Need advice on illness............
 

Hello fellow 'Talk' friends,

Twice in 2 months, I have caught a simple cold and it immediately went to my lungs. I am on day 17 and still coughing like crazy. I am not getting much sleep. My ribs and back are so sore from coughing. Note...I do not have a fever or a runny nose.
I took 10 days of Prednisone, which didn't help, then took Amoxicillin 3 days, which caused severe diarrhea, and was told to stop taking that.
I have also taken over the counter meds every day and night for decongestant, which help a little for a few hours.

Has anyone had this awful long lasting cough, and if so, how did you get over it. I feel horrible!
Perhaps I should see a Pulmonary dr. Does anyone out there know a good Pulmonary dr. in or near The Villages?
Thanks.......

I'm a little baffled about why you were given prednisone. And once you had to stop the antibiotic your doc should have given you a full course of another. Has your physician ordered an X-ray to see if you have pneumonia? My advice would be to find a new physician. To find a pulmonary specialist why not call TVRH and ask for their physician referral office.

Had an xray?

The prednisone was for inflammation. A lot of time because colds are viruses an antibiotic doesn't do much so your doctor may have felt it wasn't needed. Now there may be a case for some bacterial involvement and antibiotics might be warranted.

I had colds I caught while tutoring in the kindergarten that started to get better but then turned into sinus infections and I coughed all the time. Was finally put on prednisone and 3 weeks of antibiotics and it finally went away. call your doctor and tell him you are still not well and how badly you are coughing.

Get an x-ray, also very important if you are a smoker or had been a frequent smoker get a spiral ct scan--another aspect get allergy tests.

Up north I would get a very bad cough from allergies and it would go into bronchitis. Once it went to walking pneumonia. It happened to me every fall with ragweed and mold from fall leaves. Z-pack combined with prednisone combined would knock it out of me. You should really get a chest x-ray to see what's what. My pulmonologist is Dr. Upadaya at The Summit office park on 466 near Rolling Acres Rd and across from Village Palms. Her husband is my cardiologist at Creekside office park. Good luck and hope you feel better.

Could your bronchial tubes be infected.

My mother got it...gave it to me.....she just spent 5 days in the hospital.

Me...I finally got over it after over a week and I am never sick!

Best of luck!

If you need antibiotics again, pick up some probiotics at the same time. The antibiotics kill all the bacteria, and some of them are there to do your body good. It may help prevent another bout of diarrhea. Yogurt is good too.

No, I asked for one but Quick med doc said he could hear my lungs fine and diagnosed walking pneumonia, plus colitis.

illness
 

The prednisone was partially for the tendonitis I got in my shoulder from taking Levaquin mixed with prednisone last month. I wrote about it on Talk a few weeks back, and warned people NOT to take Levaquin with steroids. Doc said prednisone would help the shoulder pain, which it did in only 4 days, but that it should also help my congestion. Which it didn't.

I am still going to search for a Pulmonary specialist because this has happened 2x in 2 months. Still asking everyone if they have a good Pulmonary doc. Thanks for your advice. I mentioned to others that I just got home from quick med and was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and colitis.

Dr. Upadaya
 

Thanks for the name of the doctor. I assume you like her a lot.

Have never taken probiotics. I did get some yogurt. He has put me on something for the diarrhea........this afternoon said I have colitis and walking pneumomia.

If your cough is productive you should be seeing a pulmonologist who would take a culture of your sputum. My husband had two very serious lung bacteria that could only be detected by taking a culture. His pulmonologist is Dr. Raul Carrillo, 352-391-1115. Good luck, don't waste any more time. It could be nothing, but then again why take a chance.

My husband goes to Dr. Upadya also. She was highly recommended.

Wow. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

I agree with all of the advice regarding chest xray, apt with pulmonologist etc but in the meantime you would benefit from some good sleep. I'm guessing your bronchial frame is inflamed and you are having a great deal of drainage causing the excess coughing. Delsym is a very helpful OTC cough syrup which will calm your cough. I have had many issues with all that you have described along with terrible allergy's mostly yr round, therefore, I have to take Allegra D more often that I'd like to but otherwise I am miserable. I do not handle antibiotics well at all therefore it makes me nervous to even think about ever if they might be needed.
I truly do sympathize with you and do hope you soon get feeling better.

Your symptoms could be way beyond this, but when I am having cold-like issues I drink 5 packets of Emergen C a day. Buy at Walmart or Walgreens or amazon... tons of vitamin c in those packets!

