My lungs stay full of phlegm and I cough up tons of stuff. I cannot take the meds perscribed due to ?!
Question: My lungs stay full of phlegm and I cough up tons of stuff. I cannot take the meds perscribed due to .?
side effects. I receive NO relief from meds...only side effects.
I am "under a doctor's care" but not getting better. I cough and spit and vomit all day long. I've even lots 63 lbs due to this problem. I am desperate.
I need advice from somebody who either works with respiratory patients or is a respiratory patient.
Social Security says I'm going to get better and that I am able to work.
Really, I'm not! All the gagging and the phlegm keeps me from even talking or eating.
What should I do.?
How am I going to get better.?
And what can I do about a job at this point.?
I will be in touch with my family doctor Monday.
And I go to the pulmonologist again in two weeks.
I take Roubutussin to help clear out the phlegm.
Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I am not sure of your age, gender, smoking history and duration of symptoms, or whether your pulmonary physician has given you a diagnosis so far.
For the sake of argument, I'll suppose you're female and this is a long term problem, and not some more acute problems like pneumonia.
Given the huge amount of sputum and the severe weight loss (63 lbs.? How much did you have before that.?) You may have bronchiectasis, a problem with the lungs with a huge amount of sputum produced and thickening of bronchioles, and with infective exacerbations from time to time.
You may be relatively better in between exacerbations, but these attacks are often frequent (1-2 a year) and each time you will need antibiotics to control it. In between episodes, you will need to clear out the sputum every day, either by meds or by chest physiotherapy, basically postural draining of sputum.
Or, if you are a chronic smoker, you may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is progressive destruction of lung bronchioles and air sacs due to chronic tobacco use. There is chronic cough and sputum production, but typically the sputum are not as much as seen in bronchiectasis. Again infective exacerbations are common, requiring antibiotics. In between episodes, inhalers and oral meds can be used to relieve symptoms.
Unfortunately, neither of these two chronic problems will go away, and will only progress further or stay static, and will need long term, if not lifelong, medical monitoring.Health Question & Answer
For the sake of argument, I'll suppose you're female and this is a long term problem, and not some more acute problems like pneumonia.
Given the huge amount of sputum and the severe weight loss (63 lbs.? How much did you have before that.?) You may have bronchiectasis, a problem with the lungs with a huge amount of sputum produced and thickening of bronchioles, and with infective exacerbations from time to time.
You may be relatively better in between exacerbations, but these attacks are often frequent (1-2 a year) and each time you will need antibiotics to control it. In between episodes, you will need to clear out the sputum every day, either by meds or by chest physiotherapy, basically postural draining of sputum.
Or, if you are a chronic smoker, you may have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This is progressive destruction of lung bronchioles and air sacs due to chronic tobacco use. There is chronic cough and sputum production, but typically the sputum are not as much as seen in bronchiectasis. Again infective exacerbations are common, requiring antibiotics. In between episodes, inhalers and oral meds can be used to relieve symptoms.
Unfortunately, neither of these two chronic problems will go away, and will only progress further or stay static, and will need long term, if not lifelong, medical monitoring.Health Question & Answer
Besides steam to help break up the phlegm. Have you used a nettie pot.? Or a sinus cleaner. It is a saline solution or just water that you but up one nostril and it drains out the other. Very sick looking and it may make you gag a few times but it cleans out your sinus's. This worked for my son who has bad allergies and was gaging on phlegm blowing nose constantly. Can't hurt to try it out. Best of luck to youHealth Question & Answer
what comes to mind is pneumonia, i don't know if you have it but my mother had it earlier this year and it's serious. it sounds like you might have it, but i can't be sure i'm not a doctor. Health Question & Answer
try this applecider vinigar, honey, bit of hot water to mixHealth Question & Answer
Did you used to smoke.?Health Question & Answer