Chest infection after-effects of something more serious?

[steven777]

2 months ago, after trips to the US/Poland, I started feeling strange: lower arms tingling, spaced out, hot & like I couldn't use my lungs fully. Over the next few days developed a fever & dry cough. My gp diagnosed me with acute bronchitis and gave me antibiotics (5 days amoxicillin). My chest tightness (front of chest, around heart) was partly relieved, but I didn't feel 100% so went back. The infection had cleared up, but as some symptoms reminded the gp of tb (& I'd been travelling) he arranged a chest x-ray. Showed up clear. Still felt bad, esp. at night: lightheaded & often as though someone pressed the air out of my chest on exhaling. Heartrate was 45; during the 2-sec intervals when it felt as though the air was pressed out, my heart didn't beat at all, as though skipping a beat. Hot flushes but no fever. Saw gp again; the infection was back. More antibiotics (10 days klacid). Again some relief. The 2 wks after the course I felt better every day. Got syrup for the mucus (green on some days, colourless on others). Thought I was cured, but since 5 days ago the spaced out feeling is back several hrs every day. In the evening/night (sitting/lying) I've these feelings of air being pressed out & skipped heartbeats. Heartrate at night is 45, blood pressure 110/60-65. No hot flushes/fever. I wonder if I should request a blood test or some other examination from my gp? Age 32, not overweight, non-smoker, exercise regularly. Father had bypass surgery aged 55. Thanks in advance!

[tight chest/breathing trouble]

Hi, I  was just wondering did you smoke any cannabis shortly before these problems started?

[National Jewish]

Some of your symptoms suggest hyperventilation, which is inappropriate over-breathing, usually associated with anxiety.  This can occur both with and without what are called panic attacks.  That's not to say this is all in your head.  The green mucus is strongly suggestive of infection.  It is possible that you had not only bronchitis, but possibly also pneumonia, despite the allegedly clear chest x-ray.  Also, given your travel, the infection could have been caused by a bacteria or virus, not usually encountered in the U.S.

Your heart rate of 45 with missed beats, light headedness and chest tightness is of greater concern.  A heart rate of 45 is not uncommon for very well-conditioned athletes, but is otherwise abnormal.  You should contact your doctor, with some urgency, and arrange to have an electrocardiogram (EKG).  If your doctor is unavailable today, you should go to an emergency room to have an EKG.  You may also wish to seek consultation with a cardiologist, especially given your family history, and may need to have heart rhythm monitoring.