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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / March 2005Advice Please: Sinus/Lung Infections
Can anyone give me an idea of what sinus infections may spread to the lungs, causing shortness of breath when doing anything more than normal activities, and bouts of coughing 20 minutes after physical exertion? Thanks a lot. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. > Can anyone give me an idea of what sinus infections may spread to the > lungs, All of them. :-) My ENT believes in the "Unified Field Theory of Respiratory Infections" (that's what he calls it): Since the epithelium of the nasopharynx is pretty much the same as the tissues of the throat, larynx and trachea, any type of infection (viral, bacterial or fungal) in the upper respiratory tract can spread to the lower respiratory tract. Carried down there by infected post nasal drip. > causing shortness of breath when doing anything more than normal > activities, and bouts of coughing 20 minutes after physical exertion? > Thanks a lot. Having said that, the symptoms you're describing are sometimes associated with asthma or bronchitis. You need to see a physician for an appropriate diagnosis.  SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. >> causing shortness of breath when doing anything more than normal >> activities, and bouts of coughing 20 minutes after physical exertion? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >associated with asthma or bronchitis. You need to see a physician for >an appropriate diagnosis. Yes I agree - I have had lots (and lots) of coughing from nasal drip but not shortness of breath. Shorttness of breath suggests that asthma or other cause needs to be ruled out...... > >> causing shortness of breath when doing anything more than normal > >> activities, and bouts of coughing 20 minutes after physical exertion? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > shortness of breath. Shorttness of breath suggests that asthma or other cause > needs to be ruled out...... I wish it were that easy. When I went to the doctor last year, she spent 20 seconds looking into my lungs with what was basically a flashlight on the end of a tube, only to say she could see nothing wrong. That by itself resulted in a bill for $315.00, so I can't really afford to try the traditional route for diagnosis and treatment. Hence the reason I'm posting here. In September of 2002, I fell asleep with the window open on a night the temperature dropped sharply. It resulted in me catching a cold which I quickly got over, except for a cough that just would not go away. When it finally began to subside somewhat, I noticed that if I tried to jog for 5 minutes, 20 minutes afterwards I'd experience a bout of coughing that would last for about 5 minutes. But that began to get better also.(Though not completely). The big problem began during on my daily walk to work. I have to walk up a hill, and on this particular day I was winded by the time I reached the top, when I wasn't winded the previous day I walked up that same hill. In other words, this shortness of breath did not happen progressively, but over the course of a 24 hour period, and I've had this problem ever since. Now I get winded whenever I do anything that requires even a little physical exertion. When I wake up in the morning I tend to have an ache in my windpipe, and phlegm production in my sinuses and lungs is a problem that has screwed up my digestion system, and makes the first half hour difficult after waking up. I can even pick up the scent of the "infection" when I breath. Unfortunately, I caught a cold last week, which exacerbated my problems(which briefly included spitting blood yesterday morning). As a result, I'm again dealing with bouts of dry coughing throughout the day. It sometimes keeps me up for an hour or so in the middle of the night. Outside of that, my symptoms don't seem to be triggered by environmental factors.(ie: Temperature changes, dust, ect). Nevertheless, I sometimes cough so hard I get light headed. I used to play basketball for several hours just about every day. But ever since this breathing/coughing/sinus problem began, I'm forced to be sedentary and as a result I've gained 50 lbs. Anyway, any ideas or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. >> Shorttness of breath suggests that asthma or >>other cause >> needs to be ruled out...... > >I wish it were that easy. Actually there is a simple test for athma. They measure your lung FEV with and without a drug. If there is a significant difference, you may have astkma. Many ENT's can give this test. I have it it done twice (both negative). > When I went to the doctor last year, she >spent 20 seconds looking into my lungs with what was basically a >flashlight on the end of a tube, only to say she could see nothing >wrong. I do not think that asthma would necessary be visible to an endoscope. >That by itself resulted in a bill for $315.00, so I can't really >afford to try the traditional route for diagnosis and treatment. I think you really need to. You need to get insurance. Isn't it guaranteed issue in New York? You probably have either asthma or other lung or heart ailment if you short of breath on exercise. I don;t think that any of these can be dealt with reasobaly >Hence the reason I'm posting here. > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >ever since this breathing/coughing/sinus problem began, I'm forced to >be sedentary and as a result I've gained 50 lbs. Well that's disasterous if your identification