I have been sick... cold, flu like for past 4 months... nothing seems to help me get better.. I've been on 4 antibiotics... I have sore throat, difficulty swallowing, most lately shortness of breath, fatigue... been to the doctor 3 times... keep treating me for sinisitus... I think I might have walking pneumonia... going to doctor again Monday... andy clues??

Shortness of breath is enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room.

4 months of this is absurd.

Either go to a critical care facility or the emergency room and dump your current doc. I'm serious.

Also see if these symptoms fit: Bronchitis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention by MedicineNet.com (http://www.medicinenet.com/bronchitis/article.htm#what)

You don't have a fever do you?

What antibiotics were prescribed and do you know the treatment length and dosages prescribed?

I'm not sure of the name of the antibiotics... the 1st and 2nd... they were treating me for acute sinisitus... and then I had a tooth pulled... the dentist thought it may have been what caused the sinus infection... and then I had a dry socket and he put me on amoxicillin... the last antibitotic was a very strong one... the doctor (pa.. you never see doctors anymore... ) said if it didn't work they were going to send me to specialist... the last one did seem to break up the mucus and I don't seem to be having as much problems swallowing.. the shortness of breathe just got worse the past few days... I've been tempted to go to the emergency room, but I haven't passed out and can still do stuff as long as I rest a little between short activity... I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and insisting on blood work and chest x-ray and diagnosis... and I have been shopping for another doctor... I live in a rural area... not much available... thanks for your reply... been reading the bronchitis stuff... I've thought about that too... symptoms seem similar. I'll let you know what the doc says.

amoxicillin is pretty weak, but is standard for some dental work.

I would probably be looking for something like Zithromax (azithromycin/Z-Pak)

Chest X-ray is a good call.

Blood work probably won't tell you much excpet your white count is up which basically means you have an infection. Fever is usually associated with flu and infection as well.

A throat culture and chest x-ray would be high on my list especially at 4 months. What the throat culture will do is tell you if it's viral or bacterial and will tell the smart ones just what antibiotic will be effective.

A pulse oximetry test, about as simple as plood pressure, A IR cuff is placed on a finger and it determines blood oxygen content efficiency and determines if oxygen therapy is warrented.



I hate to say but the usual is: This usually works, so we'll try this first. If this doesn't work then we will use this. 99% of the time that works.

IF YOU DO NOT FEEL SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER with antibiotic treatment, call your doc IMMEDIATELY. If you don't, your body builds up a resistance to that antibiotic and the infection becomes harder to fight.

Not knowing much: Zithromax, followed by Cipro and then possibly I-V antibiotics are certainly possible.

If you have any lung issues, then walking or sitting is the best position to be in. Albuteral (an inhaler) can help restore breathing. It's used for asthma.

Short walks even in the house would be beneficial. Laying down is bad. Sleep with head elevated.

For the sinusitus, get a hold of some Neilmed nasal rinse. About $15 at Rite-Aid. Use Saline nasal spray as often as you want. Keep any fever down. Sweat. Virusus and bacteria don't like being warm. Drink lots of fluids, preferably water. No hot chocolate, coffee or smoking. Hot tea with honey is good.

Good luck. Check back in.