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Sweating, Fatigue And Breathlessness. Took Antibiotic. Blood Test And X-ray Done. Underlying Cause?
Question: My wife is 30yrs old . For the past year she has noticed her self not being able to catch her breath from time to time. She easily gets fatigue . Just last week she was having a harder time catching her breath. Her hunger isn't as good also. She went to the dr and they ran a blood test . She didn't understand what they were telling her but they said something about her blood cells are enlarged. The set her a appointment for another 2 weeks to talk about it. Well the next day after she did the blood test she caught I think walking pneumonia . We went to the family DR and they only did a X-RAY and said to take some Antibiotics . It's been about 4-5 days since she's been on Antibiotics and her cough is slowly clearing but she still cannot catch her breath. She noticed also tingling in her left arm and the fatigue is still there. Also she gets very bad night sweats. We have a appointment in 5 days but I'm scared she can get worst by then . We are scared to go to the hospital because there are so many viruses and it seems when they keep you there you always get admitted in and get even worst :( . Need help . We have 2 young boys and we are very worried . What do you think she is sick with ??? Help. Thank you .
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
The breathlessness your wife has could be due to the inflammation and consolidation in the lung tissue. Based on symptoms she has I suspect her to have Bacterial infections in the lungs. A course of antibiotics will surely cure her infection the inflammation and consolidation may stay for few more days even after the infection is completely cured by antibiotics.
Do give her steam inhalations twice daily with eucalyptus in it; this makes her to breathe easy. Also, do give her Mucolytics, which clear off the secretions in the lung airways, and lessens the breathlessness.
The sweating, fatigue and breathlessness she has will surely subside once the infection is down. Need not worry, do get take her to the hospital for the next follow up. Hospitals do follow sterilization and many other antiseptic procedures to avoid nosocomial infections. The chances of her getting new infections are negligible.
Hope I answered your query.
Please do let me know if there are any other concerns.
Regards,
Thanks for your query.
The breathlessness your wife has could be due to the inflammation and consolidation in the lung tissue. Based on symptoms she has I suspect her to have Bacterial infections in the lungs. A course of antibiotics will surely cure her infection the inflammation and consolidation may stay for few more days even after the infection is completely cured by antibiotics.
Do give her steam inhalations twice daily with eucalyptus in it; this makes her to breathe easy. Also, do give her Mucolytics, which clear off the secretions in the lung airways, and lessens the breathlessness.
The sweating, fatigue and breathlessness she has will surely subside once the infection is down. Need not worry, do get take her to the hospital for the next follow up. Hospitals do follow sterilization and many other antiseptic procedures to avoid nosocomial infections. The chances of her getting new infections are negligible.
Hope I answered your query.
Please do let me know if there are any other concerns.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Can a person have a bacterial infection for a year ? My wife has been having a symptom of not being able to catch her breath for over a year ! . Her hunger has depleted. The blood test showed her cells are abnormal. Could these symptoms show only a bacterial lung infection ?
Hi,
Thanks for writing back. Following are my comments.
1. Her current symptom is an aggravation of the breathlessness which most likely seems to be due to a bacterial chest infection (pneumonia).
The infection causes consolidation of the lung tissue; this may mask the underlying pathology. Once the antibiotics she is on cures the infection she can be examined to rule out any underlying basic lung pathology. It is much easier to know previous lung condition better once the latest chest infection gets cleared.
2. The doctors might have called her for the follow up to confirm if the infection is cured and to look for pre-existing condition. The chances of pre-existing lung pathology look unlikely to me though.
3. The abnormal blood test results are usually encountered in infections. The enlarged blood cells could either be due to infection or may be due to a variant of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) - which is associated with vitamin b-12 deficiency. Without an opportunity to examine the peripheral blood smear I am unable to differentiate between the two. Please follow up with your doctor as advised. Once her current infection is resolved, I am sure we can have proper answers.
If anemia is confirmed it can be easily treated. So do not worry.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Thanks for writing back. Following are my comments.
1. Her current symptom is an aggravation of the breathlessness which most likely seems to be due to a bacterial chest infection (pneumonia).
The infection causes consolidation of the lung tissue; this may mask the underlying pathology. Once the antibiotics she is on cures the infection she can be examined to rule out any underlying basic lung pathology. It is much easier to know previous lung condition better once the latest chest infection gets cleared.
2. The doctors might have called her for the follow up to confirm if the infection is cured and to look for pre-existing condition. The chances of pre-existing lung pathology look unlikely to me though.
3. The abnormal blood test results are usually encountered in infections. The enlarged blood cells could either be due to infection or may be due to a variant of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) - which is associated with vitamin b-12 deficiency. Without an opportunity to examine the peripheral blood smear I am unable to differentiate between the two. Please follow up with your doctor as advised. Once her current infection is resolved, I am sure we can have proper answers.
If anemia is confirmed it can be easily treated. So do not worry.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Can lack of being able to take a XXXXXXX breath for the past yr be due to acid reflex or acid around the lungs or In the lungs ? We did echo, EKG but everything looks ok. But cat scan shows the pnemonia slowly clearing But shows botto
Left &right showing spots . Blood test where good now. But my wife cannot take XXXXXXX breaths sometimes . what do you think .
Left &right showing spots . Blood test where good now. But my wife cannot take XXXXXXX breaths sometimes . what do you think .