of the origin is correct. I only say that because it is easy to fool oneself as to the cause of things. I have done it myself several times. One is too close to one's own symptoms. >Anyway, any ideas or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. >Thanks a lot. > >Darren Harris >Staten Island, New York. > I don;t think that any of these can be dealt with >reasobaly I meant to say > I don;t think that any of these can be dealt with >reasobaly except with the help of medical specialists > Well that's disasterous if your identification of the origin is correct. I > only say that because it is easy to fool oneself as to the cause of things. > I have done it myself several times. One is too close to one's own symptoms. Well, I never stated any origins or causes. I'm just trying to get ideas from anyone else who may have had simular symptoms, and possibly treatment options. Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. >Well, I never stated any origins or causes. You said in part: "In September of 2002, I fell asleep with the window open on a night the temperature dropped sharply. It resulted in me catching a cold which I quickly got over, except for a cough that just would not go away. When it finally began to subside somewhat, I noticed that if I tried to jog for 5 minutes, 20 minutes afterwards I'd experience a bout of coughing that would last for about 5 minutes. But that began to get better also.(Though not completely). The big problem began during on my daily walk to work. I have to walk up a hill, and on this particular day I was winded by the time I reached the top, when I wasn't winded the previous day I walked up that same hill. In other words, this shortness of breath did not happen progressively, but over the course of a 24 hour period, and I've had this problem ever since. Now I get winded whenever I do anything that requires even a little physical exertion." It seemed to me that ou were saying it strted right there. I was saying that while that might have triggered the first shortness of breath, the shortness of breath could be due to a completely different cause, such as heart disease. You do not know until you get the tests done. >I'm just trying to get ideas from anyone else who may have had simular >symptoms, and possibly treatment options. You should not treat symtoms until you get a firm diagnosis. > >Well, I never stated any origins or causes. > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > You should not treat symtoms until you get a firm diagnosis. Again. I'm saying that if I could afford to get tests done, then I would. I've come to no conclusions as to the reason for my problems. The most difficult thing about trying to get ideas from this newsgroup is getting around the "go to your doctor" statements. This is not always an plausible or immediate option.(If so, this newsgroup would have no purpose). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. >Again. I'm saying that if I could afford to get tests done, then I >would. I've come to no conclusions as to the reason for my problems. >The most difficult thing about trying to get ideas from this newsgroup >is getting around the "go to your doctor" statements. People say that mainly if the problem is so undefined that it is difficult to know what the cause is, or if a lot of risk would arise with a wrong choice. But certainly you can try irrigation etc. to see if that helps. It should. It is described at http://www.sinusitisfaq.org/ Getting enough rest is very important too in fighting any infection. And making sure you are not eating an unusual diet that would be deficient in B viramins or protein etc. >This is not always an plausible or immediate option.(If so, this >newsgroup would have no purpose). Actually many of us here have full access to formal medical advise on an insured basis but still learn a lot from the group. >>Again. I'm saying that if I could afford to get tests done, then I >>would. I've come to no conclusions as to the reason for my problems. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > People say that mainly if the problem is so undefined that it is difficult to > know what the cause is, or if a lot of risk would arise with a wrong choice. If it's asthma, then a LOT of risk can result with a wrong choice. Asthma can be fatal if left untreated. Sorry, Don, but undiagnosed shortness of breath is not something I would ever suggest self-treatment for. There are certain symptoms that I immediately say "Get thee to a doctor." Undiagnosed shortness of breath, undiagnosed chest pains, chronic bleeding, etc. >>This is not always an plausible or immediate option.(If so, this >>newsgroup would have no purpose). > > Actually many of us here have full access to formal medical advise on an > insured basis but still learn a lot from the group. SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. >> People say that mainly if the problem is so undefined that it is difficult to >> know what the cause is, or if a lot of risk would arise with a wrong choice. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >but undiagnosed shortness of breath is not something I would ever >suggest self-treatment for. That's what I was telling him Steven..... > >> People say that mainly if the problem is so undefined that it is difficult to > >> know what the cause is, or if a lot of risk would arise with a wrong choice. