What is this feeling.....

[Kayanne1980]

Hi All

New to this but seriously I am freaking out. I am a 35 year old lady ex smoker, packed up a month ago. The early part of January I developed a cough however I was smoking loads more than normal due to festivities. I went to the doctor and he prescribed anitbiotics, said i have pharayngitis and ordered a chest x-ray (I freaked out). My chest xray has come back normal. The cough was supressed with the antibiotics but a week ago I had 2 sneaky cigarettes and Sunday I woke with the same cough, throught this coughing ordeal it feels like my throat is closing but when I breathe with my mouth open I know I am getting air also my throat is scratchy and when I breathe in it feels like I have been sucking mints it the 'cool sharp air' that is causing me to have this scratch.

My real worry is could this be lung cancer or throat cancer? I have been back to the dr last week and he has given me syrup to suppress the cough (which I have used once) but I can still feel that scratch and burn when I breathe in, the burn is in my throat (feels like it is travelling right down my wind pipe and ocassionally my throat stings when I swallow.

I have also developed a tight feeling in my upper throat that sounds like wheezing. I have had croup and pneumonia in my younger days too.

Could this be asthma? My 15 year old has asthma too and I have asthma in the family

Sorry for the long message but I am terribly concerned and any advise would be helpful...

Thanks, Kay

[Minushabens]

I think that your best course of action would be to contact the British Lung Foundation helpline & then get more detailed medical help. The body of evidence tends to suggest that few cough syrups are effective other than occasionally relaxing the throat, but I have to be honest with you & say that stopping smoking is an essential pre-requisite to regaining any sort of lung health, and indeed to getting a clear picture of what is going on for you.

Try to gather your thoughts & record your symptoms & have a chat with the BLF nurses anyway & hopefully they can suggest some ideas for you.

I hope things get better for you soon.

[ChrissieMons]

Smokers tend to get a cough when they give up - it's nothing unusual. You need to stick with the no smoking resolution - having the odd cigarette here and there absolutely wrecks the process. The cough should go after a month or so at the most. It might be asthma, but only your Dr. could tell you that.

The key to your success in giving up and in feeling better is learning to relax. Tie this in with the help your GP's surgery should be giving you to help you stop smoking. You seem to be very tense indeed. Good luck!

[Kayanne1980 in reply to ChrissieMons]

Hi

I have never been so stressed, the only thing I can think of is the 'C' word! It is driving me insane to be honest. I will be making a trip back to the doctor ASAP, to be honest I am petrified of going back!

[Minushabens in reply to Kayanne1980]

Try to stay calm & get a focus on what you need to do. Showing that you have properly given up will get you some traction with the medics, but they can obviously do a whole range of tests to find out what is going on.

Try not to second guess what you have, but take the right steps to get better...healthy diet, some exercise & taking whatever medication they want you to take.

Have you raised cancer as a query yet with your GP? if not, then I would when you go back, as they may be able to either give you some immediate reassurance or get some tests that can find you an answer.

[Kayanne1980 in reply to Minushabens]

I have raised cancer with my GP that is why he sent me for a chrdt xray to put my mind at rest but i have read that xrays can be mis read, that scares me!

[Minushabens in reply to Kayanne1980]

I suppose anything can be misread or misinterpreted, but in general they aren't. They work correctly almost every time, that's why they are used, so you are quite possibly worrying too much, which may well be adding to some of your symptoms.

Try not to get in too much of a state & listen carefully to your GPs advice

[ChrissieMons in reply to Kayanne1980]

I wish I could give you the reassurance you need: it is highly unlikely that you have a cancer of any sort after your tests showed clear, but only your GP can be more certain. There is nothing to be scared of in going back. You will probably find that you feel worse because you've worked yourself into a state and all your throat muscles are tightened up as a response. Get an appointment asap, as you promised youself. And calm down!

[Kayanne1980 in reply to ChrissieMons]

Thank you. Im terrified think about it everyday. Ill make an appointment at my GP and see where he send me. Thanks again

[Kayanne1980]

Hi all

Been to the dr he diagnosed reflux and prescribed lansoprazole for 2 weeks. Shared my concern about throat cancer and said its highly unlikely this is more a possible hernia.