Secondary chest infection - or is it?

[Lee2008]

Hi guys. I'm at the end of my tether with frustration now. I have had a pain in my upper back right side (started behind shouder blade but now is lower down and to the side more). Its a dull ache - hurts more when I breathe in and expand my torso. Also if I lay on the floor and press down with my weight. Its been there for a few months now. Then about two or months ago I started feeling a little unwell and I have a dry persistant cough. I don't produce anything. My chest feels tight but I can breathe ok, not short of breath. I went to the GP about over a month ago and she thought I might have a chest infection. Sent me for x-ray. The x-ray came back saying there were signs of a 'resolving infection' but there was also a note flagging up a non urgent concern about an area on my left lung that warranted a further x-ray. This obviously worried me and I had a bit of a panic attack that night so went to casualty. The doctor there was really helpful. He took bloods to see if my oxygen levels were ok - they were fine. My heart checked out fine. He had me take two more x-rays there and had a look with me. He pointed out the area the radiologist had queried - it was where the arteries and veins (kind of white whispy area) join the lung from the heart area and they were slightly more prominent than might be expected. But he said in his opinion it was nothing to worry about and they were just being cautious. He said looking at other x-rays it looked fine in comparison. No tumour then! Which was my panic. He thought I might just have a virus that was taking time to clear up. Anyway, my cough remained and I still feel ill. I went back to the GP and she listened to my chest and said I might have a secondary infection. So she put me on antibiotics. That was three days ago - I still feel awful.
My question is - if it is a secondary chest infection should I feel better soon with the antibiotics? Also do you think my back pain is related and would that be a symptom of a chest infection?
What other possible causes might my symptoms have?
As I said, its odd that I don't produce any phlegm or fluid when I cough if its an infection -or is that not uncommon?
Thanks for your help.
Lee x

[Lee2008]

Can people see this post ok? Its my first time here.

[SickbutEmpowered]

Hey Lee,
If this does not go away with the antibiotics, sometimes you have to be on another round of them to get rid of a tough URI. So say after a week, or even 5 days if you aren't feeling better you could always call the doctor and ask. Another thing, if you go, go back, and are not feeling validated, please seek further care. If you continue to have this trouble, if you can see someone dealing with asthma allergies and immunology. Maybe they can help prevent things like this. Do you smoke? If you do , this of course will slow healing and make it worse. Do you keep hydrated? If you are thirsty, or not hydrated enough, simple things you can do at home will helpfully help loosen the congestion. Tea, soup, liquids (I have to avoid milk when sick) are optimal. Another thing that helps me with the dry cough when I have it, even though I do have one all the time and it gets annoying is to get hard candies, or throat lozenges (not cough drops...just plain old lozenges. Also, call the pharmacist and ask what you can take safely OTC for congestion.  I hope you feel better.
Peace

[Lee2008]

Thanks for your advice and kind words.
I will go back to the GP if I'm not feeling better in a day or so - the antibiotics run out on Friday I think.
The weirdest thing is I have no phlegm at all. I don't know what the doctor heard on the stethoscope but all I have is a tightness in my chest and an irritation that makes me cough. Oh - and the pain in my shoulder/back.
I have never smoked and I drink loads of water each day.
I guess in the back of my mind I'm worried that its connected with the 'abnormal x-ray' the radiologist flagged up. Would these symptoms be the kind of thing that would be caused by an slightly more prominent hilar?

[darlingdivatx]

I think your concern if valid. Have you seen a pulmonologist??? If not I would! White spots on a lung xray are scary. I'm one to err on the side of caution. You obviously aren't feeling well. With the antibiotics you should start to feel some improvement. Do you have a fever? The spot could be a lot of different things. Be persisent with the docs until you get a definitive answer. I've just heard one too many time from docs "not to worry", both personally and others, when they turned out to be wrong. Medicine is an art. A lot of docs aren't always great at it. They get it wrong a lot.

So don't settle with the dx until you feel better.

[Lee2008]

Thanks for your comments guys. Much appreciated that someone is taking the time to listen.
I woke up this morning still feeling wretched and coughing nothing up. Its been 5 days since the antibiotics started. I rang the GP and made an appointment to see her today at 3. I hope she has some good advice.

Lee

[Lee2008]

Ok, went to the GP. She thinks my chest is clearer. Even though I feel wretched.
She has ordered a set of blood tests to see if it shows anything odd.
I pinned her down on the issue of the x-ray.
It actually said 'confidentially this cannot rule out the possibility of a lesion' !!!
But she said the helar was an area where connective tissues and lymph nodes gather together and it is likely that the lymph nodes would be enlarged in the case of an infection. So I shouldn't panic. I'm not in the High Risk category - ie: never smoked etc...

So bloods tomorrow...one step at a time....