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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Persistent Cough And Chest Tightness Despite Taking Z-Pack?

I had a respiratory infection 3 weeks ago. Took a z-pack and steroids. Continue to have a cough, chest tightness and heart palpitations at rest. On a ventolin inhaler, Incruse and ad air discus 50/500. Severe fatigue has kept me from going to work. I am sleeping anywhere from 10-14 hours a day, my normal is 4-5. Chest X-ray was negative for pneumonia with moderate inflation. What is the next step in treatment and diagnostic testing?
Fri, 18 May 2018
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

In my opinion, you should definitely get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). By your history and description, possibility of bronchitis is more likely. PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only. You may need longer acting inhaled bronchodilators (indacaterol and glycopyronium) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone).
So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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What Causes Persistent Cough And Chest Tightness Despite Taking Z-Pack?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. In my opinion, you should definitely get done PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). By your history and description, possibility of bronchitis is more likely. PFT will not only diagnose bronchitis but it will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only. You may need longer acting inhaled bronchodilators (indacaterol and glycopyronium) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone). So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.