Grid of unwanted selections, masked areas, on layer mask

When I move 2 layers from Lightroom into Photoshop cc Release 1+9.1.6 and add masks etc., and when I then flatten, crop or save I get a grid of patches all over the image that shows the lower layer as tho these were patches of black paint on the top layer mask.  When I do a control>right click on the top layer mask, as to load a selection from the image, these areas show up as selected areas along with the areas that are painted black on the top mask.  I seem to be stuck there because if I shut down the application I will have to start over and if I do a save to lightroom, ie to disc, the patches go with the image.  Anyone seen this or knows the cause?