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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Asthmatic Broncitis/COPD
Answered by
MN
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Asthmatic Broncitis/COPD
by ajbach, Nov 04, 2007 04:19PM
I am a 38 year-old female in relatively good health.
Three weeks ago my son had a bad cold and I expected to get it. Instead of any regular cold symptoms, though, I woke up one morning with extreme difficulty breathing and coughing up yellow phlegm and clear mucous. I usually get breathing problems or bronchitis when I'm sick, but it has never been this bad and usually goes away on it's own. After two weeks of no improvement and coughing up 100+ times a day I went to an emergency clinic where I got a breathing treatment which helped some and an xray that was clear. The doctor diagnosed me with "asthmatic bronchitis" and gave me steroids, antibiotics and an inhaler. Three days later I went to my regular doctor who agreed with the diagnosis and almost sent me to the emergency room. I could barely breathe and was wheezing bad. My pulse-ox was 100% and he gave me another breathing treatment which helped somewhat. More steroids and he sent me home with a nebulizer. It's been three days now with little improvement except when I use the nebulizer 3-4 times a day.
I have never been diagnosed with asthma, although I have had bronchitis many times over the years. I smoked for about 4 years but quit 15 years ago, although I grew up around heavy smokers. My question: does this mean I have chronic bronchitis and how likely is it I have or will have COPD? And how long can I expect this to flare-up to last?
Three weeks ago my son had a bad cold and I expected to get it. Instead of any regular cold symptoms, though, I woke up one morning with extreme difficulty breathing and coughing up yellow phlegm and clear mucous. I usually get breathing problems or bronchitis when I'm sick, but it has never been this bad and usually goes away on it's own. After two weeks of no improvement and coughing up 100+ times a day I went to an emergency clinic where I got a breathing treatment which helped some and an xray that was clear. The doctor diagnosed me with "asthmatic bronchitis" and gave me steroids, antibiotics and an inhaler. Three days later I went to my regular doctor who agreed with the diagnosis and almost sent me to the emergency room. I could barely breathe and was wheezing bad. My pulse-ox was 100% and he gave me another breathing treatment which helped somewhat. More steroids and he sent me home with a nebulizer. It's been three days now with little improvement except when I use the nebulizer 3-4 times a day.
I have never been diagnosed with asthma, although I have had bronchitis many times over the years. I smoked for about 4 years but quit 15 years ago, although I grew up around heavy smokers. My question: does this mean I have chronic bronchitis and how likely is it I have or will have COPD? And how long can I expect this to flare-up to last?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Nov 13, 2007 04:44PM
, Nov 13, 2007 04:44PM
Sounds like you do have rather severe bronchitis with spasm of your airways quite similar to what occurs with asthma. The designation, asthmatic bronchitis, is a reasonably good descriptive term, but does not provide information on the type of infection you have. The treatment you have received sounds appropriate. But if you fail to significantly improve fairly soon, and especially if your phlegm remains yellow, consideration might be given to culturing your sputum and perhaps switching to another antibiotic.
That you have had recurrent bronchitis "many times over the years" suggests that you may have chronic bronchitis, or conceivably another underlying disease such as cystic fibrosis. However, what you describe is not an indication that you will likely have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
That your symptoms have already lasted several weeks raises the possibility that you could have pertussis, also called whooping cough, which is a common disease in adults these days. Keep on using the nebulizer as prescribed and discuss the above with your doctor.
That you have had recurrent bronchitis "many times over the years" suggests that you may have chronic bronchitis, or conceivably another underlying disease such as cystic fibrosis. However, what you describe is not an indication that you will likely have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
That your symptoms have already lasted several weeks raises the possibility that you could have pertussis, also called whooping cough, which is a common disease in adults these days. Keep on using the nebulizer as prescribed and discuss the above with your doctor.
