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Persistent cough and chest pain.

Hello! Well, I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was about 10 years old... It was mild then, but I think over the years it has worsened due to living next to a chemical plant. I'll be 20 in about a months time.

Several weeks ago I got really sick with some type of cold... The doctor didn't run any tests, but she felt it was a Sinus Infection of some sort and simply gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way.
Before that, I have always had some type of strange cough that I assumed was just a symptom of my Asthma, but after the antibiotics finally kicked the sickness, my cough has worsened and now I am coughing up phlegm [I don't believe it's colored as it was when I was ill, but maybe a little frothy and just icky and well... of thick consistency.]

I've also had this chest pain for several months that I got sometime last year. It's in the left side of my chest and seems to be worsening as time goes on. I guess I can describe it as someone carving my lung with a knife or something. Or squeezing my lung/chest with their hand. Sometimes, I get a pain in my right lung that feels like I have a long needle sitting in my lung and I can feel it when I breath. This usually occurs if I'm walking quickly and am in a hurry to get somewhere or if the air outside is cold.

I don't know if this is related any, but I have been noticing problems with my legs. I do a lot of walking around the college campus, nothing that has changed since I was in high school, so I'm not always sitting around... but these days it seems to hurt to walk. Especially if I run. From about the knee down my legs become sore and doing any type of running and stuff makes it feel like I can feel the bones in my legs and it can be really painful. Like I said, I'm not sure if this is related, but since it showed up with the other symptoms, I thought I should include it.

I'm not taking anything for my Asthma [I do have a fast-acting inhaler that I use on some occasion], but the medicine I've received in the past was only for allergies and did absolutely nothing for my Asthma, so I haven't taken anything specifically for Asthma or anything that was supposed to help it in years.
It's been about 4 or 5 weeks since I was actually sick and I'm feeling much better in general, but the coughing is persistent and occurs in the middle of a conversation or if I try to laugh and any random time... it also gives me severe shortness of breath and the chest pain is something that occurs at any random point. I've always had major shortness of breath, especially if I'm trying to speak for a long amount of time, and I have to stop and rest for a few minutes before being able to continue.
I'm just wondering if this is something I should get checked out or not. I haven't been to the doctor for Asthma related symptoms since I was hospitalized at age 14 for it because they never seemed to do anything that helped me, but I'm wondering if it's time to go get it checked out again.. All they seemed concerned with was "it's probably your allergies" and nothing they gave me [Singulair, nose-sprays, etc.] seemed to help at all and they never ran any type of tests or anything, so I kind of put it in the back of my mind.
I do have Asthma attacks from time to time, also, which I use the fast-acting Inhaler for.

We've had to sue the chemical plant we live next to for unannounced leaks [several families have done so, in fact] and we won, so I'm not sure if this is all from living there or if it's all in my head, but I haven't bothered to think about it until now. Sorry for the super long message, but I wanted to make sure I included plenty of information! Are there any suggestions or thoughts as to what it may be? If I visit my doctor, should I be asking for anything in particular?
I hope I can get some help with this, because it seems only to be getting worse over time. Thank you very much!
3 Responses
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Avatar universal
EXERCISE (1) (STARTING FROM EXHALE, Build Co2) for Asthma/cold cough and Lungs Strengthening
====================================================
Select a location either garden or near window where fresh air is available.
Sit in a relaxed position, upright position. Take a small napkin for use.
NOW EXHALE FROM NOSE to remove all air from lungs.
with mouth closed, HOLD or PINCH close your NOSE with index finger and thumb.
while holding breath this way, Count 1001,1002,1003.......
Feel the stomach/nose filling up with hold air (CO2)
Ideal hold time is minimum 35-45 seconds .
YOU MUST Hold till STRONG URGE TO BREATH.
Release your nose and relax and do normal breathing for at least 1 minute before re starting the process again
do this at least 2-3 times and not more in 1 sitting.
====================================================
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hmm, that might be a good idea. The stabbing is frequent and even just a little bit ago before responding here I had severe cramping in my chest on both sides for a short bit.
I'll do my best to see my doctor soon.
Thank you so much for your time!!!
Helpful - 0
942934 tn?1268108382
Hi Welcome to the asthma community.

It sounds like you should get yourself a spirometry test to determine how well your lungs are performing. I think a lot of your other symptoms are not related to your asthma per se. I find if I have too much asthma, then I am over tired and I suffer a lot of leg cramps. Perhaps that is what you are feeling in your leg muscles and chest muscles. But the best would be to see a pulmonary specialist and get your asthma re-evaluated to see what is the best treatment for you.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
i know this is old but i found an elastic back brace with a thick wool sock tucked in at the are of pain helps quite a bit
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