Whaddya think this is???

[Running Mommy]

Ok so I seem to have some sort of "issue" with my lungs...
Monday afternoon I noticed that my lungs seemed to hurt while I was swimming. It seemed odd to me because I felt fine. Actually great. I hadn't been coughing or anything. I did my 1 hour swim and felt ok afterward. I didn't think much of it.
Yesterday I ran 15 miles before work. While I was at work I noticed that I was coughing up little balls of yellowish guck. (sorry I know- graphic) Again I felt fine so I didn't think much of it. I went home and went for a solid hour ride. I tried to spin easy and I still managed 16.8 mph. I was stoked for that. And I felt fine last night.
This morning when I woke up I noticed my lungs were making that crackling sound like when I had pneumonia a few years back. It kind of concerned me as I feel fine, but I went on with my day. All day today I have been coughing up either little balls of yellowish gunk or thick clear stuff. Everyone at work was teasing me about giving up my pack a day habit. I joked that IM training was gonna kill me yet. But it was starting to concern me because my lungs feel sore.
Tonight I went for an hour ride and besides my legs having a bit of residual soreness, I really felt like my lungs were working overtime even though my heart rate wasn't maxed at all. So I came off the bike and decided to bag the planned run as I don't know WHAT is going on with my lungs???
So what do you think it could be? They really seem to be bothering me tonight. But like I said- I feel fine????:confused:
Could it be allergies? I've never had issues in the past so I don't know what to look for. I seem to be able to take a full breath, so I don't think it's asthma. And I'm not weezing. Spencer had asthma as a toddler so I know what to look for there.
Do you think all this training has just over taxed my poor lungs? Or do you think maybe I'm coming down with something?? It's all very perplexing!! But troubling at the same time. As of tomorrow it's t minus one month and counting to IMAZ!!
So whaddya think?

[KnottedYet]

Uh, I don't mean to sound like I'm overreacting, but it sounds like pneumonia to me.

[Wahine]

If you are coughing up yellow gunk, that's pretty indicative of an infection. It is odd that you're not noticing a change in performance if that's the case. As for not maxing the HR, sometimes the first sign of infection is that your HR does not elevate during exercise the way it should.

I agree with Knott, it could be pneumonia.

If you're now coughing up clear stuff, that's an improvement. But you should rest until the gunk coughing up activity is resolved. If you continue to cough up yellow gunk or if it gets upgraded to green, you need to see a doc.

Maybe some of the other docs on the board can help with more info.

[Running Mommy]

Ya think knotted?? Even though I feel ok? Oh man that would really SUCK!! I mean REEEEAAAAALLLYYYY suck! I dunno?? Maybe if they still hurt tomorrow I should go get the doc to listen to em and see what she thinks. It's very perplexing. I would think if it was something major I would have other symptoms??

[mimitabby]

ever hear of WALKING pneumonia? It means you have it and you're still walking around. Get thee to a doctor before it's NOT walking pneumonia anymore!!!

[LBTC]

I agree that a doc is the right way to go on this one. I once had a lung infection - felt pretty good overall, but went from a little scratch in my throat to coughing up grey stuff in 1/2 a day! Antibiotics for 3-8 days was good. The Antibiotics messed with my tummy, which made riding hard for the week, but otherwise did the trick quite nicely.

Hugs and healing butteflies,
~T~

[Running Mommy]

OK, you have convinced me! I'm going to call the doctor this morning. I'll let ya'll know what she says. Of course she will prolly yet at me for not having the sonogram on my pvaries yet.... Ahhh just another thing I need to deal with... :rolleyes:

[Lise]

Go*To*The*Doc.
Ahem. I believe I've made my point. ;)
Then...
Come*Tell*Us*What*She*Says! :D

Good luck, my friend, and good for you for taking care of it right away. L.

[Cindyloo]

I'm with Mimi concerning the walking pneumonia. I had it two years ago and had the crackling, with some but very little balls of yellow stuff. I felt fine other than the gross crackling and the coughing. Good luck at the doc!

