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What Causes Severe Coughing Along With Chest Pain?

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Posted on Wed, 25 Feb 2015
Question: 31yr female. Going on day 15 with coughing ( now barking, loud ) Cough is so severe I'll get bad upper chest pain and pain in my left side of abdominal. Back of neck hurts and glands under earlobes have always been swollen. Phlegm started clear, then cloudy now it's a mix of thick yellow and sometimes beige. My voice is hoarse, can't talk without coughing and I can't sleep ( even w elevation ) Bc all I do is cough then the migraines and nosebleeds begin. I'm so completely tired of being miserable - what is going on with me?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You seem to have an URTI requiring antibiotics coverage

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I completely understand your symptoms and predicament, unfortunately the treatment advised (if at all advised by a doctor) is insufficient. You seem to have a URTI/URI (upper respiratory tract infection) and you need antibiotic coverage for the same.

In majority of cases, the source of a URTI is viral and if this is the case antibiotics will not do you any good. But viral infections subside themselves and do not usually need any treatment other than symptomatic treatment which has been advised to you.

But clearly, your infection has not been showing signs of subsiding on its own, which means you may require antibiotics coverage. If you were my patient I would advise the following:

+Antibiotics coverage (based on a sputum analysis and blood profile): But in majority of cases azithromycin does the job
+Anti-histamine: Like promethazine
+Expectorants: Syrups that will help expel the phlegm/mucus that seems to be causing the irritation resulting in the episodes of coughing
+Sips of lukewarm water with a pinch of salt added to it throughout the day
+Steam inhalation
+Voice rest
+Pain management medication: Especially effervescent pills that can be dissolved in a glass of water, gargled and spat out. This helps in direct absorption of the medication to the affected region and reduction of inflammation, pain, etc.

Please visit a doctor as all this will be required to provide you rapid and complete relief. You are a hardworking woman and so you need rapid relief from a simple infection like this.

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
I would like thank you for taking your time out of your busy schedule to help me. You were very informative. I would also like to add ( don't know if it can be related ) but last month I was diagnosed with Cellulitis/Staph. I was put on Clendamycin, bactroban and a few pain relievers. The Staph has not fully gone away ( keeps reoccurring ) and not two weeks later I felt bad enough to call for an appt - then diagnosed with a URI. Per the NP - I was given zpak promethazine DM and to take Otc Tylenol. Now it feels worse than ever - "Could all this be a stem from the prior diagnoses"? I plan on getting in today but if nothing's available., then urgent care. Thanks again for your patience
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Need some help from you ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again XXXXXXX

If you do not mind me asking:

+Where was the cellulitis present (diagnosed on which part)?

+Did you take the entire course of medications prescribed when you were diagnosed with URI? (i.e. zpak promethazine DM and to take Otc Tylenol)

A response would greatly help to better answer your question, and please do not hesitate to keep in touch with me. I am always here to help. I only wish you luck and good health always.

Your well wisher,
Dr. Shoaib Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (10 hours later)
The Cellulitis was diagnosed on my upper back ( both shoulder blades ) inside left ear, bottom right side neck underneath hair, left upper thigh and on my right leg ( still present but not as terrible) I did take all medications/antibiotics as prescribed and have a few more days of the promathezine DM. Thanks so much again, I appreciate it.

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Inadequate antibiotic coverage

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again XXXXXXX

Thank you so much for that information.

It appears as though both courses of antibiotics, first for the cellulitis and then for the UTI were insufficient. Usually, when a doctor initiates a course of antibiotics he/she calls the patient back for a follow-up visit towards the end of the course of antibiotics to check whether or not the prescribed course was suffient enough to treat the infection adequately.

If at all the course is not enough (decided by looking at the infection), then a longer course (antibiotics prescribed for a few more days) is prescribed. It appears as though either your doctor did not find it necessary to call you back for a follow-up consultation or you may have missed his/her follow-up.

Whatever the reason, you need a longer course of antibiotics and had you taken the antibiotics for a longer time both your infections would have completely subsided. Please do schedule an appointment with your treating doctor and get the necessary attention you need XXXXXXX

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Severe Coughing Along With Chest Pain?

Brief Answer: You seem to have an URTI requiring antibiotics coverage Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I completely understand your symptoms and predicament, unfortunately the treatment advised (if at all advised by a doctor) is insufficient. You seem to have a URTI/URI (upper respiratory tract infection) and you need antibiotic coverage for the same. In majority of cases, the source of a URTI is viral and if this is the case antibiotics will not do you any good. But viral infections subside themselves and do not usually need any treatment other than symptomatic treatment which has been advised to you. But clearly, your infection has not been showing signs of subsiding on its own, which means you may require antibiotics coverage. If you were my patient I would advise the following: +Antibiotics coverage (based on a sputum analysis and blood profile): But in majority of cases azithromycin does the job +Anti-histamine: Like promethazine +Expectorants: Syrups that will help expel the phlegm/mucus that seems to be causing the irritation resulting in the episodes of coughing +Sips of lukewarm water with a pinch of salt added to it throughout the day +Steam inhalation +Voice rest +Pain management medication: Especially effervescent pills that can be dissolved in a glass of water, gargled and spat out. This helps in direct absorption of the medication to the affected region and reduction of inflammation, pain, etc. Please visit a doctor as all this will be required to provide you rapid and complete relief. You are a hardworking woman and so you need rapid relief from a simple infection like this. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you. Best wishes.