Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
is this normal? chronic cough
Answered by
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
|
is this normal? chronic cough
by J Johnson, Jan 13, 2006 12:00AM
Help I am a 26 yr old male who has had a myraid of neurologic symptoms such as chronic headache and wrist/knee sharp pains in the last 5 months...
I've also been short on breath and nauseated (these 2 swap out with each other, its one or the other).
Now, The real thing that worries me is...I have also had this constant cough that sounds wheezing and when I cough, my lungs are fully deflated (I cough all my air out and there's a wheezing sound during my cough because my lungs are fully deflated with no air left to blow out). This goes along with the feeling I have that my lung capacity is seriously reduced. HOWEVER, my Pulmonary functions test and ABG, chest xray, and MRI of the brain were all fully normal
I know you can't diagnose me, but what do you think?
I've also been short on breath and nauseated (these 2 swap out with each other, its one or the other).
Now, The real thing that worries me is...I have also had this constant cough that sounds wheezing and when I cough, my lungs are fully deflated (I cough all my air out and there's a wheezing sound during my cough because my lungs are fully deflated with no air left to blow out). This goes along with the feeling I have that my lung capacity is seriously reduced. HOWEVER, my Pulmonary functions test and ABG, chest xray, and MRI of the brain were all fully normal
I know you can't diagnose me, but what do you think?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jan 27, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 27, 2006 12:00AM
There are many causes of chronic cough. In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the most common causes are postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux and asthma. You should be evaluated for the 3 of these before having other testing done. Incidentally, one can have asthma as a cause of cough, with normal pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
A neurologist should evaluate your neurologic symptoms.
A neurologist should evaluate your neurologic symptoms.
If you have a significant lung problem it is reflected in your tests, also you do not feel intermittently well. The pulmonary function test is very sensitive to lung problems.
The aches and pains are generally unrelated to any lung problem especially if you have a normal lung function as proved by your tests.
I would say GERD or asthma are a possibility and maybe anxiety. If you smoke stop.
The previous post is unusual and not typical of the type of post we have here on this board. I would pay it little attention.
i also say get to dr. dont go by age..or people that say things like ....its unlikely, listen to your body, because i also was just diagnosed with a serious lung problem at the age of 32. because it went undiagnosed for 5 months...i recommend a cat scan of lungs, because thats the only test that showed something, everything else was negative. peace and get well!!
I wonder if your wheezing is upper airway oriented..meaning whe wheezing is more from your trachea as you exhale than from your lungs. Maybe there is some problem there...I know some infections such as those involving the trachea can certainly do that. Also as someone else mentioned, reflux disease can give you a chronic cough. I am no doctor, just read alot.
Also, what other tests have been done? Any echocardiograms to rule out heart problems, EKG or stress tests..these are just tests that I am throwing out, but may be important if you continue to have shortness of breath. I know you are young, but I am hoping the docs take you seriously.
Not sure about the neuro problems...did the docs do an EMG or an electro myelogram where nerve conduction as well as other measurements are obtained? IF not, bring it up....
I wish you luck, don't give up. If you feel that crappy, keep searching even if it takes ten docs to find your answers. Go with your gut feeling. Hugs, Sunny :)
I do have a specific question for you. Had you undergone Pulmonary Functions Testing BEFORE you were diagnosed by the CT with emphysema?
no...they found all this by accident as it was. my pcp is still shocked. he thought i had pneumonia. this was a total shock, thank god the ER ran the CT, but no PFT was run prior to the dx.