Hi, I came down with a cold around January 20, 2014. That week I treated my cold (mild symptoms) with Day-quill and NyQuil. However, before the week was over, I started to experience coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath. I also have asthma, and I’ve had asthmatic bronchitis before, so it started to feel familiar. The following week, I was consistently short of breath. I went to a walk-in clinic after work (January 28). The doctor (who by the way, had terrible bedside manner and barely even examined me) did the following: quickly examined my mouth (noted a little redness in my throat), listened to my lungs with a stethoscope, and then proceeded to order a ton of medication: said I had acute bronchitis, put me on antibiotics (cephalexin – 4 pills a day for 7 days) (note: didn’t do a culture test to determine if indeed I had a bacterial infection), gave me new albuterol inhaler, and cough suppressant medication (which I did not take).
I was half way through antibiotic medication, still short of breath, and I have an asthmatic attack so I go back in less than a week to the clinic. Inhaler not helping me, can’t sleep at night. This time doctor gives me a shot of prednisone, and prescribes me prednisone tablets (4 mg) for 6 days. I didn’t really notice much change. By February 9, I’m feeling slightly better (done with all the medications) but still am having difficulty breathing.
Background: I am 27 year old female, do not smoke (nor ever have), not overweight, exercise 2-3 times a week (but haven’t done it since I’ve been sick for fear of breathing difficulty), eat relatively healthy. I haven’t had a major asthmatic episode in about 5 years (last time I had it was when I had a bad cold 5 years ago). Currently When I swallow, I feel mucus in my throat. And I don’t cough a lot, but when I do, it’s dry, and I can’t cough up mucus. I feel like its stuck in throat or lung. What could be going on?