Coughing, Mucus and Chest pain for 7 weeks

Posted , 4 users are following.

I'm 24 and have smoked on and off for a total of maybe 2-3 years. So Prior to Christmas I came down with what I can only presume was Bronchitis. In one day quickly found it very difficult to breath, and went to the doctors. All tests came back normal. This continued throughout christmas and into the New Year, when I proceeded to visit the doctor again. I was given antibiotics and told to go home and rest. This I did, but still it did not improve. I went back to the doctors one more time and was prescribed some more antibiotics and have seen a marked improvement. 

I am no longer coughing up bucket loads of green mucus, my chest doesn't sound rattley all the time and breathing has become much easier, but I'm still extremely anxious over the feelings of chest tightness and mucus that is still coming up, even if it is less so.

Some days I feel much better for a prolonged period of time and then the next day, the chest pain and coughing and mucus is back again. I'm just scared and I don't know what to do, has anyone else experienced Acute Bronchitis for this long? Am I in danger of having COPD? Any advice would be useful, thank you!

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi benjyl, I get that a lot too from smoking cigarettes n not many I'm extremely sensitive to them. It sounds like it's bacterial in nature if it's gone on 7 weeks usually viral ones clear up within 4-5 weeks. What antibiotics were you put on n dose n how long?

    I'm in an absolute nightmare right now with similar except I was given too low a dose of the antibiotic n the bug grew resistant now no antibiotics are working. I was given the run around by docs n brushed off coz they couldn't hear it in there. Well that's the greatest myth among docs you don't need to hear it for it to be there it's a bug for petes sake unless severe you may not hear anything.

    Sometimes bugs are non productive meaning your body doesn't produce mucus it's just an over multiplying of bacteria which makes you I'll you feel the discomfort tightness pain etc in lung but stethoscope may not pick it up. Iv a bad cold now gone right down on it n I'm spitting up thick gunk my lung where infection Is now worse n tighter n I'm pretty sick at least they can hear it now n are finally sending me respiratory ppl it's a joke I could feel it there that should be enough.

    Like when I get chest infections they're always from smoking n usually when it's bacterial what happens is it just mushroom in your lung no cold flu preceding it or anything so basically it was a bad bug already in there that multiplied coz smoke weakened tissues n made that happen so body doesn't always recognize as outside invader coz it wasn't n doesn't produce mucus if you get me n pneumonia Is known to be silent.

    I'v also had the productive ones with blood they all make you I'll either way. It's possible your body still clearing out but if bug is dead you shouldn't be having anymore chest discomfort it should be clear but if was really bad maybe the inflammation in your tissues needs bit time healing. Or antibiotics may not have fully killed it. Are antibiotics finished?

  • Posted

    I'm in a similar situation apart from I'm not a smoker. I've had a cough since Xmas with intermittent cold symptoms. I've been doctors twice and had a blood test. Every time I go the doctors the symptoms clear up and they can't hear any blockage with stethoscope but it always comes back. My blood test came back fine on Friday but yesterday I was back to cold symptoms and began to cough up stubborn yellow phlegm which happened as well as couple of weeks ago. Like a couple of weeks ago today I feel generally better but the dry cough feels worse. I've had no antibiotics but have a phone consultation with my doctor tomorrow so maybe they may offer me something. I'm 29 male and generally in good health I rarely get colds and viruses.

    • Posted

      I havnt smoked in 4 months I'm only a social smoker not a proper one but yeah I'm really sensitive n they're toxic to me even burned my throat tissues which is really weird. Just Coz they can't hear it doesn't mean there's not some bug in there. Only really bad infections are picked up usually. It depends ontype of bug present n how your body reacts to it. Some produce mucus some just cough some dry it all depends on bug n how body reacts. Hopefully they give you antibiotics to try coz it's going on so long 4 you. You might have breathed in something or cold could have turned it bacterial. Yakults are good while waiting on antibiotics. I had something similar to you before more milder but felt tiny bit infection still in lung after nose n flu cleared up not sure if was viral or bacterial but probably bacterial as it lasted Jan to March one year n one day after yakult it was gone. Unfortunately theyre not working on this one it's stronger bug n probably as it's resistant nothing working.

  • Posted

    Hi I have a dry hacking cough since start of December , it comes and goes I also suffer sinus problems , I've attended my dr which prescribed antibiotics, steroids and inhalers , it eases but back as bad as ever it's worse at night , Im waiting on chest X-ray results which I'm terrified, anyone have the same

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