34 years old. Painful localised area on my lung. shortness of breath.

[James3000]

Hi thank you for giving me the opportunity to ask a question.

I used to smoke tobacco and cannabis on an off in binges. about nine years ago I noticed a recurrent pain in the front of my right lung after a heavy session of smoking.  I went to the doctor and was sent for an X-ray with turned out clear.  Believing that it was nothing serious I smoked on an off for a further seven years getting used to having a pain in that part of my chest.

About a year and a half ago I started to get shortness of breath when I was not doing and physical activity.  And became very sensitive to smoke, dust or chemical smells.  the symptoms where very unpleasant and have not smoked anything since. Being  around smoking  makes breathing difficult.

I went to my doctor a few times, and then a specialist.  I have found it hard to be  taken seriously, or find a doctor interested.  The Specialist I saw said that my symptoms where due to anxiety as my blood oxygen was normal.

For the last week or so I have be having uncontrollable coughing and an itch to cough right where the painful patch in my lung is.

I though it was just a cold virus, I thought I would be bound to catch a bug at some point after getting shortness of breath.  But I am beginning to wonder if it is a virus. as apart from the violent coughing I have not temperature, know phlegm or runny nose. and I feel perfectly healthy apart from the cough.

I am taking a large dose of codeine based meds and they are barley controlling the cough
what do you think about this   Thanks James

[National Jewish]

You need to have another chest x-ray.  Then have it compared to the previous x-ray(s).  You also need to have spirometry.  This is a simple breathing test that measures how your lungs are working.  It will show if there is obstruction in your airways.  Often it will identify a problem in your lungs before you have symptoms.  When this is done periodically it will tell about the health of your lungs over time.  You may need to have an exercise test.  The cough could be due to chronic bronchitis or asthma.  Eventually you will need to know whether you have one, both or neither of these.  These and thus your cough are treatable.

If your doctors are not taking you seriously, you need to see another doctor who will.  The most important thing that you can do for yourself is to stop smoking now and forever.  You may want to look at our giving up smoking information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/wellness/smoking/index.aspx for ways to help you quit smoking.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

[EROS]

Get a to a Pulmonary doctor for a full pulmonary function test and Hi Res CT scan. The smokes did not agree with you obviously.

Sounds like there could be some asthma here along with a chest infection or some transient bronchitis.

Give up the codine if its not helping.

Eros.