HAVING A BAD DAY...HELP

[Raine9]

I was 85% convinced that my shortness of breath was due to anxiety.  My doctor thinks it is and he gave me Xanax which seems to help a lot although not 100%.  but I got sick second week of March, a virus or something I caught from my kids.  I was coughing for two weeks.  I noticed on a couple of occasions a trace of blood in my sputum. Wasn't alarmed cuz I was coughing like crazy, I figured I must have aggravated my throat of something.  The cough and sputum cleared up and that's when my shortness of breath started.  I think it's because I was getting worried about the coughing lasting for so long and remembering that a nagging cough is a sign of lung cancer.  A few weeks later, second week of April my kids get me sick again.  I start coughing up yellow mucus and noticed traces of blood again.  the cough and mucous went away last week.  This morning however, I went to clear my throat and noticed small amounts of blood in my saliva. But I am not coughing.  I read on Webmd that this could happen from something as minor as a ruptured blood vessel in the throat.  But this is freaking me out. Also watching all this horror on TV about the Virginia Tech massacre doesn't help.  It's so depressing.  Is the shortness of breath and this blood related or just a coincidence?  There is no doubt I am under a considerable amount of stress and anxiety considering all the things I've been through this last year. Is the blood just related to these last two illnesses I got from my kids?  I know if it doesn't clear up I will have to go to the doctor.  I guess I just need a little support right now.  I took a Xanax a few hours ago and feel somewhat better.  Help :(

[suzi-q]

I have that terrible nagging cough right now.  No blood though...yes my thoughts go right to terrible diseases too, however, the blood in the saliva could be a sign of bronchitis or pnemonia or just a blood vessel!  Go to the doctor and have him check...you may need an antibiotic.  i know it is hard for us, but try not to think the worst...there are lots of colds and coughs going around right now and that is what it is most likely!

Let us know!  Best to you!

[396SS]

Alot of people are sick right like that now.  My co-worker is spitting up yellow mucous today too.  He is on antibiotics, a mucous thinner and an inhaler, so you're not alone.   His kids have been sick too.  I know I can spit up a bit of blood if I have a sinus infection or respiratory infection.  I don't think a trip to the Dr. would be a bad idea to make sure you don't get bronchitis or anything.  As far as the anxiety - yeah, it will make you feel like your throat is tight, it's annoying.  Point is, try not to focus on the throat thing.  And STOP WATCHING THE NEWS.  The Virginia Tech thing is terrible, and there is nothing you can do about it.  If you need to know something, someone is always talking about current events.  If I watch that stuff I find myself just wallowing in it.  I stopped watching the news altogether!  Watch stupid shows, funny stuff that is mind numbing or especially that makes you laugh.  They have studies now that apparently show if you even fake laugh and smile, then it increases the levels of good hormones (serotonin I think) in the body and makes you feel better.  Sooooo, surround yourself with people/thinks that make you smile and laugh,  It can't hurt right?!  Hope you feel better:)

[Raine9]

Thanks for your comments.  So much better talking to people who are going through the same thing.  It's nice to have a place to vent.  My friends and husband are as supportive as they can be but they really cannot identify.  And I think they are tired of my hypochondriac nuttiness!

I feel much better today and I didn't even take a Xanax.  There was very little blood in my spit this morning and I really had to force it out.  I will keep track of it for a week.  If it doesn't go away completely I will see the doctor next week.  I'm supposed to see him next week anyways for a follow-up appointment.  I just don't like going to this doctor.  I don't know him well.  He is a good doctor, very thorough, teaches general med at a major university.  I went to him last summer for a physical because my regular doctor was on maternity leave.  My co-worker recommended him.   He routinely has his patients do chest x-rays as part of their physical exams.  He found an abnormality in my chest x-ray which turned out to be not serious but it was traumatic. so I associate him with that x-ray. Actually that chest x-ray is what triggered all this anxiety.
I would rather go to my old doc but we just recently moved closer to his office and far away from my old doc.  It's hard for me to drive all the way to see my old doc with two kids and all.

I think I feel better today without the Xanax is that I met up with my church group last night.  When I do church ativities or when I read spiritual things I feel a little better.  It helps me realize that whether we are sick or healthy, we are not alone and somehow, someway everything will be alright.  Death and disease is just a part of life. When we die our souls are just going back where they came from.  Anxiety is bascially fear.  But I think we all have the strength deep inside us to overcome all fear (some of us just need a little help at times).    

Until the next crisis... PEACE :)