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > That's what I was telling him Steven..... I seem to be failing to get the point across that I don't have much in the way of options. Thanks to an unfortunate event, things have gotten worse for me. I slipped while walking down wet stairs outside my apartment. My hand was on the rail and I was only a couple of steps from the bottom, but I went down and in the process pulled something deep in my left side, toward the rear. As a result sleeping last night was intermittant, because I now cannot cough without excruciating pain, and almost blacked out when I tried to clear my throat this morning. Basically I'm walking the line in between choking and dealing with pain that feels like I'm being stabbed with a knife in the side. So I'm going through hell fighting the urge to cough, but it's only a matter of time before I do. I can't even blow my nose, because it creates internal pressure, like coughing. Like going to the doctor, I can't afford to take off time from work, so now I desperately need to find a solution. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. >I seem to be failing to get the point across that I don't have much in >the way of options. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >Like going to the doctor, I can't afford to take off time from work, so >now I desperately need to find a solution. How about the emergency room option? >>On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 03:32:40 GMT, "Steven L." > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > Like going to the doctor, I can't afford to take off time from work, so > now I desperately need to find a solution. Reconsider your priorities. You're getting sicker and that's making it harder and harder for you to work. What happens if your condition deteriorates to the point that you cannot work no matter how hard you try? Good health is an investment. SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. The original poster does deserve credit for his frankness. Things could go a little badly for any of us and we could be out of cash. Does anyone know of any free or low-cost otolaryngology clinics in New York CIty? Darren, go to an emergency room or call them and tell them that you're basically indigent, this will make a diff w/the bill. SignatureRemove nospam to email > >> On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 03:32:40 GMT, "Steven L." [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > Darren Harris > Staten Island, New York. >>>Well, I never stated any origins or causes. >> [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > This is not always an plausible or immediate option.(If so, this > newsgroup would have no purpose). Let me put my $0.02 in again here. When I had really bad sinus infections, the infected post nasal drip would get down into my bronchial tubes, causing repeated bouts of bronchitis. And occasionally these would lead to wheezing and shortness of breath. You can try the wheezing test yourself. Inhale as deeply as you can--then blow out all the air from your lungs thru your mouth as fully as you can. If you hear a "whistle" sound that means you're wheezing. Asthma and bronchitis are the obvious possibilities--either can be exacerbated by a stubborn sinus infection. Sure it could be a heart problem but it would be quite a coincidence to have started up like that just after a bad cold. If it's asthma, a bronchodilator inhaler may make you feel much better. Sometimes they work for bronchitis too, particularly Atrovent. These meds are available by prescription. If it's a stubborn infection, either upper or lower respiratory or both, you need to be on antibiotics. Sinus infections can be very stubborn; you need to be on antibiotics a minimum of a couple of weeks, and possibly much longer than that, in order to completely clear the infection. But at this point, we're stuck. We can't diagnose you by remote control, and we can't prescribe the types of medications that might help you. No matter what it is, you always need to find a doctor to write the prescriptions! SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. Darren's right. I can't afford to go to a doctor either. I might try the county health dept. (they suck, but they're better than nothing). Darren there are free clinics in NYC somewhere. Try looking for one of these. They'll help you out, probably on a sliding scale (which means you pay what you can afford). SignatureRemove nospam to email > > Again. I'm saying that if I could afford to get tests done, then I [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Darren Harris > Staten Island, New York. A radioactive particle or a tagged bacteria from the sinus will apear in the trachea in 16 hours. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com > A radioactive particle or a tagged bacteria from the sinus will apear in the > trachea in 16 hours. > Murray Grossan, M.D. > http://www.ent-consult.com I just received your book in the mail.(I won it on Ebay). I definitely have some form of sinusitis, though not as bad as other people here. Nevertheless, the reason I'm sure it has affected my lungs is because I don't believe that anyone can get asthma, bronchitis wihthin a 24 hour period. And the shortness of breath(which is never triggered by anything other than physical exersion), Outside of that, since this problem occur, I have a tnedancy to mis-swallow, which I belive is caused by restricted passages. This condition has not gotten any better or worse since it first occured 1-1/2 years ago. Anyway, I'll be reading your book, for some ideas.(I also recently received your irrigator tips). Thanks. Darren Harris Staten Island, New York. |
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