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

[maillotpois]

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!!

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

[SadieKate]

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.

[Nanci]

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

[CyclaSutra]

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!

[Robbin_G]

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

[Veronica]

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

V.

[maillotpois]

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!

[CorsairMac]

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.

[bikerchick68]

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...

[Dianyla]

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

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.

[maillotpois]

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.

Huh... interesting.

Thanks, again, everyone!!

[Nanci]

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

Nanci

[maillotpois]

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

Nanci

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

[Nanci]

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

Nanci

[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