Seeking Assistance
To summarize, I am a 23-year-old Hispanic male, weighing 180 pounds and standing at 5’8”. Since I turned 18, I underwent a bronchoscopy which revealed a collapsing lung. I have a habit of smoking a considerable amount of marijuana mixed with grabba, which is a type of cured tobacco. This has resulted in me frequently producing a significant amount of brown phlegm. Additionally, I suffer from ongoing post-nasal drip due to allergies and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), both of which exacerbate my condition. Every morning, I wake up unable to breathe properly, as my chest feels congested with thick brown mucous. I often find myself rushing to the bathroom to clear my airways because the phlegm obstructs my breathing while I sleep. I reside in New York City and regularly visit Presbyterian Hospital; recent chest X-rays showed no signs of pneumonia. However, I have been dealing with the same symptoms since my late teens. Whenever I inhale, there's an unsettling sensation in my chest that requires me to constantly cough to expel the phlegm. My living space tends to be dusty, though I have an air purifier. I usually sleep near my air conditioning unit, but I intend to rearrange my room in hopes of alleviating some of my symptoms. If necessary, I'd be willing to share images of the phlegm I've been coughing up. It’s becoming increasingly frustrating as my ability to breathe seems to be deteriorating. When I’m outdoors or at other people's homes or work, I generally feel fine, but once I return home, I struggle with a barrage of mucus issues. I also experienced significant flooding in my house, which may have led to mold growth. I am scheduled for an allergy test on the 30th of this month, hoping to find some answers.
Answers (1)
6/17/2025, 12:30:57 PM
OpenHealth AI
Thank you for sharing the details of your situation. It sounds like you're dealing with a complex set of symptoms that are affecting your breathing and overall quality of life. The brown phlegm, chest congestion, and difficulty breathing, especially upon waking, highlight a significant respiratory challenge. Here’s a structured response addressing your concerns and offering actionable steps.
Main Points:
- Your respiratory symptoms may be related to smoking, allergies, and possibly environmental factors.
- It’s essential to manage these symptoms proactively while you await your allergy test.
Explanation:
The combination of smoking marijuana mixed with tobacco, post-nasal drip from allergies, and GERD can lead to chronic respiratory symptoms, including excessive mucus production. The brown color of the phlegm may indicate irritants in your lungs or could be a result of chronic exposure to tobacco, which can cause lung inflammation. The notable change in symptoms based on your environment suggests that allergens or irritants in your living space, like dust or mold, might be exacerbating your condition.
Next Steps:
-
Limit or Cease Smoking: Reducing or stopping smoking, including marijuana and tobacco, would be among the most effective ways to improve your lung health. This can significantly reduce mucus production and lung irritation over time.
-
Improve Environmental Quality:
- Clean Your Living Space: Address any dust accumulation regularly. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and consider professional cleaning for areas that may harbor mold due to flooding.
- Control Humidity: Ensure your home is adequately ventilated and keep humidity levels low to discourage mold growth. A dehumidifier can help if humidity is an issue.
- Position Your Air Purifier: Make sure your air purifier is adequately sized for your room and is functioning correctly.
-
Hydration and Warm Beverages: Stay well-hydrated, as drinking plenty of fluids can help thin mucus. Warm teas or broths can also soothe your throat and ease mucus production.
-
Monitor Dietary Habits: Since you have GERD, avoid foods that trigger your symptoms, particularly close to bedtime. Consider keeping a food diary to identify any specific triggers.
-
Track Your Symptoms: Keep a journal of your symptoms, including how they change based on your environment, activities, and any potential triggers. This may be helpful during your upcoming allergy test.
-
Consider Allergy Management: Once you have the results of your allergy test, work with your healthcare provider to develop a tailored plan for managing your allergies, which may include medications or lifestyle changes.
-
Seek Support: If you find that these issues are impacting your mental health (stress, frustration, insomnia), don’t hesitate to reach out for mental health support. Therapy or support groups can provide coping strategies.
