Seeking Answers for Ongoing Symptoms: Need Guidance
Hello everyone. I'm a 28-year-old female who doesn’t smoke or drink. For the past four months, I’ve been grappling with some health issues that show no signs of improvement. I know this is a lengthy post, but I’d appreciate it if you could read through to get the full picture, as the specifics are quite crucial. In my previous job at public schools, I used to drink from water fountains, which was the only option available, although I never had direct exposure to any contaminants. Back in late April, I experienced a bout of bronchitis, which thankfully resolved. However, afterward, I was left with annoying symptoms like a persistent cough, inflammation in my chest, sore throat, and ongoing fatigue. I visited an ENT specialist who prescribed a course of antacids and a six-day regimen of methylprednisolone (4 mg), and a chest X-ray was conducted, revealing normal results. Once I completed the steroid treatment, the chest inflammation appeared to diminish, but the cough reemerged. My symptoms have intensified since then, now including a continuous cough, pain on both sides of my throat when swallowing, ear discomfort on both sides, sneezing episodes, extreme tiredness, and a sensation of increased body heat throughout the day. I consulted another ENT specialist recently, who examined my ears and tonsils and found everything normal, subsequently referring me to an allergist. I should mention that I have never had allergies, although I do have a cat that’s constantly in my room and sheds quite a bit. I feel like I’m caught in a frustrating cycle with these doctors. Tomorrow, I’m planning to visit urgent care to get tested for mono and strep throat. The ENT I saw previously indicated that I didn’t have a bacterial infection; it seems I was dealing with a viral illness at that time. Also worth mentioning is that my mother discovered a small white spot beneath one of my tonsils—possibly a tonsil stone? If anyone has any insights into what might be happening or can suggest any next steps, I would greatly appreciate it. Dealing with ongoing health issues without clear answers from the doctors is incredibly frustrating. Thank you for your assistance and have a wonderful day.
Answers (1)
8/13/2025, 10:11:27 PM
OpenHealth AI
Based on your detailed description, it sounds like you’ve been experiencing a frustrating combination of symptoms that stem from what might be a lingering viral impact or possibly an allergic reaction. It's understandable to seek answers when dealing with persistent health issues.
Main Points:
- Your symptoms may stem from a viral infection, allergies, or irritation post-bronchitis.
- It's important to address your symptoms systematically and monitor any changes closely.
Explanation:
You’ve had ongoing symptoms, including a persistent cough, throat pain, and fatigue, which are common following bronchitis. The chest X-ray being normal is a reassuring sign, but it seems your body is still reacting, possibly due to lingering inflammation or new triggers like allergies. Your mention of potential tonsil stones could also contribute to discomfort, although they’re typically harmless.
The introduction of your cat into your living space might be relevant if you suspect allergies, as pet dander can cause symptoms even in those who have not previously had issues.
Next Steps:
-
Urgent Care Visit: Since you’re visiting urgent care for tests for mono and strep throat, that’s a great first step. Getting results from those tests can rule out significant infections and help confirm if there’s a viral origin to your symptoms.
-
Symptom Management: In the meantime, focus on managing your symptoms. Try:
- Staying Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to help soothe your throat and thin mucus.
- Gargling Salt Water: For throat pain, gargling with warm salt water several times a day may reduce inflammation and discomfort.
- Humidifier: Using a humidifier can keep the air moist, which may help ease coughing and throat irritation.
- Avoid Irritants: Minimize exposure to dust and allergens (like pet hair). Consider keeping your cat out of your bedroom, if possible.
-
Track Your Symptoms: Keep a diary of your symptoms, including when they worsen or improve, what you ate, and any possible triggers. This information can be crucial for your allergist and other healthcare providers to assess your situation accurately.
-
Follow Up with Allergist: Depending on the results from urgent care, it would be wise to continue working with your allergist to assess potential allergies, as they can conduct specific tests to identify any triggers.
-
Consider Stress Management: The ongoing uncertainty can be stressful. Engaging in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness may help alleviate some feelings of frustration.
I hope you find these steps helpful, and I encourage you to keep focusing on your health and working with your healthcare team. You're taking the right steps by seeking further investigation and monitoring your symptoms. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for more personalized guidance as you learn more about your condition.
