Chest Pain and Infections

[ElleBelle]

In August I had a chest infection with green sputum, it seemed to clear up after about 10 days without seeing a dr

At the beginning of September I got sinusitus, I saw my GP who prescribed general antibiotics, I returned again a week later as I then had a productive cough and continuing sinus problems, the Dr said that I had an infection in my left lung and gave me strong antibiotics. I returned a further two times, as the infection seemed to get worse and then produced chest pain, both a general feeling of rawness and a sharp pain on breathing/coughing on my left side as well as breathlessness (mostly a feeling of need to yawn a lot on resting that gets worse with movement) He sent me for a chest x ray, which was lost and put me on an inhaler for a wheeze.

I went to the ER who sent me home saying I had probably had Pneumonia. I managed to get a referral to a chest specialist. The cough had calmed down but i was still experiencing chest pain and breathlessness. I had another chest xray which showed some shadowing and marks, but a CT and bloods were clear for a lung disease or PE. They think I had another chest infection that cleared up.

Last week I again had a productive cough with yellow/green sputum and was given the same strong antibiotics. I finished them on Monday (helped with pain/breathlessness) by Wednesday I had another cold/sinus problem and am again coughing up yellow sputum with more chest pain. I've been discharged from my chest specialist and no idea what to do next.

I also suffer fro M.E./CFS
I take: Gabapentin for migraine

Thanks
Eleanor

[National Jewish]

Some times, chronic sinusitis presents in exactly this manner.  There are recurrent infections in the respiratory track that come and go because the sinus infection never clears up.  One suggestion is to get your physician to order a CT scan of the sinuses to see if this the case.

In other cases of recurrent infection, there is a some type of suppression of the immune system.  This can be evaluated by some blood tests.

It also sounds like you have developed reactive airways (the shortness of breath may be due to airways going into spasm).  This may or may not be related to asthma.  A lung function tests (spirometry) may help with making this diagnosis and getting you on the right medications.

It sounds like this is a complicated case and needs more attention.  I would speak to your physician about these concerns.

[Sunny602]

Hi..I think that it is a good idea that you were referred to a chest specialist, hopefully they can do more testing to help clear up what exactly is happening to you and why you are getting sick so much. Have they taken samples of what you are coughing up? That information alone can tell the doc alot about how to treat you if they know exactly what baceria (or some other pathogen) is the culprit. Everytime I have chest issues, the first thing the doc does is get a sputum sample...unfortunately I grow out many resistant bugs, but that is just me. I pray that the docs get to the bottom of your illnesses so that you may feel better soon. Take care, Sunny