It’s understandable to feel frustrated with these persistent symptoms. By making some adjustments in your lifestyle and environment, you can take control of your symptoms while awaiting further medical advice. Please focus on the actions outlined above to help alleviate your current discomfort. Let me know if you need any further clarification or assistance.
Related Questions
Persistent Nighttime Illness with Fever, Rapid Heart Rate, and Chest Discomfort Over Two Years
**Demographics:** **Age:** Thirties **Gender:** Male **Height/Weight:** 2.0 m (6’7”), 95 kg (210 lbs) **Region:** Europe **Health Background:** Mild Bronchial Asthma (well managed) **Medications:** Regular asthma inhaler (both morning and evening), as needed rescue inhaler **Substance Use:** None **Exercise Routine:** Engages in consistent gym workouts and plays soccer --- **Primary Concern:** Repeated nighttime occurrences of severe symptoms including fever, rapid heartbeat, and lung/chest pain lasting for approximately two years. --- **Current Health Issue:** For the last two years, I have been subjected to unexpected bouts of illness that generally manifest at night after sleeping for a few hours, though I occasionally notice symptoms appear in the evening. In between these episodes, I feel completely well, healthy, and without any symptoms. The frequency of these episodes varies greatly, ranging from one week to two months apart, but there has been a noticeable increase in their occurrence recently. --- **Typical Episode Symptoms:** - Generally feel fine in the evening, though I might sometimes feel slightly off. - Awaken during the night with pain in the chest/lungs, significant fatigue, and a fast heart rate. - Heart rate escalates from approximately 40 beats per minute to as high as 100 beats per minute at rest. - Experience severe chills, a fever, and muscle aches. - Notice a dry mouth and a sense of dehydration. - Followed by heating sensations and a fever that can reach just under 39 °C (102 °F), disrupting my ability to sleep. - My Apple Watch consistently indicates: - Increased breathing rate - Raised body temperature - Accelerated heart rate - Diminished heart rate variability The day after these episodes, I still feel unwell with a continued elevated heart rate. Symptoms typically begin to improve by evening and are largely diminished by the following day, though I still feel fatigued and stressed. --- **Investigations Conducted:** - Pulmonary assessment - Cardiac assessment - Comprehensive blood tests (which included checks for inflammation) - Autoimmune tests All tests returned normal results. A pulmonologist advised taking a daily maintenance inhaler for asthma; for about four to five months after starting it, I experienced no episodes. However, they have resurfaced and have been recurring for the past year. --- **Inquiry:** What potential medical conditions could lead to recurring, flu-like episodes characterized by fever, tachycardia, chest or lung discomfort, with complete recovery in between occurrences? Are there particular diagnoses or tests I should discuss with my healthcare providers?
Concerns About Trazodone for Anxiety Relief
Hello everyone, I’m a 27-year-old female experiencing anxiety-related insomnia that has persisted for about a month. My sleep has been severely disrupted, averaging only four to five hours per night. I frequently wake up every hour and struggle to drift back off. This situation has led to me waking up each morning with a racing heart and feeling unsettled throughout the day. To seek some relief, I recently visited urgent care, where a doctor prescribed me Trazodone at a dosage of 50mg to assist with my sleep issues. However, after doing some research online, I discovered that the medication may carry significant risks, including the potential to exacerbate heart palpitations and arrhythmias. This has made me hesitant to start taking it. I’m reaching out to see if anyone here has experience with Trazodone. Is it generally considered safe? Have others encountered adverse effects related to heart issues while using this medication? This is particularly concerning for me, and I would appreciate any insights or experiences you can share.
