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Suggest Treatment For Sore Throat And Painful Swallowing Along With Shallow Dry Cough,
Question: RESPIRATORY HELL
Am now tormented by most multifaceted, life-quality-sabotaging infection in 82.5 years. Patterns oddly atypical from past pulmonary experience. Got flu shot early this 2014-15 season as usual, but vaccine only 23% effective. Symptoms are far more disturbing than before, during, or after major surgeries 2 years ago: excision of 5 molars, bovine replacement of stenotic aortic valve, single coronary bypass, excision of Liquifacted Necropsy in left Carotid Artery, and post-op stroke which bihemispherically killed 3cc of brain cells. Friend in Florida recently suffered a very similar respiratory infection. She’s heard this is a lung disorder which is firestorming across the USA. A week’s course of Rx Pseudoephedrine 30 mg tabs (2 p.d.) has brought NO discernible symptomatic easing and does not address underlying cause. Throat swab ruled out strep throat & pneumonia (had booster vaccine shot against 23 strains fairly recently.) Bacterium? Virus? Don’t want to make my corpus a factory for antibiotic-resistant micropathogens.
Have preserved in plastic: bloodstained nose-blow tissues and cupful of light-&-dark-gray sputum for Petri dishes. Ongoing symptoms follow:
Multi-day, watery tsunami through nostrils;
Gravely throat turned sore, making speaking & swallowing painful;
Ropy, light-&-dark-gray sputum matrix in rear of throat too viscous to snap off by gravity when expectorated;
Steady rectal temp of 101º+ F., even the morning after a 2-qt. tapwater cleansing enema—usually also a febrifuge;
Absence of nasal congestion;
Foghorn speaking voice which often breaks;
Shallow, dry, hard cough;
Eye blearing (almost blinding) & tearing with constant overflow & stuck-together, sore lids;
Brain-feet cognitive lacunæ with equilibrium distortions caused 3 serious falls within 2 days (despite my usual fussbudget dedication to fall-prevention rituals), bloodily contusing both knees, forehead, & nose (think XXXXXXX Pierpont Morgan’s roseacia-inflated beezer) and putting me in ER overnight as a Quasimodo lookalike;
All-over-body muscle aches way beyond aftershocks of aforementioned falls;
Since infection, skin & flesh of head sore when clutched in XXXXXXX Brown “Good Grief!” 2-hand hold;
Mild but recurring headache, which I never have.
(It helps to know that I’ve never been tempted to experiment with street drugs and, in 1973, launched a health kick and quit alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, coffee, salt, and tea. In fall, 2014, I bought a Nutribullet Rx to pulverize & liquify walnuts, almonds, fresh green chard, and frozen strawberries & Wyman’s Wild Blueberries, which have twice as many antioxidants as their nearest rival berry. Just bought natural turmeric & ginger roots online. Supplements from BioTrust and FORSKOLIN from Pemium Health Supplies encourage burning of visceral fat, direct metabolism to burn carbs for energy, and counter leptin. Fringe benefit: weight is down from a high of 232# to 189#.)
What can I suggest that my PCP look for in seeking an accurate, radical diagnosis? Many thanks in advance for your guidance, Doctor!
Am now tormented by most multifaceted, life-quality-sabotaging infection in 82.5 years. Patterns oddly atypical from past pulmonary experience. Got flu shot early this 2014-15 season as usual, but vaccine only 23% effective. Symptoms are far more disturbing than before, during, or after major surgeries 2 years ago: excision of 5 molars, bovine replacement of stenotic aortic valve, single coronary bypass, excision of Liquifacted Necropsy in left Carotid Artery, and post-op stroke which bihemispherically killed 3cc of brain cells. Friend in Florida recently suffered a very similar respiratory infection. She’s heard this is a lung disorder which is firestorming across the USA. A week’s course of Rx Pseudoephedrine 30 mg tabs (2 p.d.) has brought NO discernible symptomatic easing and does not address underlying cause. Throat swab ruled out strep throat & pneumonia (had booster vaccine shot against 23 strains fairly recently.) Bacterium? Virus? Don’t want to make my corpus a factory for antibiotic-resistant micropathogens.
Have preserved in plastic: bloodstained nose-blow tissues and cupful of light-&-dark-gray sputum for Petri dishes. Ongoing symptoms follow:
Multi-day, watery tsunami through nostrils;
Gravely throat turned sore, making speaking & swallowing painful;
Ropy, light-&-dark-gray sputum matrix in rear of throat too viscous to snap off by gravity when expectorated;
Steady rectal temp of 101º+ F., even the morning after a 2-qt. tapwater cleansing enema—usually also a febrifuge;
Absence of nasal congestion;
Foghorn speaking voice which often breaks;
Shallow, dry, hard cough;
Eye blearing (almost blinding) & tearing with constant overflow & stuck-together, sore lids;
Brain-feet cognitive lacunæ with equilibrium distortions caused 3 serious falls within 2 days (despite my usual fussbudget dedication to fall-prevention rituals), bloodily contusing both knees, forehead, & nose (think XXXXXXX Pierpont Morgan’s roseacia-inflated beezer) and putting me in ER overnight as a Quasimodo lookalike;
All-over-body muscle aches way beyond aftershocks of aforementioned falls;
Since infection, skin & flesh of head sore when clutched in XXXXXXX Brown “Good Grief!” 2-hand hold;
Mild but recurring headache, which I never have.
