Tired, Short Of Breath After Bronchitis

[MrHammer]

Hi,

Recently came down with a bad case of bronchitis. Treated with Zitromax and Amoxicillin for a week. That seemed to get rid of most of the mucus and wheezing, but now 4 days after completion of antibiotics I feel very tired and short of breath. Is this normal? I can't remember the last time I had bronchitis so don't know.

Basically I can sleep 10-12 hours at night and still be tired, also I feel like I don't get enough air when breathing sometimes and feel a little dizzy after doing something streneous. I quit smoking almost during this bronchitis.

Is it normal to have this short of breath feeling after treatment and what about the fatigue? Should I get checked for something else?

[zzdocxx]

Well you could get a recommendation for a pulmonologist.

It might be some post bronchitic effect, ie. your airways are sensitive and you may have an element of bronchoconstriction, similar to asthma.

Plus/minus deconditioning from being laid up for a while.

Probably a good idea to leave off smoking permanently at this point. Note that the first 30 days or so after quitting, there can actually be an increase in mucus production.

Sometimes a "beta-agonist" inhaler such as albuterol can be helpful. There may also be an indication for a steroid-type of inhaler, such as Azmacort or Advair (these are brand names in the US).

Good luck, hope you feel better.

[Sheryl]

If you have not had a thorough physical within past year or so, it would be wise, especially if you are over 40 or so.

While the shortness of breath could be the result of your bronchitis, it could also be an indication of heart disease.

[MrHammer]

Well you could get a recommendation for a pulmonologist.

It might be some post bronchitic effect, ie. your airways are sensitive and you may have an element of bronchoconstriction, similar to asthma.

Plus/minus deconditioning from being laid up for a while.

Probably a good idea to leave off smoking permanently at this point. Note that the first 30 days or so after quitting, there can actually be an increase in mucus production.

Sometimes a "beta-agonist" inhaler such as albuterol can be helpful. There may also be an indication for a steroid-type of inhaler, such as Azmacort or Advair (these are brand names in the US).

Good luck, hope you feel better.

Thanks for advice, do I need a prescription for this?

[MrHammer]

If you have not had a thorough physical within past year or so, it would be wise, especially if you are over 40 or so.

While the shortness of breath could be the result of your bronchitis, it could also be an indication of heart disease.

Hi Sheryl,

I'm 28 and don't have any risk factors, well besides smoking. Anyway I have had a checkup some time ago with ECG and test for heart enzymes which were both normal.

Also had x-ray for chest and lungs which were normal.

Would you recommend further testing?

[zzdocxx]

Thanks for advice, do I need a prescription for this?

Dunno if it is needed in Thailand (it is in the US).

A "spirometry" test might be in order, it will tell if you have any component of airway disease (like I mentioned above).

[Sheryl]

You can get inhalers OTC but I don't recommend starting yourslef on them without medical supervision. It's fine for people with already diagniosed chronic conditions like asthma but in your case some investigation into what is going on is in order. See a pulmonary specialist if you do not improve quite soon. Physical exam, chest film and possibly spirometry as zzd mentioned.

And of course -- Don't smoke!!!

[MrHammer]

You can get inhalers OTC but I don't recommend starting yourslef on them without medical supervision. It's fine for people with already diagniosed chronic conditions like asthma but in your case some investigation into what is going on is in order. See a pulmonary specialist if you do not improve quite soon. Physical exam, chest film and possibly spirometry as zzd mentioned.

And of course -- Don't smoke!!!

Ok, I am pretty sure I have sleep apnea. After some very bad days where I couldnt sleep at night, woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air and felt miserable in the day I went to the hospital thinking I may have an infection still.

Got an x-ray and checked for blood oxygen which were both normal.

Doctor suggested lack of sleep as cause, maybe sleep apnea. I do have very large tonsils and with the bronchitis I suspect my respiratory system may still be a little strained. I also have a lot of mucus in my troath.

I wake up many times every night and feel like crap in the morning even after 10 hours of sleep. I suspect this really could be sleep apnea set on my mucus/tonsils/bronchitis. Going to Samitivej for an overnighter this weekend.

What can I do in the meantime to get a good nights sleep? Doctor gave me Xanax, but I read somewhere that it's actually bad for Sleep Apnea as it relaxes muscles in troath.

What can I do to get rid of mucus (maybe from quit smoking?) and eliminate sleep apnea?

[FBN]

Please don't take Xanax if you suspect sleep apnoea!

Confirm this with an ENT consult and then a sleep study.

[MrHammer]

Please don't take Xanax if you suspect sleep apnoea!

Confirm this with an ENT consult and then a sleep study.

Ok, will stay away, though it's not confirmed yet.

Can you recommend some natural sleeping supplements and methods to combat sleep apnea if thats really the case?

[FBN]

Please don't take Xanax if you suspect sleep apnoea!

Confirm this with an ENT consult and then a sleep study.

Ok, will stay away, though it's not confirmed yet.

Can you recommend some natural sleeping supplements and methods to combat sleep apnea if thats really the case?

Sleep apnoea occurs as a result of an obstruction to airflow while asleep so the problem is not falling asleep but the brain wakes up due to deprivation of oxygen. Sedating the brain is not the solution and may cause more harm than good.

It is a mechanical problem and has to be dealt with that way; if the enlarged tonsils play a part, they may need to be removed but more commonly, it is a problem with the epiglottis or upper throat muscles that collapses during sleep and cause an airflow obstruction.

Sedatives have no place in managing sleep apnoea.

Treatment is usually surgical or a CPAP breathing machine that provides continuous positive pressure to the upper airways and keep them open.

Lots have been written on this forum on sleep apnoea so do some searching for related topics.

[camerata]

Hi,

Recently came down with a bad case of bronchitis. Treated with Zitromax and Amoxicillin for a week. That seemed to get rid of most of the mucus and wheezing, but now 4 days after completion of antibiotics I feel very tired and short of breath. Is this normal? I can't remember the last time I had bronchitis so don't know.

I'm a non-smoker and I had a wicked case of acute bronchitis a couple of months ago. My bronchial tubes are still inflamed but I was never short of breath or tired. For the first two weeks, waking up at night coughing and gasping was a real problem, but it slowly subsided after they gave me a steroid, a codeine-based cough suppressant and a bronchodilator.

[FBN]

This is not uncommon in this area; once the airways are inflamed, and they stay so for a while after an infection, the effect of air pollution and other irritants have a very significant impact.

This is almost a form of "reactive airways disease" that sometimes do require steroids and bronchodilators even if there is no underlying asthma.

Good few sessions in a steam room and some mild aromatherapy helps a lot as well to loosen up secretions and soothe the airways.