I HAVE A COUGH AND FIND IT HARD TO CATCH MY BREATH AFTERWARDS

[rmn123]

SOMETIMES I AM BRINGING UP A HORRIBLE LOAD OF CLEAR FROTHY FLUID AND I BURP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN BREATH

[emmie]

possibly acid reflux, if it goes on see a doctor.

[rmn123]

really? had not thought of that, dont experience any heartburn, have had a few problems with my chest in the past (pneumonia around 8 years ago, few chest infections and pleurisy last year) but never anything quite like this! it leaves me gasping few a short while and literally unable to breath which is scary!

[emmie]

well its not a doctors diagnosis, but i have had it for years, and its pretty unpleasant.
Sqad if he is about perhaps could throw some light, im sure. But as i said
if it persists see your GP, to put your mind at rest, or if they felt it necessary to send you for an x ray.

[emmie]

i don;t get heartburn with it, just lots of fluid.

[Sqad]

Listening to your symptoms, I would hazard a guess that you are a chronic bronchitic, on a multitude of tablets and know your condition quite well and know how to deal with these episode.
Correct me if I am wrong.

[rmn123]

thanks em, will go to see the go next week if necessary, had a chest infection a few weeks ago and its been left since then. Have you found anything that helps?

[rmn123]

squad, i dont have any diagnosis so alas do not know how best to deal with it. i have been prescribed pain relief recently for a trapped nerve in my back (caused by coughing!) but that is the only new thing. I have used an old salbutamol inhalor but it doesnt really help. Any suggestions would be great, will see GP if necessary on Monday but would rather not!!
thanks :)

[Sqad]

Well, you have seen your GP, have clearly been prescribed Salbutamol in the past, so a long standing chest condition is likely. You do not mention shortness of breath or ankle swelling or any medication that you are taking. Do you feel well. have you a temperature and how old are you?

Reflux syndrome (GERD) is a possibility as em10 suggests, but well down the list of probabilities in my opinion.

A few answer to my queries and I will offer my opinion.

[rmn123]

thanks squad, i am 31, after i had pneumonia around 8 years ago my gp prescribed salbutamol and have had it a few times when i get a chest infection. I had pleurisy last october after a chest infection, but cleared up. I am not on any long term medication, the inhalor is from ages ago. I am currently taking naproxen, co-codamol 30/500 and amitryptiline 10mg. I only use them when i really need to but havent noticed that they make things worse. I had a chest infection around 4 weeks ago, had some anti biotics but this cough is different to a chest infection type cough, i do get a little wheesy but not in any particular pattern (could be after a cough or just develop). My throat feels funny before i cough, like a tickle almost, sometimes i produce this horrible thick froth and other times notihing. Yawning and drinking can bring it on.
No swollen ankles or chest pain. I am hot but not sure about a temperature.
thanks :)

[rmn123]

i do feel well generally (apart from my back pain) but do not feel ill.

[Sqad]

Well....that certainly was a good reply.....much appreciated.

em10's diagnosis is rising quickly up the league as a probable diagnosis.

However what should you do at the moment............I would suggest that this may well be viral in origin and would take Ibuprofen 400mgms three times a day in order to relieve your pleuritic (chest pain) and this should ease the cough. monitor the situation over the weekend and if there is no improvement or deteriorates, then see you GP.

[rmn123]

thanks very much. can you explain a littel about acid reflux then please? i was concerned it may be asthma.

[Sqad]

GERD or GORD. Gastro-Oesophagel Reflex Disorder ( the American spell Oesophageal with an "E" is a disorder of malfunction of the valve between the gullet and the stomach, allowing acid, which should remain in the stomach, to "seep" back into the gullet with unfortunate, although not life threatening sequelae.

For a more technical description, Google GORD or GERD.

Let me make it quite clear that i regard your problems as primarily lung problems and not due to GERD.