I have had a cough for the better part of 40 year's. What a fool I have been. I can remember standing in line at Walgreens with a bottle of cough medicine and a pack of cough drops and then ask for 3 packs of cigarettes when I got to the cash register. The money I spent and the others around me that I possibly could have hurt with second hand smoke is hard for me to accept. I am normally a very respectful person. I'm ashamed of my past behavior. When I'm out in public and I smell smoke it is like a fine perfume, I don't ever ask someone to put the smoke out I just move, its not my mission to change the world. The reason I saw your post at 1am eastern time is I have to get up several times a night and take a breathing treatment. This is the price I pay for my actions and I'm grateful that for now this is my only sentence. My doctor says my xray is clear and that I can't undo 40 plus years of damage in 2 years. Even after everything I've told you I must admit I'm still tempted to puff every once in a while. Unbelievable. Smoking is the worst habit I ever had. The doctor can stop that cough in ten minutes with an injection of steroids followed by the pills. I also found some relief from Mucinex with the green label. Best of luck to you.

You didn't say if you are on other meds...... My husband and I both caught something like you are experiencing last January. His lasted about 4 weeks. Mine went on forever it seems. I was still coughing in July. After a visit to the heart doctor, the Dr told me he was taking me off Lisinopril (blood pressure medication) since I was coughing so much (he heard me through the wall). I Have been off Lisinopril for 2 weeks and no longer cough. I never coughed until the bronchitis. I was assuming that my lungs were probably weak due to being a former smoker and that I deserved to cough because of it. I am enjoying my cough-free state.

I had the same thing for 3 weeks last January. Tried drinking cool water, cough drops, cough syrup, but found that hot chili powder worked best. I bought some organic chili powder and cans of organic black beans and made lots of chili. Chili powder is now a staple in my pantry :-)

The first thing I would do is go to my primary doctor and stop taking all those drugs unless a doctor told you to take them.

Lung infection
 

Sorry I am just now getting back on this. For the past 4 days , I have felt horrible, and only left the house for dr. visits. I have seen Dr. Carrillo's name a few times in a positive light. Thank you for sending the info. Rose

Go to a Specialist
 

Don't take medical advice from anyone on TOTV......not even if the person is a doctor, if you have not been examined by the person giving advice.

Find a pulmonologist. You need a specialist to treat your problem.

Good luck.

The holiday weekend didn't help me any getting to see my Internist, but I did go to Quick Med (or whatever U call it) and he diagnosed the Colitis and Pneumonia. I also saw my primary care dr yesterday and today. I had a CT scan and it came back today. Really don't know much more, but he wants me to see a Pulmonary dr. immediately. It suggests I might have a small airways disease...something about Mycobacterium (?????) As soon as I can get in to see a Pulmonary dr., he wants them to run a tube and camera down my nose/throat into my lungs, and aspirate the Multifocal clusters of micronobacterium. I'm really confused because I don't have a name of the disease. Sorry about rambling on.

I highly recommend Dr. Delgado for pulmonology. He has offices in Leesburg and Laurel Manor in TV.

Humberto Delgado
1950 Laurel Manor Dr # 150
(352) 753-2510

It could be that you have an underlying condition such as sarcoidosis that flares up and isn't really a cold at all.

You didn't say if you are on other meds...... My husband and I both caught something like you are experiencing last January. His lasted about 4 weeks. Mine went on forever it seems. I was still coughing in July. After a visit to the heart doctor, the Dr told me he was taking me off Lisinopril (blood pressure medication) since I was coughing so much (he heard me through the wall). I Have been off Lisinopril for 2 weeks and no longer cough. I never coughed until the bronchitis. I was assuming that my lungs were probably weak due to being a former smoker and that I deserved to cough because of it. I am enjoying my cough-free state.[/QUOTE]

Hmmmmm, I hate Lisinopril because it makes me cough like crazy too. Glad you got off of it and are feeling better. Your original problem was probably over and it was the Linisopril making you sick I'm still in Limbo trying to find a Pulmonary oc. 2 don't take Blue cross and one is not really a pulmonary dr. and another one can't see me until the 23rd. Going down the list. Unfortunately tomorrow is Friday again, and then I wait the weekend. No one will put you on the cancellation wait list unless you have an appt. GRRR WHAT US A GIRL TO DO?