Seeking Clarity on My Mental Health Episodes
Summary: As someone diagnosed with a mental health disorder, I’m seeking guidance on understanding the symptoms I displayed in a recorded episode relevant to my recent BPD diagnosis. Background: I’m a 32-year-old female with limited knowledge about mental health, yet I've accumulated diagnoses like they’re collectibles. I use humor to cope, though I hope it doesn’t cause offense. I was unaware of terms like PTSD or C-PTSD until diagnosed at 25, a realization that has prompted this self-reflection; I apologize if my jokes miss the mark. I first encountered PTSD symptoms around age 19, but it felt normal to me, despite my frustrating journey through severe depression starting in 4th grade, anxiety spirals by 5th grade, and restless nights filled with sleep disturbances. Panic attacks by 9th grade further compounded my struggles. The concept of mental illness was a vague notion in my life; after each new diagnosis, I would learn about it, often with surprise, as if it were news to me. It’s a little humorous in retrospect, given my previous ignorance, but I’ve received some significant diagnoses over the years, often accompanied by medication that requires identification. Main Inquiry: Normally, I would consult my therapist regarding this matter, but due to a family situation on her end, I don’t want to add to her stress. I documented myself during a panic attack and shared the footage with both my psychiatrist and therapist prior to viewing it myself. This recording contributed to my BPD diagnosis, which marks my fifth mental health diagnosis. During our initial meeting, my psychiatrist pointed out traits related to Axis II but didn’t elaborate until the video prompted a deeper discussion about BPD and the implications for my treatment plan. Both of my therapists, including one I’ve seen for over a year, concurred based on the video that the BPD diagnosis was warranted. I personally resonate with the diagnosis, quite fitting my experiences. Interestingly, I am relieved that I found out about it only after the clinical diagnosis, as I would have likely self-diagnosed long before. Now that I’ve viewed the video, I find myself uncertain about interpreting certain mental health symptoms, such as dissociation or catatonia. This uncertainty brings me to this subreddit, as I'm eager to gain more insight into the video and understand its significance in regard to my BPD diagnosis. I contemplated hiring a transcriber adept at strict verbatim transcriptions. Would that be a useful approach? Any suggestions on resources or methods to help me decipher the behaviors displayed in the video, especially concerning important timestamps or events, would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, my curiosity intertwines with necessity; the video, along with two audio recordings, is being provided as evidence in an upcoming court case. Understanding what transpired in those recordings will be crucial.
Feeling Anxious About Recent Health Concerns
Hello everyone, I hope you're well. To give you some background, I'm a 32-year-old woman residing in the UK. I've undergone two cesarean sections and have had various ultrasounds in the past. For several years, I've dealt with irregular menstrual cycles and occasional spotting between periods. Although I sought medical advice and underwent several tests to investigate these issues, nothing conclusive was found. Last year, I underwent a hysteroscopy, followed by an ultrasound. While the hysteroscopy results were normal, the subsequent ultrasound revealed a small accumulation of fluid in my uterus and a thickened area of the uterine lining. The gynecologist reviewed the ultrasound results and suggested that the fluid might be residual from the hysteroscopy, assuring me that there was no cause for concern. Still, she recommended scheduling a follow-up ultrasound six months later. I recently had this follow-up scan, and unfortunately, the findings were similar—there was still a small amount of fluid and an area of thickening in my uterus. The doctor advised that I need to return to consult with a gynecologist to investigate why these issues persist. Naturally, I’m filled with worry, and it's taking a toll on my appetite. As I await my consultation with the gynecology team, I can't shake this anxiety. Could this be a sign of cancer? I would appreciate any support or advice during this stressful time. Thank you for listening! xx
Concerns About My Mental Health
As a 28-year-old woman, I have growing concerns regarding my mental health and the effects of my current medication regimen. I'm beginning to suspect that the medications I'm taking—Klonopin, Clozaril, Luvox, Ritalin, lithium, and several others meant to mitigate side effects—might be impacting my brain in a negative way. Recently, I sought help at the hospital for a CT scan, but my diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder led to my being turned away. I genuinely feel as though there are significant issues with my brain; I’ve been experiencing unusual pressure atop my skull, as if something is pushing against it, alongside severe headaches. Moreover, I often encounter ringing in my ears, dizziness, and periods of blurred vision. Although these symptoms do not persist for extended durations, they tend to appear sporadically. The only constant symptom is the pressure, which intensifies when I feel cold. I have a scheduled medical appointment for Wednesday, but I find myself anxious about my health and fear I might not survive until then.