'HELP'

Dear Doctor?  Male, 65, weight 200, height 6', non smoker. Retired Air Force. A cough started 4 weeks ago. Lungs clear, treatment 7 days amooxicillin. Help. Now, cough, large amounts of sliva, appears to be a malfuction of gland in the throat.upper/chest. Knot in upper chest, heavy cough, liquid, a temporary blockage in airways, when I cough, at times loose balance and nearly faint. Woke up coughing two nights ago, cleared lungs, heavy sweat 3 tee shirts, then normal. No temperature, Constant feel of cough as if some leakage to upper bronchial area and lungs. Am seeing a air force nurse practitioner on Monday, February 5 but don't feel comfortable. Thank you.  E-mail: ***@**** and tel. [phone]  Any thoughts other then buying a coffin? James

[National Jewish]

The key here is to find the source of the problem. This could be from your upper airways (such as a sinus infection) or from your lower airways (bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma). It will be important for the person you see tomorrow to determine the cause of the symptoms and then to treat on the basis of this. This might takes some x-rays and perhaps a lung function test. That is the best place to begin.