Related Questions
Unexplained Left Chest Pain, Electric-Like Jabs in Lower Back, and Unusual Headaches
Hi there, I’m a 15-year-old experiencing some peculiar health issues lately. A visit to my doctor led to a diagnosis of anxiety and poor posture after I complained about headaches and strange, electric sensations rising through my head. However, after that appointment, I became aware of pain in my heart and strange discomfort in my left chest accompanied by difficulty breathing. Initially, I thought these symptoms aligned with anxiety, but they persisted long enough to cause concern. To rule out any serious conditions, I underwent a blood test, which fortunately came back normal. Despite the positive results, I continued to feel unusual pains in my heart region and a peculiar ache in my lower abdomen. The doctor had previously mentioned my poor posture and identified an issue with my occipital nerve, which I’ve somewhat addressed. Now, though, I find myself having intermittent back pain and brief discomfort just beneath my left lung. These pains are indeed strange; they don’t always last long, sometimes just fading after five seconds or they might stick around for several minutes. I tend to spend a lot of time in bed and don’t often leave the house, yet when I do, these pains still occur. Thankfully, they aren’t debilitating, but I can't help but feel anxious thinking something might be significantly wrong with my health. It’s unsettling and I’d prefer not to dwell on such thoughts. To summarize: I experience chest pain in my lower left quadrant, specifically near my lung, alongside a mild but uncomfortable sensation that waxes and wanes. Additionally, I suffer from headaches located on the upper left side of my head. I apologize for any grammatical errors as I used voice-to-text for this message. Another detail that might be relevant is that I have recently quit vaping, now almost 22 days ago, and I wonder if this could be part of the recovery process.
Expectorated Large Tissue with Blood
At 28 years old, I experienced a fever the previous night, after which I had no other cold symptoms. To my surprise, today I coughed just once and expelled a significant piece of tissue mixed with blood. Following this alarming incident, I sought medical attention at an urgent care facility because I developed a headache immediately afterward and felt a peculiar "butterfly" sensation in my chest. The healthcare professionals did not conduct any laboratory tests or imaging studies, instead opting to prescribe antibiotics for what they suspected might be an infection. Is this an appropriate response to my situation? This is quite concerning.
Concerns About Potential Misdiagnosis
Hello everyone, I recently stumbled upon this subreddit and felt it would be the ideal platform to share my experience. I initially posted something similar under r/Asthma but soon realized that this community might be more appropriate for my concerns. To provide some context, I’m a 25-year-old woman with no personal history of smoking, although I have been heavily exposed to secondhand smoke throughout my life. There is a family history of asthma and COPD on my side. I was diagnosed with asthma during childhood but seemed to outgrow it as I got older. Throughout my younger years, I frequently battled respiratory and sinus infections, and in my teenage years, I suffered a severe case of walking pneumonia. Following that episode, my breathing worsened significantly, prompting my doctor to reinstate the asthma diagnosis and prescribe albuterol inhalers without performing any additional tests except for an X-ray to confirm the pneumonia had resolved. Over the years, I’ve noticed a gradual worsening of my symptoms. Each primary care physician I've consulted has prescribed various inhalers and medications, but the relief they provide has been minimal. For years, I have dealt with a persistent dry cough described as that of a seasoned smoker, yet my doctors continuously assured me it was merely asthma, claiming that my inhalers would alleviate it. When a coughing fit does occur, it can be so intense that I end up gagging, losing control of my bladder, and feeling dizzy. Fast forward to two weeks ago: my cough intensifies with physical activity, and I have a physically demanding job. Typically, my inhaler assists me with breathing, but in this instance, it was ineffective, and emergency services were called to administer oxygen. My oxygen saturation dropped to 93% until the oxygen and my rescue inhaler were applied. I declined hospitalization after feeling better with the oxygen. I took a day off work to recuperate. I managed to see my primary care doctor afterward. Having been on Advair and albuterol for years, I was also prescribed Singulair last year due to flare-ups. In my recent visit, my doctor substituted my Ventolin (albuterol) with Airsupra and introduced Spiriva, along with short courses of Mucinex and Prednisone. At the appointment, my lungs sounded clear, and my oxygen levels were between 99-100%. There was no wheezing, just persistent coughing. Returning to work the following Thursday proved challenging; within three hours, I experienced another severe coughing episode that felt as if my throat might rupture. I was gagging, tearing up, and struggling to remain upright, feeling dizzy and