(It helps to know that I’ve never been tempted to experiment with street drugs and, in 1973, launched a health kick and quit alcohol, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, coffee, salt, and tea. In fall, 2014, I bought a Nutribullet Rx to pulverize & liquify walnuts, almonds, fresh green chard, and frozen strawberries & Wyman’s Wild Blueberries, which have twice as many antioxidants as their nearest rival berry. Just bought natural turmeric & ginger roots online. Supplements from BioTrust and FORSKOLIN from Pemium Health Supplies encourage burning of visceral fat, direct metabolism to burn carbs for energy, and counter leptin. Fringe benefit: weight is down from a high of 232# to 189#.)
What can I suggest that my PCP look for in seeking an accurate, radical diagnosis? Many thanks in advance for your guidance, Doctor!
Brief Answer:
Nasal smear and throat swab test will help us identify the infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the delayed response.
I went through your post diligently and from what I understand you have coryza associated with moderate grade fever, cough, breaking voice, sore throat, odynophagia, headache and myalgia. You also seems to have noted some form of rashes (or is something else) on your peripheral limbs. The symptoms you described are disturbing routine activities and that makes you feel they are far worse than any of the past traumatic incidences. I am not sure how long you been dealing with these symptoms though. Perhaps its more than a week old.
At the outset, these symptoms are convincingly similar to upper respiratory tract infection which I would call as acute rhinobronchitis. The usual cause is virus, however assuming its more than a week old, there may be super added bacterial infection.
Anyway we can be able to identify the cause - whether it is a pure viral or some bacterial by studying nasal smear and throat samples. I realize you have already collected samples. However since the samples are collected / stored aseptically, it may not be of help. Your primary care physician will collect nasal smear and throat swabs aseptically and order for microbiological tests to detect the culprit. He/she will also need to check the tonsils to see if they are inflammed.
In the meanwhile you can continue the decongestants (though its of not much help). Start an antihistamine (some decongestant formulas also have antihistamines within) and analgesic to counter fever and pain. Perhaps you can consider Nyquil cold and flu tablets which has antihistamine, acetaminophen as well as cough forumula along with plain pseudoephedrine tablets. Also consider steam inhalation if possible. It works handy in such infections.
Besides these, keep yourself well hydrated. Eat lots of veggies and fruits.
Since you plan to see PCP soon, I am sure they will be able to arrive at a diagnosis and end this misery. If possible keep me posted after the visit.
I wish you speedy recovery!!
God Bless!
Nasal smear and throat swab test will help us identify the infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry for the delayed response.
I went through your post diligently and from what I understand you have coryza associated with moderate grade fever, cough, breaking voice, sore throat, odynophagia, headache and myalgia. You also seems to have noted some form of rashes (or is something else) on your peripheral limbs. The symptoms you described are disturbing routine activities and that makes you feel they are far worse than any of the past traumatic incidences. I am not sure how long you been dealing with these symptoms though. Perhaps its more than a week old.
At the outset, these symptoms are convincingly similar to upper respiratory tract infection which I would call as acute rhinobronchitis. The usual cause is virus, however assuming its more than a week old, there may be super added bacterial infection.
Anyway we can be able to identify the cause - whether it is a pure viral or some bacterial by studying nasal smear and throat samples. I realize you have already collected samples. However since the samples are collected / stored aseptically, it may not be of help. Your primary care physician will collect nasal smear and throat swabs aseptically and order for microbiological tests to detect the culprit. He/she will also need to check the tonsils to see if they are inflammed.
In the meanwhile you can continue the decongestants (though its of not much help). Start an antihistamine (some decongestant formulas also have antihistamines within) and analgesic to counter fever and pain. Perhaps you can consider Nyquil cold and flu tablets which has antihistamine, acetaminophen as well as cough forumula along with plain pseudoephedrine tablets. Also consider steam inhalation if possible. It works handy in such infections.
Besides these, keep yourself well hydrated. Eat lots of veggies and fruits.
Since you plan to see PCP soon, I am sure they will be able to arrive at a diagnosis and end this misery. If possible keep me posted after the visit.
I wish you speedy recovery!!
God Bless!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, Dr. XXXXXXX I’m grateful to you for
[a] putting a name to this at last, and
[b] reassuring me this isn’t a cousin of Ebola.
I’ll make an appointment today w/PCP.
XXXXXXX
[a] putting a name to this at last, and
[b] reassuring me this isn’t a cousin of Ebola.
I’ll make an appointment today w/PCP.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I'm sure things will be sorted after the visit..
Detailed Answer:
Yes sir, things will get sorted after the physicians visit.
You need not be worried. I did not find any alarming features from the described history to worry me of a deadly pathogen. I'm counting on the fact that you did not visit the XXXXXXX nation or been in contact with some one had visited the affected nation. Moreover the last case report of Ebola from the states say way back. So don't be bothered.
Continue the decongestant. Add nyquil if you don't get to see the doctor soon along with steam inhalational.
I hope this information should suffice. I'd be interested to know what happened at the doctor's office. But if you have no more questions and wish to close discussion, I would be happy to hear your reviews.
Thank you
I'm sure things will be sorted after the visit..
Detailed Answer:
Yes sir, things will get sorted after the physicians visit.
You need not be worried. I did not find any alarming features from the described history to worry me of a deadly pathogen. I'm counting on the fact that you did not visit the XXXXXXX nation or been in contact with some one had visited the affected nation. Moreover the last case report of Ebola from the states say way back. So don't be bothered.
Continue the decongestant. Add nyquil if you don't get to see the doctor soon along with steam inhalational.
I hope this information should suffice. I'd be interested to know what happened at the doctor's office. But if you have no more questions and wish to close discussion, I would be happy to hear your reviews.
Thank you
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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