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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crazychickuk on August 29, 2004, at 7:36:14
I just need to rant... i am a little freaked... first of all i got loads of people saying the world is gonna end soon, to top that all off i still got mild chest pain, ( i have had numerous ekg's chest exray etc) and i am coughing up streaky phlym with streaks of blood in, i do sound blocked up as i always have done.. i smoke alot so i obviousley wake up in the morning phlymy but i am heaving cus i cant get it all up and when i do it got streaks of blood in.. i had this before and thats when i had a c hest exray doc just said it eas coming from my throught... i am also abit short of breath, which i put down to anxiety, i feel fine my temp is fine, blood pressure is fine, if i went bk to doctors what would they do? what can they do next? i went to see an ent for my ear problems and my sinuses are always blocked, i dont have many colds no more since stopping the mirtaizpine, and i havent got a cough... well just a mildish cough in the mornings with bloody streaky phleym thats freaking me out... i can feel a severe panick attack happening and over what? what can this be? i really dont wanna go to doctors i am tryign to see if i can stay away for aslong as possible.. i have had tests etc so i know its nothing but i wanna know what could it be if you get me?
i have a 24 hr holtot monitor schedualled for 10 september to rule out what my palpiations are.. if that also comes back negative then i must be a hypricondriac..
just the bloody streaks in my phleym, little cough. NOT wheezy, abit shortness of breath (put down to obsessing over breathing) mild chest pain (had for few mnths) had numerous ekg's and chest exray which came back neg...
anyone know what i can do? anyone else get this problem?
thanks
Posted by Racer on August 29, 2004, at 10:07:58
In reply to FREAKING OUT, posted by crazychickuk on August 29, 2004, at 7:36:14
OK, I'm in a weird place today, so I'm just going to say it and hope you'll take a deep breath and hear it as it's intended. (Trust me, this is the same tone as my 'self-talk' right now. If it's meant to comfort me, it's meant to comfort you.)
You're coughing because you smoke -- and you smoke more when you're upset and anxious. The blood is from your throat, which is irritated by the smoking. If you're getting that heaving cough, that's probably a sign that you're smoking more than you realize. You're scared about all this because it's a safer place to focus that anxious energy, rather than allowing it to float around you like an amorphous cloud.
Most people, anxious or not, have a lowish tolerance for uncertainty. That's why it's human nature, when the body is reacting in fear, to look for a FOCUS for that fear. Your focus, right now, is your health. That's a very common focus point, too. (I do it, my husband does it, and a number of my friends do it. I gotta assume that means that a high proportion of the population has done it at one time or another.) If not your health, it would probably find another focus -- global warming, acid rain, the next PM, the pain on the bench in the park, machts nichts as long as it provides a focus for all that energy.
Back to that cough. Do this for three days before going to the doctor again. Buy some fresh lemons, some honey, some nutmeg. Boil water, pour a glass, add juice of one lemon, one tablespoon of honey, and a shake or two of nutmeg. Drink it. Do that three times per day, and try not to smoke *quite* so much, so that your throat can remember you love it, too. If this helps, but not quite enough, do it a couple more days, but also steam yourself: pour that boiling water into a bowl, put a towel over your head to keep the steam in, and breathe that steam. It will make you cough more. When it makes you cough more, you will be frightened. You'll be scared, because it really is a scary feeling. It will also loosen some of that congestion so that you can cough it out better. Once you've got it loosened and coughed it out -- you will feel better. And you know what? You really *will* feel better. (I used to get wicked bronchitis, this is what I used to do. Always thought I was going to die when I did that steam thing -- without any history of anxiety. But it worked, it worked reliably, it worked quickly -- as long as I really did steam long enough to loosen things up, rather than stopping as soon as it got uncomfortable.)
Best luck, Ms Chick. I know this has been hard on you lately, and I hope you find peace soon.
Posted by Sad Panda on August 29, 2004, at 12:27:21
In reply to FREAKING OUT, posted by crazychickuk on August 29, 2004, at 7:36:14
Hi CC,
That blood streaked cough is just a sign that it's time to chuck the fags in the bin. I'll bet you haven't heard that 1000 times before. :) Nicotine can cause anxiety & if you try to give up it will take your mind off your other problems.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 30, 2004, at 14:11:40
In reply to Re: FREAKING OUT, posted by Sad Panda on August 29, 2004, at 12:27:21
they are a stimulant and can cause palpitations too, shortness of breath, wheezing, anxiety
so, if you want a heathier heart, give up the cigarettes
Posted by AuntieMel on August 31, 2004, at 13:51:28
In reply to FREAKING OUT, posted by crazychickuk on August 29, 2004, at 7:36:14
Racer has some good tips. You should follow them;)
I have this type thing fairly often (I'm a smoker, too, but that doesn't seem to matter much in this bit.) It's seasonal for me - depending on what allergen is in the air.
It sounds like you might be suffering from overnight sinus drainage into the throat, causing irritation. If this is so, an over-the-counter decongestant right before bed should help. Also, using extra pillows.
This is the end of the thread.
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