breathless. Several doses of my rescue inhaler provided little relief, and emergency services were contacted again; I was subsequently transported to the emergency room. My oxygen saturation was stable at 97-100%, yet I continued to feel breathless and my painful coughing persisted. Respiratory treatments seemed to exacerbate the coughing, and magnesium failed to provide relief. Both the paramedics and ER staff expressed concern when I mentioned my chronic cough that had persisted for years without improvement. Initially, emergency responders detected only a faint wheeze and diminished lung sounds on one side, although they later reported normal findings. No fluid or wheezing was noted, just continued coughing. CT scans and X-rays of my throat and chest returned normal results. After three days in the hospital, my lactic acid and CO2 levels returned to normal. Despite being treated with steroids and cough suppressants, I found no alleviation of my symptoms. I have now received urgent referrals to a pulmonologist, an ENT specialist, and an allergist, and I recently followed up with my primary care physician. Her only recommendation was cough drops and to wait for my upcoming Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). Additionally, the hospital prescribed Pantoprazole for potential GERD, which hasn't significantly helped. My follow-up blood tests revealed that while my CO2 levels improved, they still remain low, and there are no current indications of an autoimmune disorder, though I am awaiting several results. After undergoing the Pulmonary Function Test, the findings were unusual. Though I await an appointment with the pulmonologist, I reviewed the notes from my test. They indicated, "Spirometry is normal. Lung volumes demonstrate hyperinflation and air trapping. Diffusing capacity is normal. No substantial bronchodilator response observed." When I inquired with the technician who administered the test, she mentioned two possibilities: either my lungs weren't inflamed enough to demonstrate a response, which seemed unlikely considering my extensive coughing fits, or the underlying issue might be irreparable with medications. This situation has left me anxious that I may be dealing with more than just severe asthma. For years, I communicated to my doctors that my condition seems to deteriorate, and that none of the prescribed medications eased my cough, yet they continuously reassured me that it was manageable. Now, after being hospitalized, I recognize the critical need to take this seriously. I rarely experience wheezing or fluid but instead contend with a persistent cough similar to that of a long-term smoker. My cough worsens with movement, eating, drinking, taking deep breaths, lying down, waking up, laughing, excessive talking, exposure to extreme temperatures, dry or humid air, stress, and irritants such as dust, smoke, and potent odors. It feels like merely existing prompts my coughing. Although I always have a cough, the triggers mentioned intensify it. I frequently feel congestion in my throat and chest, accompanied by a tight and painful sensation. I have the incessant urge to clear out whatever feels obstructive, but nothing ever emerges. My coughing often leads to dizziness and incontinence. If I'm not actively coughing, I seem to be clearing my throat repeatedly to manage the mucus. During any illness, my cough tends to worsen, resulting in the need for prednisone. Antihistamines provide partial relief solely for nasal symptoms, without helping my throat and chest. When my rescue inhaler does work, its effectiveness lasts only for a short time before I revert to my previous condition. My lungs may feel momentarily unobstructed thanks to the albuterol, but the coughing inevitably returns until my chest aches again. An ER doctor suggested possible diagnoses of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Post-Nasal Drip, or GERD; however, medications for allergies and acid reflux have not meaningfully addressed my coughing or breathlessness. It does not seem connected to my sinuses but rather feels like my airways are obstructed, hindering deep breaths. Until I meet with the pulmonologist, my best hypothesis has been Cough-Variant Asthma, but given the lack of response to bronchodilators in my PFT, my confidence in that is wavering. In reviewing my results, I cannot help but consider the early stages of COPD or emphysema, especially since my breathing seems to worsen over time, although my age typically mitigates those concerns given my extensive exposure. I've ordered a test for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency from AlphaID to discuss with my pulmonologist just in case. I am certain I have asthma, but I’m beginning to suspect that there may be additional complications involved. For years, my primary care provider dismissed my concerns, despite my insistence that something felt off. It wasn’t until I required EMS intervention that she finally began the referral process to specialists. I find myself in a state of confusion and unease. Has anyone here experienced anything resembling my situation? I'm looking forward to consulting with the pulmonologist about my test results in the coming week or two, but I’m apprehensive that they will simply dismiss my concerns like previous practitioners have done.
