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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Lengthy respiratory/throat sickness
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Lengthy respiratory/throat sickness
by weste, Mar 03, 2005 12:00AM
I’ve had a respiratory/throat sickness since Oct. I’ve hardly been able to exercise - short walks tire me – so I’m feeling generally sluggish. I eat well, am in my 20s.
Late Oct/early Nov: had a sore throat and felt achy a few days; lost most of voice; then a cough developed lasting through Nov. Cough was persistent, preventing me from finishing sentences.
Nov: doctor prescribed Amox, largely getting rid of cough. I still felt achy at times. My chest (or perhaps lower throat) remained somewhat congested.
Congestion persists; a slight cough returns sometimes.
A spot in my throat, visible in the mirror, always stays very red (it’s toned down some this week for once). Sometimes my entire throat will flare bright red for a few days but then abates. When this happens, I feel sick, weak, achy. Slight chills will hit.
The past few weeks I’ve woken with a lot of mucus in my nose and throat, some yellowish/greenish (I do have allergies, perhaps contributing to this).
Dec: doctor prescribed Z-pack: no help.
Alcohol seems to irritate throat and worsen the problem. I’ve stopped drinking.
I never smoke. About twice weekly I spend time with friends who do. Can second-hand smoke contribute to bronchitis? Could this be bronchitis?
Saw a new doctor: prescribed Amoxicillin, three 500 mg capsules daily for a week. I finished yesterday. Throat hasn’t been so bad, but I don’t know if the medication helped or if sickness has just receded as before. I’m still congested (it’s pointed, at the bottom of my throat/top of chest); coughing some.
Blood test: fine; x-ray: no sinus infection.
Late Oct/early Nov: had a sore throat and felt achy a few days; lost most of voice; then a cough developed lasting through Nov. Cough was persistent, preventing me from finishing sentences.
Nov: doctor prescribed Amox, largely getting rid of cough. I still felt achy at times. My chest (or perhaps lower throat) remained somewhat congested.
Congestion persists; a slight cough returns sometimes.
A spot in my throat, visible in the mirror, always stays very red (it’s toned down some this week for once). Sometimes my entire throat will flare bright red for a few days but then abates. When this happens, I feel sick, weak, achy. Slight chills will hit.
The past few weeks I’ve woken with a lot of mucus in my nose and throat, some yellowish/greenish (I do have allergies, perhaps contributing to this).
Dec: doctor prescribed Z-pack: no help.
Alcohol seems to irritate throat and worsen the problem. I’ve stopped drinking.
I never smoke. About twice weekly I spend time with friends who do. Can second-hand smoke contribute to bronchitis? Could this be bronchitis?
Saw a new doctor: prescribed Amoxicillin, three 500 mg capsules daily for a week. I finished yesterday. Throat hasn’t been so bad, but I don’t know if the medication helped or if sickness has just receded as before. I’m still congested (it’s pointed, at the bottom of my throat/top of chest); coughing some.
Blood test: fine; x-ray: no sinus infection.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Mar 10, 2005 12:00AM
, Mar 10, 2005 12:00AM
It is hard to say exactly what this problem is. It is possible you had a prolonged viral infection (mononucleosis is an example of such infections), which can give the type of symptoms and prolonged course you have described. From your description, it does not seem like this is related to any problem in the lungs. It may be you had a sinus infection in the recent past, which set this off and is continuing to be a problem, despite the findings. I would work closely with your physician, perhaps culture the spot you can see and try to make a diagnosis. Then a course of action can follow.
Avoiding tobacco smoke and other irritants, good nutrition with plenty of fluids, rest and medication are all important in your recovery. If this were bronchitis, how long the acute bronchitis lasts is determined by your general state of health, your lung health, the virus or bacteria involved, ongoing exposure to tobacco smoke and how soon you get treatment. Frequent good hand washing and the use of disposable tissues can decrease the number of acute bronchitis infections.
Avoiding tobacco smoke and other irritants, good nutrition with plenty of fluids, rest and medication are all important in your recovery. If this were bronchitis, how long the acute bronchitis lasts is determined by your general state of health, your lung health, the virus or bacteria involved, ongoing exposure to tobacco smoke and how soon you get treatment. Frequent good hand washing and the use of disposable tissues can decrease the number of acute bronchitis infections.