My wife had that problem. Finally got an X-ray, had a tumor, she is cancer free now but it was worth the X-ray. Doesn't hurt and covers lots of bases.

Please, please, PLEASE stick with your medical professionals and ignore just about every post on this thread (except my plea). I am a professor of Internal Medicine at a NY Medical School and practicing clinician Board Certified for 30 years and I wouldn't even dream of throwing out the kind of advice I've read here----runs from pro-biotics, to vitamin C, to spiral chest CT to repeat antibiotic courses, sleep, and probably the kitchen sink. Everyone means well but this is not a problem for amateurs. A little scary that they are thinking some species of mycobacterium (this is the tuberculosis family)---perhaps they said mycoplasma which is totally different. Now that you have a pulmonary specialist the odds are good they will definitively diagnose the problem and treat it. GOOD LUCK AND GET WELL

Pulmonologist
 

Went to my Internist's on Tues, got orders for CT lung scan, another big shot in bottom. Had the scan, and Wed. back at my Internists office to read me the scan. He called Delgado for me (pulmonologist), but discovered he will be retiring soon, and won't even do the procedure on me and wanted to give me to an associate. Next called Dr. Juan Albino, (who my neighbors loved) and thought I had a winner. But discovered he does NOT take my insurance either. Someone mentioned UPADYA, who does not even list as a pulmonologist, and he also does not take my insurance. Then came Dr. Carillo, who DOES take my insurance (which by the way it isn't some strange little company....It is Blue cross Blue shield) They could see me in 12 days (keep in mind I have had this bronchitis/ or lung infection or what ever they say I have for 23 days now). I don't think I could take 12 more days of having violent coughing fits. Last but not least I called Dr. Jose Diaz and was told that It would probably be a month. After talking a while, with his front office person, she suddenly said 'give me a minute', then came back on she phone and said she moved someone and I could have a 4:30 tomorrow!!! YAY!!! Of course this is only a first appointment, and they will not do the procedure tomorrow (that my Internist says I need). Camera and flex tube down nose, throat into lungs, then add some liquid and vacuum everything out and send o lab. The findings from CT said something about 'Multifocal clusters of micronodular tree in bud opacities, and at the bottom of my lungs these little pieces (not rocks butt odd shaped pieces were scattered all over the bottom lobes of both lungs.........so clean them out and discover for sure what I TRULY have. If anyone read to the bottom of this l-o-n-g page without falling asleep, I applaude you.

Best of luck. I know how miserable it can be. Help is getting closer. Thank God for the favor of that nice lady on the phone. Keep us posted.

I love Dr. Diaz and his office staff. Good luck!

Sorry I didn't get back on here sooner for you after I recommended my pulmonologist who is Dr. Anupama Upadaya and she is located in the Summit Ridge office park on 466.
Her tel # is 352-391-5500 and she went to Yale Medical School. Her husband is my cardiologist at Creekside. I'm sure she could have helped you and saw you sooner rather than later. She takes Blue Cross because that's what I have. Good luck and feel better.

Good luck, you're now on the right path. As hard as it is, it will take a little time to schedule your procedure (sounds like bronchoscopy with bronchial washings and possible transbronchial biopsy). It will also take time to get culture results from the washings. I can't make heads nor tails of the CT description as given, but your pulmonologist should have an accurate report and will probably want to look at the CT for him/herself.

Respiratory issue
 

I wonder about pertussis. It is a public health factor. Dr Amir Quefatieh a Pulmonolgist in zephyrhills fl is brilliant!! 813-779-6303.

Pulmonary adr
 

There is a pulmonary Dr I have been using in the village for several years with great results.Dr Sergio L. Balingit JR.MD;FCCp
1501 US HWY 441 NortSuite 1208
The Villages 32159
He is Philippino well educated speaks english and has great practice.
Why not call for a consultatio.
352.751.0448
Barry J. Hober
"All wishes are small compared to the desire to be healthy"

I am happy to report that I am now WELL! I thank you all for your suggestions and comments on my strange lung illness. This has taken a long time to get over, and I am so glad to be well again.
I still do not have my biopsy reports from Dr. Diaz and it has been 12 days since my procedure. Not sure why that would take so long.
Thank you all again. It is so comforting to be able to talk to fellow TOTV friends who really seem to care. Everyone BE WELL..............Rose

You may want to give the office a call if you haven't heard yet. Sometimes things fall through the cracks in a busy practice.