Micronodules Detected in Lung
Hello, I recently underwent a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan to assess arterial plaque, and I was pleased to receive a favorable score of 7.75. However, the report highlighted the presence of several clustered micronodules located in the right upper lung, accompanied by adjacent ground-glass opacities. I am a 60-year-old male, 6 feet tall and weigh 190 pounds. I do not currently take any medications and generally enjoy excellent health. There is a family history of heart disease on my father's side. Additionally, I am a non-smoker, apart from occasional use of cannabis, and consume alcohol very infrequently. Thank you in advance for any insights you can provide!
Experiencing Widespread Muscle Weakness
I’m a 36-year-old male and have recently been facing a troubling situation where the muscles throughout my body seem to be losing function—including my eyelids. The trouble began in May 2021 when I lifted a heavy garbage can with my right arm in a shrugging action. Following that, I felt a combination of pain and weakness concentrated in my right shoulder blade, as well as my shoulder and collarbone. Soon after, I noticed my shoulder began to pop and click. Afterward, I consulted with an orthopedic specialist who conducted x-rays on both of my shoulders. He informed me that everything appeared normal and dismissed the popping sounds as inconsequential. I also mentioned experiencing neck pain, but he indicated that addressing neck issues wasn’t his area of expertise. He diagnosed me with bilateral shoulder and neck discomfort and recommended physical therapy. The day after my appointment, I attempted to adjust my position in my desk chair by leaning on the left armrest, putting my forearm under the weight of my body. Suddenly, my shoulder jolted, and I felt a sharp weakness in my arm, accompanied by popping and clicking noises, similar to what happened with my right arm. I reached out to the orthopedic office to inform them about this incident, but the physician assistant who responded said the doctor would not see me again simply due to how I was sitting, and suggested I attend physical therapy first. She mentioned that if I continued to experience weakness, a neurologist might be necessary. Feeling concerned, I returned to my primary care physician for a follow-up appointment and recounted my experience. He didn’t appear worried, and my blood tests returned normal results. During the summer of 2021, I began physical therapy where the therapist diagnosed me with strains in my trapezius and rhomboid muscles. The subsequent therapy sessions consisted of painful exercises and stretches, yet I observed little to no improvement in terms of strength or stability. Activities like using the arm bike and weight machine were excruciating, and I frequently inquired whether my symptoms could be attributed to a tear or nerve damage, but the therapist insisted that was not the case and dismissed my concerns. After my tenth session, I decided it was best not to return. In April 2022, I visited a neurologist. I struggled to lift myself onto the examination table and needed assistance from a step stool. He didn't suspect any neurological issues when I asked him about an EMG or other assessments, he declined to proceed with those tests. Disheartened by these experiences, I chose not to pursue further medical consultations. Fast forward to April 9, 2025, I misstepped while descending some stairs, causing my right heel to catch, and I landed hard with my toes pointed. I had no visible signs of injury such as swelling or bruising, but soon after, I began to experience persistent pain and weakness, especially in my toes and the arch of my foot. By April 13, I instinctively elevated the toes on my left foot, and to my dismay, the same pain and weakness emerged, again without any visible signs like bruising. Since then, both feet have lacked strength, and my big toes feel unusually floppy. In July 2025, I had a troubling experience after having my hair washed at a salon. I held my neck in an awkward position for the duration, which resulted in a burning sensation. Regrettably, I didn’t express my discomfort, fearing a scene. Following this, I noticed significant weakness in the muscles at the front of my neck, under my chin, which gave the appearance of a receding chin. Additionally, my facial muscles, particularly in my cheeks, felt weak and could easily be pressed in with minimal resistance. In January 2026, I bought a new game controller for my laptop, having not played video games for a long time. Initially, it was manageable, but soon after, my hands and forearms began to feel uncomfortable and painful. This discomfort escalated significantly to where I had to discontinue use completely; my hands felt drained of energy and experienced achiness, tingling, and numbness. Then, on February 3, 2026, while seated and using my laptop, I noticed a peculiar sensation when moving my eyes. My eyelid muscles felt weak, and one of my eyelids began twitching. I found it increasingly difficult to open my eyes as widely as I used to. I plan to see a primary care physician once more, but I’m uncertain how to communicate all of this effectively to receive proper care. My circumstances have reached a point where my parents must assist me with everyday tasks, including driving, opening doors, and even lifting light objects. My ability to raise my arms above my head has become severely limited as well.