[Running Mommy]

So I'm on the Z pack now. Hopefully it clears up or I'll need to go in Monday for a chest x ray. Thankfully I have a doctor who understands me... He didn't put me on the medication that would require me to stay out of the sun. He said "I know that will really mess with your training. But if it doesn't clear up we will HAVE to. SO lets hope this works"... Yes, lets!!!
He could hear a bit of rumbling in my lungs and said I would have probably been REALLY SICK within a week. But he was very proud of me that I got in there before that happened.
Anyway, he thinks we got it in time to clear it with no real down time. Tho I am taking today off because my lungs are just too inflamed.
Oh and he thinks I had a sinus infection festering as well... sigh... Why NOW?!
But the good thing is it should clear pretty quick.
So thanks all for your well wishes and stern warnings. Sometimes I think I'm just being a wimp so I count on you guys to set me straight! ;)
Stay healthy!
Ciao!
Denise

[LBTC]

Yay! You got it early, so you should be able to kick it fast!

Denise, you are far from a wimp!! Get well, do what you can, recover fast and enjoy the rest of your training!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Wahine]

Happy to hear that it's all getting taken care of with minimal down time. It's a good thing you got in early.

[HappyAnika]

I'm so glad you went to the doctor before it got worse. Here's to a quick recovery and minimal down time. Take care of yourself. :)

[Bluetree]

Denise -
I'll add my voice here to say I'm glad you went to the doctor and caught it early. Get well soon!

[Grog]

I'm really glad you went RM.

Now can you get that ultrasound for your ovary, please?

[Running Mommy]

:o ... I'll get that ultrasound. Yesterday I saw the other doctor (ironically they are married. So I saw MR. DR.) but I ran into her when I was paying my copay. SHe asked about the ultrasound and gave me the stink eye. I was going to wait until after IMAZ, but I guess I'd better get it taken care of. Sigh...

Oh and the actual name for my affliction- Pluerisy. Which he says is caused by an infection. Apparenlty pleurisy is an inflamation of the lining (pleura) of the lungs. NICE!!!!
So no training for me today. Hoping to get that 100 miler in tomorrow tho... I guess we will see.. OY! Why me, why now?!

[mimitabby]

Pleurisy, 100 miler? take it really slow. Does your doctor know? That's serious stuff, girl.

[Lise]

Hey, Denise, I'm glad to hear you caught it so early. I'm a big fan of the Z pack. I'm no Ironman, but I'm going to suggest you don't ride 100 miles tomorrow. You'd probably benefit more from letting your body use the energy to heal your inflammed, infected pleura. We only have so much energy, and you could end up sicker if you exhaust the energy on the ride.

(((Denise))) Heal quickly. Remember, most of the work is already behind you. Even Peter Reid had to take it easy when he was really sick. :o Feel better, drink lots and lots of water. L.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi Denise

Not sure why I read your thread, as I could not have offered any advice.

But what a great bunch they are on this site, it seems whatever problems people might have, there's always plenty of advice and encouragement and genuineness forthcoming, in this day and age that is so good to find.

So pleased you went to see your Doctor and you at least know what the problem was.

Hopefully you wil soon be running and riding about at top speed.

Sally

[Running Mommy]

Yeah the jury is still out on tomorrow. He said I should feel MUCH better by saturday. If not then I'll be looking at a chest x ray on monday.
So maybe I'll move the ride over to sunday... Or maybe not. If I don't feel 100% I'm not going.

[Wahine]

RM - Pleurisy is something that does not like to be irritated by deep breathing. Imagine that inflammed tissue around your lung and everytime you breath in deeply it's getting rubbed and irritated more. Honestly, I would not do anything strenuous cardio-wise until you can take a nice, super deep breath without pain. And then I'd still wait at least one more day.

Take care.

[maillotpois]

ditto on the "take it easy" advice. I had pleurisy last summer with my pulmonary emboli and it HURT. deep breathing was tough. mine also hurt my mid back - like kidney pain. I ended up back in the ER a couple days after I had been discharged from the hospital because the chest pain was so bad it woke me up.

of course I did a hilly 85 miler (with chest pain but before diagnosis of the PEs) so I can totally relate to your wanting to get out there, stick with the plan, etc. but you don't want to have to take this to the next level - chest x ray, etc.

so please take it easy.