Expert: Stacey Lloyd - 7/31/2006

Question
Hi,
I was diagnosed w/ bronchitis about 4 mos. ago. It has still not gone away. I have been to the doctors so many times but they never really answer my questions. I am a smoker. Female, age 37. For about the last week now, my symptoms have gotten worse. I can't walk more than 5 feet w/out being completely out of breath, and panting. Sometimes even just rolling over in bed will take my breath away. I keep coughing up phlegm daily, problably about six to eight tbsp. a day. Some of the times it is very bloody. The other times it is usually a brownish hue or white and frothy. I have been using a combivent inhaler daily and use a breathing treatment machine daily, two to three times, and I still can't get myself to breathe when I walk around. I am scared to death of emphesyma & lung cancer. Do you have any idea what can be causing this? Also, for the last week I have also been sweating a lot. Probably 18 hours of the day I am sweating. Yesterday I started having chills. The doc on my last visit suggested something about me having asthma. But it sounded like it is only there when I get sick. Could this be it? Thank you so much for any help. Tammy

Answer
Tammy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor health. It sounds to me like you need to see another doctor. You should find a specialist, such as a Pulmonologist, to get an accurate diagnosis. There are a number of tests they can do to determine what is ailing you. Please don't wait any longer. Find a specialist in your area today.

Although I'm not a doctor, your condition doesn't sound like bronchitis or asthma. Please visit the Quick Lung Disease Facts page for identifying your signs and symptoms:
http://lungdiseases.about.com/library/blquicklungdiseasefacts.htm

Take care,

Stacey Lloyd
Lung Diseases Guide
About.com
http://lungdiseases.about.com