Hi again,
No, I do not think acid reflex to be the cause for the breathlessness in her. Breathlessness in acid reflex usually not severe and is associated with burning chest pain and disturbance in digestion.
I doubt your wife to have either an allergic or non-specific inflammatory lung disease. Since there is infection now which is masking the underlying pathology, arriving at diagnosis would be a difficult task at this time. Once the infection and the pneumonic consolidation is cleared then detailed examination and relevant tests would help us to find the exact diagnosis.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
No, I do not think acid reflex to be the cause for the breathlessness in her. Breathlessness in acid reflex usually not severe and is associated with burning chest pain and disturbance in digestion.
I doubt your wife to have either an allergic or non-specific inflammatory lung disease. Since there is infection now which is masking the underlying pathology, arriving at diagnosis would be a difficult task at this time. Once the infection and the pneumonic consolidation is cleared then detailed examination and relevant tests would help us to find the exact diagnosis.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Hello , Dr wants my wife to wait 3-4 months until we can do lung X-ray.
My wife's pneumonia has pretty mUch cleared up. She don't cough anymore. No wheezing or night sweats . She's back to her old symptoms. She gets fatigue once In a while and she cannot catch a XXXXXXX breath. When she try's to take a XXXXXXX breath her chest hurts a Little pressure and her left side of her neck hurts a little .
Blood test showed she's not anemia. Iron levels are good. Echo test and EKG test are good . What do you think it is Dr ? What questions should I ask the DR when I see him? Can depression cause these symptoms ?
My wife's pneumonia has pretty mUch cleared up. She don't cough anymore. No wheezing or night sweats . She's back to her old symptoms. She gets fatigue once In a while and she cannot catch a XXXXXXX breath. When she try's to take a XXXXXXX breath her chest hurts a Little pressure and her left side of her neck hurts a little .
Blood test showed she's not anemia. Iron levels are good. Echo test and EKG test are good . What do you think it is Dr ? What questions should I ask the DR when I see him? Can depression cause these symptoms ?
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
Since the ECHO and EKG are normal the heart conditions, which can cause the symptoms similar to ones your wife, has been ruled out.
I do not consider depression to be the cause for such symptoms.
The symptoms she has must be studied well with the help of an imaging study of the lung. Your doctor is right in saying to present your wife after 3 months .Though the pneumonitis she had has cleared, well the scars left in the lung tissue much subside to find out the exact basic pathology.
Hope I answered your query.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Thanks for writing back.
Since the ECHO and EKG are normal the heart conditions, which can cause the symptoms similar to ones your wife, has been ruled out.
I do not consider depression to be the cause for such symptoms.
The symptoms she has must be studied well with the help of an imaging study of the lung. Your doctor is right in saying to present your wife after 3 months .Though the pneumonitis she had has cleared, well the scars left in the lung tissue much subside to find out the exact basic pathology.
Hope I answered your query.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
She only gets sudden breathlessness throughout the day even without activity .
Is it possible to have a lung tumor ? Wouldnt the tumor show up immediately with the cat scan and lung x-ray or blood work ?
Is it possible to have a lung tumor ? Wouldnt the tumor show up immediately with the cat scan and lung x-ray or blood work ?
Hi,
Yes, cancerous condition can lead to sudden breathlessness. Also the lung cancer presents with many other associated features like decreased appetite , weight loss, blood in sputum etc.
A scan like CAT or Xray can rule out cancers to maximum extend. Specific blood work can also point at the diagnosis.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
Yes, cancerous condition can lead to sudden breathlessness. Also the lung cancer presents with many other associated features like decreased appetite , weight loss, blood in sputum etc.
A scan like CAT or Xray can rule out cancers to maximum extend. Specific blood work can also point at the diagnosis.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Mohammed Kappan
Ok , we got more results . My wife symptoms are still shortness of breath , fatigue sometimes (breathlessness is sudden and fatigue is with Activity ) no decrease in weight , no vomiting , her appetite is well.
We did X-ray again , X-ray shows clear lungs and no tumors in lungs. Also cat scan shows good as well. Our dr cannot explain or figure out What is wrong .
What do you think we should do next ? Dr said her blood work was great as well. We will be next seeing a lung specialist now. What else should we look for or what do you think it can be ?
We did X-ray again , X-ray shows clear lungs and no tumors in lungs. Also cat scan shows good as well. Our dr cannot explain or figure out What is wrong .
What do you think we should do next ? Dr said her blood work was great as well. We will be next seeing a lung specialist now. What else should we look for or what do you think it can be ?
Hi,
The symptoms your wife has with the Xray and CAT scan normal could be due to an allergic condition.Here the airways may be hyper responsive to general or specific allergens or airway mucosa with a reduced threshold for such responses.
A Pulmonologist (Lungs specialist) would be a right person who can analyze her symptoms considering her blood and imaging studies and arrive at specific diagnosis.This would be the right time to consult as the infection she had is cleared off now.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
The symptoms your wife has with the Xray and CAT scan normal could be due to an allergic condition.Here the airways may be hyper responsive to general or specific allergens or airway mucosa with a reduced threshold for such responses.
A Pulmonologist (Lungs specialist) would be a right person who can analyze her symptoms considering her blood and imaging studies and arrive at specific diagnosis.This would be the right time to consult as the infection she had is cleared off now.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Mohammed Kappan
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