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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Upper Respiratory Infection
Question: Hi I am 39yrs old I have had a upper respiratory infection since November I can't seem to get rid of with antibiotics and cough medicine and now my left side of my chest is starting to hurt near my heart and my neck and my left arm do you think I need to get help
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for your question on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to possible complications of pneumonia (respiratory infection).
I would like to have some more information on the features of your pain:
-Is your pain throbbing and stunning, or just dull?
-Is it exacerbated by body movements or respiration and cough?
-Do you have headaches, running nose any more?
-Do you have fever?
You should know that pneumonia could lead to different possible chronic complications like pleuritis (inflammation of the lung covering layers), which is a known cause of throbbing chest pain and cough, or bronchectasy, which could cause this clinical situation too.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination and some tests :
-a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate)
- a cervical spine X ray study to examine for possible degeneration of the cervical spine, which could lead to neck pain and irradiating chest and arm pain
-If you have running nose and headaches, a sinus X ray study should be done to rule out/in possible sinus infection. You should know that sinus infection could lead to intermittent unexplained cough.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been of help!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for your question on HCM!
I understand your concern, and would explain that your symptoms seem to be related to possible complications of pneumonia (respiratory infection).
I would like to have some more information on the features of your pain:
-Is your pain throbbing and stunning, or just dull?
-Is it exacerbated by body movements or respiration and cough?
-Do you have headaches, running nose any more?
-Do you have fever?
You should know that pneumonia could lead to different possible chronic complications like pleuritis (inflammation of the lung covering layers), which is a known cause of throbbing chest pain and cough, or bronchectasy, which could cause this clinical situation too.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination and some tests :
-a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate)
- a cervical spine X ray study to examine for possible degeneration of the cervical spine, which could lead to neck pain and irradiating chest and arm pain
-If you have running nose and headaches, a sinus X ray study should be done to rule out/in possible sinus infection. You should know that sinus infection could lead to intermittent unexplained cough.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been of help!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi thank you my heart pain feels stunning like sharp pain I do have headaches on top of my head that is new for me and I do have shortness of breath mostly at night my heart sometimes when I am sitting and the pain in my neck is throbbing at time near my throat and it is not a sore throat and earlier in the week I had bruises under my left arm like little spots what concerns me I been on several antibiotics for three months and cough medicines and it feels like at times it gets worse some night I have a low grade fever and lately I can't sleep it feels like sometimes
I have anxiety at night I can't lay still and I get week like lightheaded I go to DUKE tomorrow should I say something just need some advice and opinion
J
S
I have anxiety at night I can't lay still and I get week like lightheaded I go to DUKE tomorrow should I say something just need some advice and opinion
J
S
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again!
Thank you for the additional information.
Coming to this point, I would recommend performing all the above mentioned tests.
The sharp pain in your chest doesn't seem to be cardiac related. It is typical of musculoskeletal pain or pleuritis. I recommend performing a chest X ray study and lab blood tests (complete blood count and inflammation tests) for this purpose (as I already explained before).
A sinus infection could be related to your headaches. A sinus X ray study would help diagnose this disorder.
From the other hand the bruises in your arm may be related to an allergic reaction or even a fungal infection. The prolonged use of antibiotics could lead to a fungal infection. Besides a careful physical exam, I would recommend performing some allergy tests too.
I would also advise checking your thyroid hormone levels, as a thyroid dysfunction could lead to some of your symptoms.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again!
Thank you for the additional information.
Coming to this point, I would recommend performing all the above mentioned tests.
The sharp pain in your chest doesn't seem to be cardiac related. It is typical of musculoskeletal pain or pleuritis. I recommend performing a chest X ray study and lab blood tests (complete blood count and inflammation tests) for this purpose (as I already explained before).
A sinus infection could be related to your headaches. A sinus X ray study would help diagnose this disorder.
From the other hand the bruises in your arm may be related to an allergic reaction or even a fungal infection. The prolonged use of antibiotics could lead to a fungal infection. Besides a careful physical exam, I would recommend performing some allergy tests too.
I would also advise checking your thyroid hormone levels, as a thyroid dysfunction could lead to some of your symptoms.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I just wanted to say THANK you for your advice I will talk to my doctor tomorrow at DUKE I just know I can't keep on taking antibiotics something got to give
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome!
Feerl free to ask me again, in case of any further uncertainties.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome!
Feerl free to ask me again, in case of any further uncertainties.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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