Is this Post Nasal Drip or Cystic Fibrosis?

[CaliChrons]

Hi, I am a healthy but very paranoid 25 year old male, who runs and plays basketball twice a week. I was diagnosed with bronchitis around April 3rd. The cough lasted for about 6 weeks and then went down to 3-4 coughs a day for a few more weeks. It

[MelvinG1]

I was very sick in May with flu-like symptoms, i'm not sure if it was the flu or some other virus. I had a fever, muscle ache in my arms, diarrhea, and a stiff neck, sore throat. After two or three weeks, I was feeling much better. I tested for HIV from my three month sex encounter which was low risk oral sex, and it was negative. Now, i'm suffering from postnasal drip, every morning I wake up with mucus on the back of my throat, and one side sore throat, nasty bitter/sour taste, some crystals on the back of my throat, and it looks like an infection it hurts and its uncomfortable. My doctor gave me some liquid cough medicine for postnasal drip but it didn't clear, i'm still suffering from this and its making me feel really uncomfortable to the point I don't know what's causing it. Is there anything else that is causing this to happen? I've never suffered from postnasal drip until I got sick in May, in June I started noticing the postnasal drip, it doesn't clear away. I made an appointment to see my doctor again July 24. I need some help doc, please, any possible cause why I am still suffering from postnasal drip if I'm not feeling sick, I had a physical and HIV all STD's and i'm clear Thank God. What can be causing this postnasal drip? please help me, i'm desperate and very scared.

[CaliChrons]

Thanks Dr. The lymph nodes were felt externally in the neck area. The Dr. didn't seem like it was something to be concerned about. I just remember her pointing it out while doing the exam. I cannot feel them myself at all.

[National Jewish]

The history of your illness is compatible with the diagnosis of acute, viral or bacterial bronchitis.  It is not uncommon for residual symptoms of such an infection to last a couple months and it sounds like you are continuing to recover.  The normal chest x-ray is especially reassuring.  The significance of the enlarged lymph nodes would depend, to a large extent, on their location, such as being felt externally vs. being seen on your chest x-ray internally.  This could be a manifestation of cystic fibrosis, but that is unlikely.  It is not an asthma exacerbation.

As long as you continue to improve, it is safe for you to await full recovery.  You should then have a follow-up x-ray.  You should also ask your doctor to reevaluate your enlarged lymph nodes, ask what they might represent and, if external, ask if they should be biopsied.  You should be evaluated by a lung specialist if you do not continue to improve and become symptom free.

If you should smoke cigarettes or pot, you should quit immediately and forever.

[CaliChrons]

Oh I forgot to mention that I smoke marijuana heavily for 5 years before quitting about 1 year ago. Still, I would hardly get sick or have any type of asthma or respiratory problems in my whole life. Everyone in my family is pretty healthy, besides my mom who I never met, she passed of lung cancer at 49.

[CaliChrons]

Hi Sunny,
I do not have any of the symptoms you have mentioned related to CF. I never had any respiratory problems my whole life. Pretty active as a kid till present, I did however catch phenomena (water in lungs) when I was 16. I didn

[norfolkngood]

Hiya mate, i cant help you out with regards to cures but its interesting to read what your symptoms are.
Im male, 30 and have been coughing up clear phlegm and had a thick clear mucus discharge from my nose for about 10 years now.
I have had scans for sinusitus and they came back clear, i have been on about 5 types of anti-histamine tablets and 4 nasal sprays with not one result.
I know how you feel with the paranoia as im the same. I sometimes think 'why cant somebody help me out!!'
I look forward to seeing if anyone can help out on this issue as im at a loss.
Take care
paul

[Sunny602]

Hello! Have you had alot of resp. infections or do they occur once in awhile? I know that sometimes it takes time to get rid of a cough after an infection, sometimes months! You could easily have allergies and or post nasal drip considering the time of the year we are in. I have cystic fibrosis, was diagnosed as an adult but had many of the symptoms prior to that. I had several bouts of bronchitis, diagnosed with severe asthma etc....To make a long story short, I presented very atypically for CF. That's why I asked if you had alot of infections, by reading your thread it sounds like you had a bad infection that was stubborn to let go, this happens to even the healthiest at times. Do you have any other symptoms such as weight loss, many loose bowel movements that float, pain in the gut, etc...? Many times with CF you have other symptoms as it affects other organs, but not always from what I have been told as well as from what I have researched. Symptoms are chronic in nature.
If this is really bothersome to you, you should bring it up with your doc. He or she may order additional tests, perhaps get a x ray of your sinuses or even a CT scan just to see if there is an infection brewing there. I hope that you get the answers soon, nothing is more frustrating than not knowing what is wrong. Sunny :)