Hello

Well, I have ALWAYs had a problem with phlegm wheater it came from my chest or nose.

Lately I been having it a lot from my chest, like I would cough more frenquently, and phlegm would come up.
Some times its yellowish ( I was a bit sick) and sometimes it is clear and has the texture of spit, or at leats looks like it does.


Well... I been to a doctor, she gave me Clartine, which made my voice hoarse so I stopped, and Albuterol, which made me shaky, so I stopped.

My mom told me a story about her friends daughter or something, and she had the same problem as me, and they though its just allergies, and the plhegm turned into water, and built up in her chest (lungs?) and then the girl died.


IS this true? I mean... I love my mom but sometimes she gets information mixed up... alot, so I can't always take her word.

I am scared now... that water is going to biuld up in my chest and I'm going to die or something.

What should I do? Could a doctor be able to take a X-ray of my chest to see what's going on ?

*I feel really sort of breathe right now... Like I feel pressure in my chest right now, I don't know if something is wrong or I'm just scaring myself.
Or it could be because I just came out of the shower, and I gues humidity makes breathign short?

Someone pelase help!

I know I should be seeing a doctor, but I can't get to one until Tuesday so for now I just have to grab some advice

-Thank you!

Since you went to the doctor, did he give a diagnosis?

I think you have a short and long-term problem that needs to be addressed. The long-term one is the being the possibility of allergies and/or asthma. Recommendation: See an allergist. Testing for asthma and allergies is easy.

The allergist might ask when/where your symptoms get worse. Indoor/outdoor? You can check the local pollen count index at National and Local Weather Forecast, Radar, Map and Report . Go Local weather/pollen cast. You can track your symptoms and at least determine whether you may have allergies to weed, tree or grass. There should be a respiratory index available too.

The short-term problem could be bronchitus and/or pneumonia. Usually when a doctor hears "rattleing" in the stethescope, he/she suspects pneumonia and may confirm it with a chest X-ray. He also may confirm that it has been irradicated. Antibiotics are usually prescribed. Recomendation: Go to a non-emergency medical center today. You don't need an appointment and the cost is similar to specialist care and they are open 7 days, but not 24/7.

With allergies and asthma you would be susceptible to bronchitus and pneumonia.

You may not be using the inhaler properly, in particular, rinse your mouth after using it.
1. Stand up or at the very least be sitting straight up.
2. Breathe all the air out of your lungs.
3. Hold the inhaler about 2 fingers width away from your mouth and keep your tongue and teeth out of the way.
4. 1 puff while breathing in. Hold for recommended time. Probably repeat (1,2,3,4) once.
5. RINSE YOUR MOUTH OUT WITH WATER.

Another recommendation is a Nasal Rinse such as NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Makers of Sinus Rinse, NasaFlo Netipot, Nasal Irrigation. It's availlable at a US local pharmacy for about $15. The initial kit contains a special bottle and buffered salt packets. Then you buy salt refill packets.

The inhaler can give you a very short term "rush" for a minute or two, esp when you first start using them, If you believe the doctor could be wrong, get a second opinoin. Or go back and talk about the side effects and see if they are a issue, Often to get better we have to take medication that has effects on us. Some medications may dry your mouth, some my increase your heart rate,

The thing is, you just stoping your medication is not the right thing, not without talking to your doctor.

And yes, the Nasal Rinse is great, I use it all the time.

If you have a problem you need medication, the doctor is trying and you are refusing to do what you are being told by the doctor since because of all of your "medical" training, you stopped taking the medicine.

Please talk with your doctor, take your medication and start trying to get better.

Rinsing your mouth after using the inhaler will help immensely.

Make sure you tell us what happened.

Agreed, did the doctor not go over proper use of an inhaler with you?

But unless it is a serious side effect, never just stop taking medication the doctor gives you. Also discuss it with a doctor.

Not saying it will happen but you don't want to be in your late 50's and get out of breath walking up one flight of steps, of have to use the inhaler 3 times a day just to catch your breath beside using 3 other different inhalers every day just to keep things working.

Breathing is seroius, and at times a little discomfort just has to be put up with

The problem your mother may be talking about could be cystic fibrosis. Chances are, if that were it, you would have been diagnosed by now.

I wouldn't worry about what your mother has "scared" you with, but you do need to take your medications properly. The Claratin will help dry up this phlegm, if you don't like that med, your doctor can prescribe Singulair. The albuterol inhaler, while it does cause a short term "rush" it will help in the long run, and you will get used to that and it will go away.

Please follow your doctor's orders, if you are uncomfortable, you need to seek a second opinion.

Thanks so much for all the responses, they helped.
And FR Chuck, when did I say I had "medical" training? o.O
That kind of confused me...

Normally my problem is worse in doors.

I was on the Albuterol pills, then she put me on the inhaler which I tried twice and since then I refuse to take it because it taste gross, and it wasn't exactly working wonders for me. I don't know I guess I used it wrong?

I did try Robotussin head and chest. It made my phlegm come out.

Well.. I see my doctor Tuesday so I will post back with out it went and what my real issue is.

Thanks again for all the feed back, it was helpful and congratulation J_9 :D

Indoor allergy website:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/indoo...article_em.htm

They can be pretty nasty to control. The daughter across the street has very severe allergies and the entire house is painted white with no carpets and they removed all the shrubs. Her allergies must be an extreme case.

Try the Albuterol with rinseing especially before bedtime when symptoms are probably worse. You don't want the drops to land on the tongue.

Albuterol should be a rescue medication. e.g. used for severe symptoms like what your having now.

You can also get a holding chamber for the inhaler. It will vaporize the contents of the puff into a separate chamber before you breathe in. AeroChamber Plus / MAX Valved Holding Chamber

If it's diagnosed as Asthma, there is an inexpensive device called a peak flow meter. Peak Flow Meters - American Lung Association site which can be used to ascess Asthma symptoms and determine corrective action.

Thanks for answering indoor/outdoor.

That was being sarcastic, that you though you knew more than the doctor by stopping the medication he gave you.

I actuallty feel a lot better, but I am still going to see my doctor tomorrow. I really think it was just allergies, I go through it every year, but better be safe then sorry.
I think its from dust, because I seem to cough a lot more around dust.
My phlegm has also became less.
Thanks for the link.

And Fr_Chuck, not to sound rude, not at all, but... I don't need sarcasm when I come here for advice... I find it a little rude but I know your only trying to help so I appreciate that.
Do I know more then my doctor? Of course not.
I only stopped the medication because I didn't feel right on it. The side effects were just way to bad for me to handle.

Besides, I try to avoid medicine. I believe it weakens the immune system because your body gets so accustomed to using medication, that it can't protect it selfs on its own.
Of course this is when you overuse the antibiotics but I have trained my body to cure its self with very little medication. That's why I only take a few pills.
This is only how I think, I am probably wrong haha.

But thanks for helping. Tomorrow (hopefully) I find out what's wrong : )

I want to get ride of my phlegm completely because I have ot have oral surgery done and Im worried about choking on my phlegm while I'm laying down. I doubt there's a cure but who knows!