wheezing after 4 weeks

[smooth01]

hi guys,

i had a virus around 5 weeks ago; leg pain, bit of runny nose, diarrhoea.

then a week later i got a cough. i didn’t think much of this as i tend to get a cough at the end of a cold.

this then developed into coughing and wheezing. always worse when i wake up and chest feels heavy and congested.

saw the gp a few times and was given antibiotics which didn’t really help.

i’m also a mild smoker for 20 years (42 now) and had a couple of cigs at night time during this phase.

anyway, i quit smoking 2 weeks ago. do not miss it one bit and the symptoms have got better. i dont cough, dont wake up with heavy congested chest.

my only concern is wheezing which comes on now and again.

i have a gp appt booked next week and spirometry in a month. my chest x ray was “normal”.

i am scared though that i have something underlying like copd/emphysema/ C word.

has anyone been in this position where they have mucus and wheezing for 3-4 weeks and counting?

thanks in advance

[Bronchi1]

Yes, and I was diagnosed with late onset asthma in my 30s . Antibiotics dont work for that. I got inhalers etc and it's been under control for years. Hope you get sorted soon to put your mind at rest.

[hypercat54]

Hi nice to meet you. Well done for packing in the ciggies, I am struggling with this myself. I have asthma and copd and the wheezing and mucus bit sounds more like asthma. Your x-ray should have picked up the C word (horrible word), so relax on that score.

Even if you have asthma/copd then it is probably only going to be mild and it is by no means a death sentence. Whilst copd is irreversible it usually only progresses slowly and most sufferers these days die with copd rather than from it. x

[Shaurene]

Hi Smooth01

You probable have COPD YOU CAN CONTROL IT, keep off the fags I am now 8 months free and can really feel the difference.

Your wheezing will go in time, you prob have a dose of bronchitis. I used to get it very offten 2-4 times a year but since stop smoking have only had a mild dose from September 2018.

What I found really helps with the breathing. It is a Japanies Thing.

Take a deep breath and carry on swallowing mouth full of air into your lungs to stretch/expand them and breath out slow with your lips puckered to let your breath slowly escape through your lips. Do,it 3-5 times at night in bed then in the morning,I when you wake up or with you cup tea in the morning.

Hope,it helps like it does with me and others I know.

[smooth01 in reply to Shaurene]

thanks.

i rang the gp earlier to discuss my symptoms and how i am getting worried about this when it’s never happened to me before.

i mentioned copd, emphysema and she said copd would show up albeit advanced on xray. mine was normal.

have a spirometry test booked in 3 weeks as thats the timeline apparently for testing.

been given preventative inhaler today.

walking from room to room gives me the wheeze and mucus. i’m fed up of feeling like this.

deep down i wish it’s residual inflammation from chest infection but the other part of me suspects it’s now copd or asthma.

i’ll be gutted with the latter but it is what it is.

[stamford1234]

After I stopped smoking I had a lot of congestion, it took a few months to get rid of all the old gunk. You might need another course of antibiotics I have had exacerbations when a week's course wasn't enough. Drink plenty of fluids that help shift the mucous. I think you ought to go back to Drs and check. You don't want pneumonia sneaking up on you

[Oshgosh]

Well done for giving up smoking

[smooth01 in reply to Oshgosh]

yes i don’t miss it. wish i never started.

my wheezing is steadily coming on later on throughout the day since it kicked off a month ago.

i used to get it upon waking, then 1 hour after waking few days later, then 2 hours later few days after that etc.0

it’s been steadily coming on later on as the day progresses.

i’m at 6-7pm as i write this 4 weeks on.

taking my reliever once stops it till the next day.

i’ve resumed 30 min daily brisk walking after few months of no high intensity exercise which i used to do regularly. i don’t feel out of breath and i feel i could walk hours on end.

just frustrated at my situtation.