Is it Chronic Bronchitis, Bronchitis, or a viral infection?

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I started a small hacking cough approximately 6 months ago.  I would hack because I felt a "clicking" in my air passage when I would breathe. Two months later, I still felt clicking in my airway so I went to the doctor and he gave me 1 dose of(Arithromiacin). I still felt this 'clicking' I went back to the doctor for more antibiotics and he said one dose would have taken care of any infection unless it was viral or bronchitis.  He prescribed prednisone (which I did not take). I started to get chills and extreme "night sweats".I had four different chest Xrays all revealing nothing. I would cough up long strings of white phlegm and would wake up with these in my throat.  I noticed that some times the long strings would come when I cleared my nasal passage.  So I did not know whether my lungs were clearing into my throat or my nasal passage is clearing into my throat.  My lung doctor appeared to believe that it was mucous plugs coming from my bronchial tubes. She thought I had bronchitis brought on by acid reflux with acid dripping into my lungs. I have been on antibiotics twice since then (both times I would cough up "clumps" of what appeared to green snot).  I am worried I might have "chronic broncitis" as I still feel something when I breathe and cough up  white clumps of phlegm. I have pain the spreads across my upper chest and back. it feels like burning but will not go away. I am afraid I have chronic bronchitis. Is there anyway to tell? Could it be due to GERD? Or could it be a bruised diaphram? Will this ever go away? Can I exercise ever again?

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A related discussion, crackling in throat when I lay down at bedtime was started.

[National Jewish]

Bronchitis is swelling and inflammation in the airways of the lungs.  Symptoms can include cough with mucus, chest discomfort, fever, and/or extreme tiredness.  It is often, but not always, caused by an infection, which can be due to bacteria or a virus.  An antibiotic is taken if bacteria are causing the bronchitis.  Generally an antibiotic is not prescribed if a virus is causing the bronchitis.  This is because an antibiotic is not effective against a viral infection.  When a virus is the cause it

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I forgot to mention I had a PFT which revealed that my exhale was at 95% of someone of my gender and age, however, my inhale was only at about 60%.  Could this be bronchitis?