the blue, I got a rash just below my right ribcage. It is extremely painful, and so went to see the doctor. (I have since moved, so this is a totally new doctor). It turns out that I have shingles. He said it's a reactivation of the chicken pox virus, and usually occurs due to weakened immune system.
I did my own research on the net, and found that the most likely causes of weakened immune system is HIV virus or Cancer. I am not so concerned about HIV, as I know no one who has it, but here is the cancer boogey man popping up his head again, and it's given me a big scare again, and I cant stop thinking I may have this.
In addition to the shingles (and this has been happening for a few months now) is that when I am having a shower, I always spit up blood. I don't know why I never mentioned it to my doctor, but it freaks me out everytime I see it. I sort of have convinced myself that its the gums again, but am not sure what to do.