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Respiratory Disorders  (Expert Forum)
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6 th time this year
Answered by
National Jewish -
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MedHelp Member's Question

6 th time this year

by leger01, Jul 09, 2005 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed and treated a total of six times just this year. It is the same symptoms every time. I will start with a sore throat, then an ear ache. I will then start to feel really tired and lathargic. I find myself going to the doctor and after them listening to my chest and doing x rays, looking at my throat, saying I have an infection, looking at my ears, saying that there is fluid in my ears and then telling me as soon as they look at my x ray that I have Pneumonnia- Again. This has become a never ending cycle this year. My doctor and I are at an end as to what to do. She usually switches my antibiotics from Z-pac to Levaquin 500 and she always has me on allergy med's and inhalers and frequent breathing treatments. Just this past Tuesday after being told I have pneumonia again- I broke into tears.. why am I getting so sick so often and what is going on with my body? I have had blood tests ran and all they keep telling me is I am anemic,,ao I take the Iron pills that they give me and still,,anemic,but better counts.

When I was younger I remember being hospitalized quite a bit due to my asthma and I had reocurrent pnemonia I used to only catch it once a year,but this year,it is uncontrollable. I am tired of being sick, and the constant body aches and nausea that I seem to be having as well.I am finding it really hard to keep up with my work load at work and I am so tired all of the time. Could it be something other than pnemonia?Is it really possible for someone to be this sick and it reocurring over and over again? I am at a loss and am just tired of it all.
Doctor's Answer

by National Jewish, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
Your problems are serious.  The pneumonia is likely to be a non-infectious pneumonia.  This may possibly be related to your asthma.  It could be an allergic pneumonia.  You need to see a pulmonary specialist, without delay.  You should talk with your doctor about this.  Request a referral to a good pulmonary specialist.  Being treated every time with antibiotics will not help if the pneumonia is cause by something other than an infection.



The anemia may or may not be related but the specific cause of it must be determined.  Sometimes the cause of an iron responsive anemia is as simple as a low iron intake.
Member Comments (13)

by LukeL, Jul 09, 2005 12:00AM
In my opinion, I think if you don't already have it, get central air for your house and have it running all the time. I know it may be drastic but you may want to move somewhere where the air isn't as humid. Wayne Newton used to suffer from chronic astham and infections and his parents and him moved out into the SW into the desert and this helped him a lot. If your job is in an unairconditiond place you may want to consider switiching jobs.



Please note the above is only my opinion and you should consult with a pulmonologist.



by leger01, Jul 10, 2005 12:00AM
I live in Arizona, I have lived here all my life, this is the most non-humid place to live. I have even tried in the past to sleep with a humidifier to deal with the sometimes constant cough, that the dr.'s here say is because of the dry heat. Any other thoughts or concerns would be appreciated.

by LukeL, Jul 10, 2005 12:00AM
Well like I said if you have tried all the home remedies to help with asthma and chronic infections and still haven't found relife I would go to a lung specialist and have a full workup done.

by bactitech, Jul 11, 2005 12:00AM
It sounds like you need another doctor's opinion on this. You probably should see a pulmonologist or an infectious disease doc ASAP. You probably should have an extremely thorough history done with this second doc. Take copies of all lab and/or culture results that have been done by your present doc with you. Insist on a referral. There are other causes of pneumonia besides bacteria, or perhaps the bacteria that is causing this is resistant to your current medications. Also, it could be viral. I'm a clinical microbiologist. We get all kinds of specimens from pulmonary docs.



Also, there are other causes for anemia besides iron deficiency. You need a thorough workup.

by leger01, Jul 12, 2005 12:00AM
Thanks- I have an appointment with a new doctor and a Pulmonologist on the 19th.

by bactitech, Jul 13, 2005 12:00AM
Please do let us know what the new doc says. It will help others in the same boat as you are, plus curious minds want to know :-).



Good luck.

by celticmom, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
I would like to add that I would request a sinus CT if you haven't had one already.  I had repeated chest infections myself this year and my pulmonologist finally ordered one.  That's when he discovered I had chronic sinusitis.  I had no idea, because I thought my sinuses were fine.  Little did I know. Turns out that the antibiotic courses given to kill chest infections are not long enough to get rid of a sinus infection.  Anyway, I hope your pulmonologist figures it out quickly!  Good luck!

by Inanga, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
just a thought that might help - i used to get frequent sinus infections - something like 6 in 4 months from memory - eventually discovered food allergies were causing masses of mucous in my sinuses - post nasal drip etc. I guess the volume of warm sticky stuff was inviting for infections. I understand that the excess mucous can affect your ears too - maybe it's mucous pushed up your eustantion tubes - i don't know. But cutting out wheat, gluten and dairy has really cleared up my breathing and hopefully the infectiosn are behind me too. Of course haveing small kids that sneeze and cough all over me doesn't help but that's life. good luck.

by leger01, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
Thanks to everyone who responded , Like I said I have an appointment on the 19th,,, hopefully we will start to get things all taken care of.

by dorothyblueeyes, Jul 15, 2005 12:00AM
Dear Inanga--- wheat,gluten and dairy? That is in most everything.I would have to make my own bread,(which I have done,it's a lot of work and time,)and cut our dairy(oww,may as well cut our my right hand,and right foot!!!;() and gluten?Gluten is in lots of stuff;I eat lots of fresh fruits and vegies now,and low-or non-fat dairy;I am middleaged,past menopause,I don't want to stop my calcium supply. (yeah,take calcium capsules.) As for bread,and gluten(what is gluten in?I cook most of my food,anyhow,seldom eat out.)how the heck do you avoid that?I would lose weight(which I am trying to do,anyhow,)if I cut out wheat(bread)and also milk,dairy.Yow.     Well,I could try it,and become a semi vegetarian again,only without dairy and wheat and gluten this time. Eat a little meat and fish.Vegies and fruit.sigh.Really, really make ya lose weight(if you cut out the candy.)How bout popcorn?does that count? Thanks, :) dorothyblueeyes