Allergies or Respiratory disorder

[Lind1]

First I want to say thank you for taking the time reading this post. I will try to give all relevant information 32 Years old.  (smoker - trying to stop) When I was about 18 I was diagnosed with cronic asmatic sinisitus and bronchitus. About 12 years ago I moved to another town and since then only had bronchitus twice. Although since last year september I have been having severe sinus infections and a lot of phlem. I saw my Dr. who presribed me antibiotics and sended me for blood test came back good. In March this year I got bronchitus up to the point where it felt like I cant catch my breath. I went to another Dr. and he sended me for chest x-rays and blood tests.  The blood test came back good and the x-rays came back good.  Since then I have had this nagging cough.  The cough is definately getting better although I cough in the mornings and in the afternoon.  I have really bad sinus drip because (sorry for the explaining of this) sometimes when I speak the phlem will come into my mouth and a mouth full.  Every morning my nose and throat are blocked with phelm wich makes me cough to get it out.  During the day no coughing and during the night when I am sleeping none as well.  In the afternoon when it starts to become cold I will have a little bit of coughing more like a clearing cough. The Dr. also said my lungs sound clean although I am constantly worrying about cancer because of the phlem production. Mostly lately the phlem is clear of colour with a bit of yellowish green. mostly clear.  When I think about it, it feels as if I cant catch my breath or have to yawn although when I am not thinking about it, my breathing feels normal. I am scared that I am making myself anxious because I keep reading about phlem disorders up to where I think it is affecting my life. Is it possible post nasal drip can cause all this.I don't have any wheezing, weight-loss, chest pain .Mostly sneezing, very bad drip and stuffed nose in the morning and daily cough. Kind regards.  

[Lind1]

Thank you so much for the information.  I have felt much better since our last post and the phlem production nearly gone as well as the cough.  Although I feel better I will definately take down all the information and do all the relevant test to make sure I am healthy.  Your insight on all the different types of diseases has helped me alot to know what to look out for.  I am currently also trying to stop smoking and know I will succeed.  Again thank you so much for all the information and help.

Kind Regards

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

You have provided a very informative description of your chronic illness.  That description strongly suggests that you have both sinus disease and lung disease, a not uncommon scenario for individuals who smoke cigarettes, especially those individuals who are genetically predisposed to the toxic effects of cigarette smoke.  Your history, especially the early onset of symptoms, suggests that you (and perhaps other members of your family) may have that predisposition.

Be aware that a person can have very serious lung disease and still have a normal chest X-ray and normal “blood tests.”  Persons can have advanced disease before there are significant changes on the Chest X-ray.  A better, more sensitive test of lung function and the degree of severity of loss of lung function, would be Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT’s) and you should have that test.  Also given the severity of your symptoms, it would be reasonable for your doctors to consider ordering CT Scans of your lungs and sinuses, to more objectively assess the extent of disease and to and possibly demonstrate unsuspected disease of either lungs or sinuses.  Consideration should also be given to what are called autoimmune diseases that are known to not uncommonly involve both lungs and sinuses.  Other diseases that might present in this fashion would include asthma (especially with a condition that can occur with asthma, called ABPM (allergic bronchopulmonary fungal disease) and Cystic Fibrosis (CF).  Finally, like CF, there is another inherited condition that can be diagnosed with a blood test, Alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency or anti-protease deficiency.

I also suggest that if you have not been evaluated by an ENT specialist and a Pulmonologist (lung specialist) you and your doctor should seriously consider requesting consultation with doctors in each of these specialties.

Please do not interpret this as a criticism, but it is imperative that you and your doctors do absolutely everything possible to enable you to stop smoking immediately.  Completely!

Now is the time for you and your doctors to thoroughly investigate your condition to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Do not hesitate to ask your doctor questions and request further consultation.

Good luck