What is it?

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Simon Dean - 17 Oct 2007 20:11 GMT

Excuse my intrusion. As far as I know I don't have asthma, but Im open
to possibilities.

I had a common cold for a few weeks. It still feels like it's lingering
in some fashion, although I do seem to have constantly congested sinuses
that the doctors don't seem to know what to do anything about.

That cleared up quite quickly, but I still have this persistent cough.
It's not really a cough, it just starts feeling like something tickling
in my lungs causing something to spasm and a big "he he he" laughter
type gasping for breath. There still quite a big of coughing and phlegm
being bought up, but I know it's not congestd as such as the cough
medicines do sweet fa.

I've had this now for several weeks and it's really annoying me.

I haven't been to the doctor, because last time I went to the doctor
with something worse than this, where coughing and wheezing was being
triggered by transition between the inside and outside (during a cold
winter) in 2004, the doc listened to my chest and said there's nothing
wrong and nothing they can do.

Well, Im looking around for answers. Im not necessarily convinced it's a
common cold, and feel that there's something on my chest.

But what.

I suppose it could still be the common cold, or is it a chest cold
(whatever that is), or something else, or even asthma.

I remember being younger 15 odd years ago in school and wheezing after
running between classes. Makes me wonder.

Any thoughts?

I thought an asthma related newsgroup might be a good place to start for
breathing related difficulty questions.

Thanks
Simon

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Jason - 17 Oct 2007 21:31 GMT

> Excuse my intrusion. As far as I know I don't have asthma, but Im open
> to possibilities.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> Thanks
> Simon

Simon,
I have had the same types of symptoms after a cold. I went to the doctor
and he told me that I had a lingering cough. He told me that the cough
would go away after several more weeks. He also said that people that had
what he called "weak lungs" had those types of symptoms after a cold. The
doctor was correct. I stopped coughing after about three more weeks. It's
my GUESS that people that have weak lungs take longer to get over a cold
than people that have strong lungs. The reason is probably because the
weak lungs have a more difficult time getting rid of the mucus left over
from the virus infection.
Jason

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Simon Dean - 17 Oct 2007 22:21 GMT

> Simon,
> I have had the same types of symptoms after a cold. I went to the doctor
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> from the virus infection.
> Jason

"weak lungs"? What the hell does that mean? I find some doctors really
are just complete and total quacks. But sometimes you find some really
great doctors who you think are just fobbing you off, really are just
total geniuses and know everything.

"weak lungs" same as asthma, appear to cover many potential issues. I've
also seen things such as acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis etcI do find it
hard to believe I have "weak lungs" as such. I don't smoke, I don't work
or live in dusty, damp conditions or anything like that. I avoid smoke.
And until a few years ago, Id have said I don't actually have a problem.

For me, I'd be asking, what is weak lungs a symptom of.

This is a quote I found from a doc on the internet "Unfortunately,
sometimes when physicians give patients explanations they use words that
are not medically accurate. Some children may be prone to develop
bronchitis or pneumonia, or have asthma resulting in frequent lower
respiratory problems. Cystic fibrosis can result in chronic obstructive
lung disease and recurrent pneumonia. But there is no medical condition
known as "weak lungs." Since I don't know what the child's actual
medical problem is, I cannot comment or advise on it."

(of course, Im not a child, but that just references children).

Incidentally, Im 30.

I find it fascinating reading such phrases as "the most common triggers
are viral illnesses such as those that cause the common cold", "When
present the cough may sometimes produce clear sputum", "The airways
narrow and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe. In
essence, asthma is the result of an immune response in the bronchial
airways."

So I start wondering if it might not fit, if somewhat incredibly mild. I
just don't want to go through this every time, wrecking my throat,
quality of living, sleeping, working etc due to the strange sounds and
wretching to pacify the murmur on my chest. I do wonder as it is on the
chest, whether there is anything one might be able to breath in to
alleviate the symptoms (like asthma), instead of drinking cartons of
cough syrup.

Cya
Simon

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Jason - 18 Oct 2007 07:31 GMT

> > Simon,
> > I have had the same types of symptoms after a cold. I went to the doctor
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
> Cya
> Simon

Simon,
I will give several examples of people that have what my doctor referred
to as "weak lungs". A child that develops asthma has lungs that are much
weaker and don't work as well the lungs in another child that has never
had breathing problems his or her entire life. A person that has calcium
deposits on his lungs like I have on my lungs has much weaker lungs than a
person that has NEVER had any breathing problems their entire lives. A
person that now has Cystic fibrosis or emphysema has weaker lungs than a
person that has never had any lung problems or breathing problems their
entire lives. It's my opinion that when a person has any of the lung
problems mentioned above or other serious lung problems or breathing
problems is more likely to end up with a lingering cough after a cold than
a person that has healthy lungs. The reason is probably because the weak
lungs have a difficult time removing the mucus that is in the lungs after
a virus infection. A person that has healthy lungs usually does not end up
with a lingering cough that lasts for about a month after a cold because
his or her healthy lungs can quickly get rid of the mucus that occurs
after a virus infection.

It's my guess that within three weeks--you will not be coughing. If you
have NEVER had an asthma test by a specialist, I suggest that you get the
test. Even if the doctor determines that you do NOT have asthma, the
doctor can determine if you have other lung related problems. In my case,
the doctor determined that I did NOT have asthma but that I did have some
calcium deposits on my lungs. I had a case of Chronic Bronchitis about 5
years ago and the specialist believes the calcium deposits MAY have
happened as a direct result of that case of Chronic Bronchitis.

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