cough, flu twice, lung problems, but no answers

i have had the flu twice since October 2008.  I had a chest x-ray in February and was called back into the doctors office for a cat scan of my lungs because the chest x-ray was abnormal due to defects in both lungs, looked like scarring tissue.  I had been on antibiotics and cough medicines since Oct. 08 and as soon as I took the first round, and stopped the cough would come back, then I would be put on something else, and this has been going on since then thru March of 2009.  My cardiiologists sent me to a lung specialist.  He says my oxygen level drops rapidly when I exert myself, over when I am resting, and my breathing sounds terrible, even though I have never smoked, and I take 2 inhalers,Advair and Pro-Air daily.  He wanted me to go on oxygen at home, and the breathing treatment at home daily.  I told him I wanted to get a second opinion.  I think a light should be run down my lungs and see what is going on with them, and if I have scarring tissue or infection what is causing this,and how do I get rid of it.  My ear nose and throat specialist at UNC hospital checked my ear out, due to the fact i was implanted with a cochlear implant in 2001, due to hearing aids no longer helped, and he said my ear was full of wax and pus, he washed it out and put me on prednisone and augementin 1000 antibiotics. for 2 weeks.  I do not know what to do next, or where to turn to for help on this, could you please give me some advice or names of maybe someone that may could help me out here.  Thanks for any help.


This discussion is related to Persistent Cough.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Lung scarring is due to several causes like sarcoidosis, silicosis, asbestosis, previous infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis or fungal infections. It is important to find the cause of scarring. Another important thing to find out is whether the scar tissue size is stable or whether it is increasing. A CT scan should be done to find the cause the type of scar, its cause and size. Sometimes the scar tissues precipitate interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis. I would strongly recommend you to consult an internal medicine specialist or a chest specialist for this. A comprehensive investigation is required keeping all the points in mind.
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[melbidd]

Hey,
I can relate to what you are experiencing.  In the last year or two (since I was in grade 9, I'm now in grade 11), I got pneumonia (once), bronchitis (2-3 times), several strep throat (about 6-7), common cold (too many to count lol), severe shortness of breath (now have two inhalers, Advair and Pulmicort, but they don't really help), ....  One of my doctors ran a test and told me that only about 50% of the air I breath in, actually go into my lungs.  Since I still have shortness of breath, a bad cough since about a year ago + post nasal drip, and now experience weird symptoms (swelling of mouth/lips, ezcema (eczema) is back, nausea after almost everything I eat), she told me all this could possibly be related to allergies.  I'm not so sure ALL that would be related, but some of it maybe.  So I'm gonna get tested next week.  You could maybe ask your doctor for an allergy test, just to make sure.