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Suggest Treatment For Upper Right Chest Pain And Shortness Of Breath

Posted on Wed, 8 Jun 2016

Question: symptoms: tired, upper right chest pain when moving, shortness if breath while walking not sitting, sometimes pain on upper right side. I am on antibiotics and ibuprofen 800mg. Any ideas?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Get done chest x ray and PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
By your history and description, possibility of either lung infection or bronchitis is more.
So better to consult doctor and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray to rule out lung infection
3. PFT (pulmonary function test) for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
You may need antibiotic, inhaled bronchodilator and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on the basis of above reports.
Please let me know
1. Do you smoke?
2. Which antibiotic you are taking?
3. Since how many days you are having these symptoms?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (11 minutes later)

the antibiotic is Azithromycin 250 mg. I quit smoking for over a year, but now smoking around 5 cigarettes a day. My bad. I am trying so hard to quit. U gave been tired for 3 days, short of breath when walking sometimes for a few months, pain about a week. My Dr did not take xrays. thought maybe costochondritis. Is that possible? thanks

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Costochondritis is less likely.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No costochondritis is less likely in his case.
First of all, he should quit smoking as soon as possible.
Get done chest x ray to rule out lung infection.
Get done PFT for the diagnosis of bronchitis.
Please let me know
1. Has he ever undergone PFT?
2. Is he having fever?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 minutes later)

had pft over a year ago. all was fine. I had a low grade fever a few days ago, but it is gone. I did have esophagitis about 2 years ago. That is why I quit smoking then. i can't eat like eat I used to. Get a pain in lower mid. and feel very uncomfortable. r nicotine lozenges a good way to quit?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, nicotine replacement therapy is good option for quitting smoking.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should get done repeat PFT test because now possibility of bronchitis is more.
Another possibility is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
And GERD cant worsen bronchitis.
Smoking is biggest risk factor for both of them.
So better to quit smoking as soon as possible.
Yes, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of lozenges is good option.
Please let me know
1. Do you have belching on burping or burning epigastric pain?
2. Have you ever tried nicotine lozenges in the past?
3. Have you ever enroll it deaddiction center?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

thanks. no, no belching. I never tried lozenges. I had the electronic cigarette, but lately that gave me a dry cough. Started to bother me. Never enrolled in deaddiction center.
I really don't smoke much. Maybe 5 or 6 a day, but I smoked little more in the past. If it is a touch if bronchitis, will it go away in its own? I have 2 more days of antibiotics. Thanks again and I do so much want to quit smoking

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Smoking cessation will definitely help you in spontaneous recovery.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
But smoking cessation is must.
And honestly speaking, 5-6 cigarettes are considered as high.
Even single cigarette is harmful after 60 years of age with symptoms of breathlessness on exertion.
So better to enroll in deaddiction center.
There are psychologists who guide you, counsel you regarding smoking cessation.
Lozenges will let this cessation process smooth and easy for you.
So better to enroll in deaddiction center and follow their advice.
Smoking cessation will definitely help you in spontaneous recovery from bronchitis.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Thanks. So, if I quit smoking, this chest pain. sniffles, tiredness will improve it or go away? I really didn't think 5 cigarettes would prolong recovery. thanks again

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As a doctor, my advice is to quit smoking completely.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Yes, you will mostly improve in all symptoms once you quit smoking.
And as a doctor, I would still go for Complete cessation of smoking.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar