Grr! My doctor doesn't get it!!!

Okay, so I felt a chest cold coming on last Friday before the double. Just tightness, nothing big. Rode the double, in the rain, and the rest of the weekend had that post-ride hack I always get. That got a bit worse yesterday, deep fairly productive cough.

Last night I was woken up at about 2 with wheezing in my chest I have never had before - it was like I was snoring, but the noise was from my chest!!

So I call the doctor - can't see me til Friday. The nurse says "Well, if anything changes between now and then or gets worse, call us." And I'm like "You mean worse than being kept awake at night by the sound of gurgling from my lungs?" And she says: "Oh. Well, I'll send the doctor an email and see if she wants to start you on something."

I mean, maybe it is just a virus and there's nothing they can do. But I have never had anything like lung gurgly thing that before and if I have bronchitis I would like to know NOW so I can start treating it.

I mean, come on, I have a 100 mile 10k of climbing ride planned for Sunday and I'd like to be able to do it!! :o

Off to buy OTC expectorant. If anyone has suggestions for remedies, I'm all ears!

Here are some lay guidelines that may help you determine the urgency.

http://www.webmd.com/hw/parenting_news/hw81707.asp

Was it definitely a nurse you spoke with? I've had a few med assistants attempt to triage my symptoms. If it was, your doctor has bigger problems than your health.

Does your health plan have a triage nurse line? Or the local hospital? Chest symptoms that have gotten worse are nothing to full around with. We have several nurses on the forum, maybe they have some suggestions.

That's what happened to me when I had pneumonia, too. (for self-diagnosis- no cough for days, high fever, stabbing pain in back, sounds like Rice Krispies when you open your mouth- don't even have to be breathing!) I toughed it out Thursday and Friday, then it was the weekend and too hard to go to the doc, then Monday, after a whole weekend of 104 fever, I finally called, and they couldn't get me in until the next day! I'm like, well, I hope I don't _die_ first...

Just be insistant.

Nanci

An over-the-counter expectorant pill called Mucinex helped me get some of the phlegm out, but if you still plan to do the ride, you WILL be weak, just take it easy!

When I feel like absolute hell, I go to the office and sit there till they see me. :rolleyes:

Sending warm fuzzies your way. Hope you feel better soon.

V.

Thanks guys! I went and bought a big bottle of expectorant and will drink a lot (of water!) and see how I feel later in the day. No chest pain like Nanci described, just tough to get a full breath.

Oh well. Good excuse to stay home from work and pick the kiddo up early!

are you asthmatic? You could try an OTC inhaler like Primatene Mist, see if that helps to loosen the tightness in your chest. I get that nagging, hacking cough anytime I breathe with my mouth open in chilled air (I'm asthmatic). I'm still wearing something over my mouth right now in 40 degree temps just to make sure I'm breathing warmed air in. The OTC inhaler might be worth a try.

urgent care... go to urgent care. Breathing (or not being able to) is one of those things I don't mess with... if it turns out to be nothing... no big deal... but if you put off getting in for treatment it could get worse quickly... I put off going in 2004 and ended up doing a 6 day cycling tour of Ireland on antibiotic and a decongestant. Ireland was gorgeous, but man breathing on the bike was tough... I felt like crap.

hugs and hope you're better soon... I hate being sick too...

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

are you asthmatic? You could try an OTC inhaler like Primatene Mist, see if that helps to loosen the tightness in your chest.

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I was also thinking asthma - especially the part where you mention "that post-ride hack I always get". That sounds a lot like (mild) exercise induced asthma to me.

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

I was also thinking asthma - especially the part where you mention "that post-ride hack I always get". That sounds a lot like (mild) exercise induced asthma to me.

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Huh... interesting.

Thanks, again, everyone!!

I get that cough, too, after any long ride or run (or dive!). I think it's called "pursuiter's cough."

Nanci

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Originally Posted by Nanci

I get that cough, too, after any long ride or run (or dive!). I think it's called "pursuiter's cough."

Nanci

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I like that! Hey Nanci - when's your next event (I think you're up to 600k?)???

Saturday...I'm afraid to even mention it, really. I am very nervous after my 400k ITB pain.

Nanci

If you Google it, you can find a lot of documentation of it. It's well-known among cyclists. I never knew that was what it was called until I read it on here.

Nanci

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Originally Posted by Nanci

Saturday...I'm afraid to even mention it, really. I am very nervous after my 400k ITB pain.

Nanci

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Do you do advil before and during?? Sounded like you may have gone out too fast last time? Remember that it's more than 50% mental (but obviously pain isn't). Have you had any ITB pain since then?

No Advil until anything hurts. I used to do that when I ran, but never felt I needed it, cycling. Not a single twinge from the ITB, but have only been doing 30 mile weenie rides on weekends. I think I just hurt it, temporarily, riding too fast. Will never happen again. I know the first 60 miles or so by heart, and have no need to keep up with anyone. Later, I might run into someone going my pace that I can hook up with. Unfortunately, my favorite riding buddy isn't doing this ride. Whatever, finishing is the important thing. I'd say it's more like 90% mental. Or it really wouldn't be possible...

Nanci

Do, or do not. There is no try.

Nanci

I went out too fast at the Solvang double, trying to keep up with a friend who's started doing brevets. He was just too fast. I know it can be hard to keep it under control. I am sure you'll keep you knee in mind.

So I was talking to someone this weekend who said that if you wanted to do a 500 mile ride (I am kicking around options for the Furnace Creek 508 right now - team v. solo), anything over a double was not really necessary - as long as you've done some over night stuff. What do you think?? Goes back a bit to the mental bit. And this is someone who's done a lot of 1200 Ks or I'd say he was just a bit batty.

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Originally Posted by Nanci

Do, or do not. There is no try.

Nanci

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Nice! Yoda rocks.

Grrrrr. :(
I hate when doctors act like that and give the rest of us a bad name. Trouble breathing is a same day visit always. I am sorry you got the big brush off. Earlier, someone said be persistent. It is unfortunate but true that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
As for the OTC medicines, the more they are rigorously studied, the more it shows they do very little or nothing for respiratory infections. The only exceptions are old antihistamines and decongestants have a little effect.

Good luck getting well. See a doctor!

If I were you, I'd join RUSA, just to get their handbook. It is excellent. They say if you want to do a 1200k ride, you need to experience a sleepless night on a 600k.

I have a friend from Florida who is hoping to do the Death Valley Cup (Badwater _and_ Furnace Creek 508.) He did Badwater last year, successfully.

I think, if I were planning on doing Furnace Creek, I'd like to have a 400k or 600k under my belt just for the confidence factor.

There is a saying, though, that after 200 miles, nothing changes. If you've made it that far ok, and can maintain nutrition, etc., you can keep going indefinitely.

Still, I would rather have the knowledge that I had, in the past, ridden 374 miles successfully.

Plus, a brevet series acts as training in itself.

Nanci

I saw that Death Valley cup. Looks INsane! Chapeau to your buddy.

Are you aiming for PBP???

Good idea on RUSA. I also planned to join UMCA - just have not gotten around to it. I wanted to do our brevet series, but the constant rain turned me off. Also tough with the 10 year old. (Though the idea of shipping her off to bed and riding all night has some appeal).

Hope you begin to feel better soon. One thing that helps me tremendously is steaming. I fill my kitchen sink with hot water, put a towel over my head and just breathe in through my mouth. Helps to loosen everything up and my chest doesn't feel as tight, nor do I wheeze as much.

Take care.

No PBP for me. I'm not interested in France. I'm not interested in BMB, either. But, someday, they have a nice 1000k and 1200k here in FL. Not my first year, though!

Nanci

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Originally Posted by doc

Grrrrr. :(
. . . Trouble breathing is a same day visit always. I am sorry you got the big brush off. Earlier, someone said be persistent. It is unfortunate but true that the squeaky wheel gets the oil.. . . .See a doctor!

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MP, did you get your appointment moved up to today?

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

MP, did you get your appointment moved up to today?

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No. I have decided that other than the weird night time breathing thing - which happened last night but smaller scale - it's a cold. Thanks for that web MD check list. I don't have a fever, have bad sinus pain/headache, stuffy ears, etc. and chest congestion. So I am doing the OTC stuff and zinc and fluids and sleeping a lot. (My billables this month with be crummy....)

Thanks.

So apparently my doctor left a message and called in a prescription Tuesday - the day I called her (our phone has been acting oddly, so I believe that). I had my appointment pushed up to yesterday then canceled it after I woke up feeling better. Then last night I couldn't breathe/wheezy/etc. So I went today!

She thinks I have asthmatic tendencies and bronchitis. I got 2 inhalers (advair and albuterol), a chest X ray and zithromax.

Thanks to everyone for your words of wisdom (and you asthma diagnoses seemed to be spot on!).

Sounds - icky! Still sending you warm fuzzies. get well soon. I need company on these freakishly long rides.

V.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

Sounds - icky! Still sending you warm fuzzies. get well soon. I need company on these freakishly long rides.

V.

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Thanks - no kidding about the company. I have decided I'll definitely start DMD, and just wing it. Maybe we can ride together for part of it, in the beginning - I really don't want to hold you back. I am kicking around the idea of a brevet the weekend before because Mike and Em have a father/daughter thingy. We'll see. I may chicken out or shorten it. Anyway, DMD will be a stretch either way.

I have severe asthma and get that often if I ride when the weather is damp. I would call your doctor back and be sure you speak with a "real" nurse or get the doc on the line. It's very important that you get it taken care of asap so it doesn't turn into something worse. If you can maybe try calling a respiratory doctor, surely he/she would be able to help you quickly.