Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
After being sick for a month, can someone answer a question for me?
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
After being sick for a month, can someone answer a question for me?
by Scosgirl, Dec 06, 2003 12:00AM
I have been sick for a month now. It always starts out as colds and then turns into bronchitis. This time was a bit different. I had asmatic bronchitis, and am having trouble breathing. I am starting to get over it but! I am having bad lung pain. It feels as if I have broken ribs. I am also having bad pain under my left breast to around lower and under my arm. What could this be??
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Dec 15, 2003 12:00AM
, Dec 15, 2003 12:00AM
Viral infections like a cold or bronchitis can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs. This inflammation can cause you to cough when you are active or laugh. After the cold and bronchitis are gone, it is possible for the inflammation to linger. This inflammation can last for several weeks. Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months. Eventually the inflammation will go away, and then the trouble breathing will stop. This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma. When this inflammation is treated with an inhaled steroid, which is used to treat asthma, it often clears more quickly. Check with your doctor to get the best treatment for your problem.
You will need to see your doctor to find out the nature of the problem that is causing your bad pain. To know for sure if this is due to a lung problem you will need to have testing done. A good place to start is with a chest x-ray and possibly a simple breathing test called spirometry. Spirometry provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. If your symptoms are due to a lung problem, this testing should identify the cause. A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to identify a lung problem and the best treatment.
You will need to see your doctor to find out the nature of the problem that is causing your bad pain. To know for sure if this is due to a lung problem you will need to have testing done. A good place to start is with a chest x-ray and possibly a simple breathing test called spirometry. Spirometry provides detailed information about how your lungs are working. If your symptoms are due to a lung problem, this testing should identify the cause. A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to identify a lung problem and the best treatment.
Another possible cause of your pain could be muscle strain. I know as an asthmatic, when I get all huffy and puffy....I really strain my chest and ribs. After my attack has cleared, I sometimes feel like I was punched in the chest for working it so hard. This usually subsides in a day or so after my muscles have relaxed and "healed".
Suffice to say, and as I ALWAYS recommend....talk to your doctor.
Andy, RRT,CPFT
Lisa