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What Causes Chest Pain And Shortness Of Breath While On Valacyclovir?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jul 2016
Question: My 18 year old daughter has had chest pain and shortness of breath for about 8 months. Doctor said it was either gerd of asthma (although she has no associated cough). For the last few weeks the symptoms are almost constant, even without physical exertion.
In the last few weeks, she has also been experiencing lower back pain.
Could either of these symptoms be caused by long term (2 years) treatment for cold sores with valacyclovir?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No, valcyclovir can not cause these symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No, valcyclovir can not cause these symptoms.
In my opinion, she is having both, GERD and asthma.
Uncontrolled GERD predispose to asthma and worsen the symptoms.
So we should treat both of them simultaneously.
So please let me know
1. Has she ever consulted pulmonologist?
2. Has she ever undergone PFT (pulmonary function test)?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
1) She has never had pulmonary tests.
2) What does it mean that gerd can predispose to asthma?
3) Could she have asthma without coughing?
4) Could asthma show constant symptoms even without exercise?
5) I read that Valacyclovir could cause aplastic anemia and kidney damage; I guess that's why I associated her breathing/chest pain symptoms and lower back to perhaps this medication (I probably read too much online and jump to worrisome conclusions)!
Thank you for your patience in addressing my concerns.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, GERD can predispose to asthma.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, GERD can cause asthma. GERD causes constant reflux which causes micro aspiration in the trachea and lungs. And these cause asthma or worsening of asthma.
Yes, asthma can be seen without coughing. But chances are very less.
I think your daughter has not investigated properly and hence didn't diagnose appropriately.
I can help you in this but for this I have too ask so many questions.
Are you allowing me to do so?
If you agreed then I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)
Yes, I am happy to answer any further questions. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Exactly since how many days your daughter is suffering from all these?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for your permission.
Please let me know
1. Exactly since how many days your daughter is suffering from all these?
2. Is she having wheezing (whistle sound) from chest while breathlessness?
3. Is she having any allergies?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)
She started having trouble drawing full breath and tightness in chest around November. That is when I took her to the doctor and received diagnosis of gerd or possibly asthma. The problem was occasional but since then (maybe last 8 weeks) has become constant. Back in November we had to have the ceiling in her room taken off to repair roof damage and treat attic for black mold. The mold was contained and we were able to get rid of it. We had not gotten insulation put back in or ceiling repaired and my daughter spent since November warmed by blankets but breathing cold air. We have since moved her to a different, warmer room and she thinks maybe her problem subsided slightly, but not fully. I thought maybe the cold air caused problems to begin with.
To conclude, she's had worsening symptoms since November, she has had no wheezing, and the reason for the above explanation is, no, she does not have any known allergies, unless she had been breathing in black mold before we discovered it was present.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Has she ever undergone chest x ray?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Now I also doubt about having asthma.
Please let me know
1. Has she ever undergone chest x ray?
2. Was that doctor pulmonologist?
3. What were her GERD symptoms? Was she having belching,burping,burning chest pain etc?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that i can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 minutes later)
She had no chest xray, and the doctor was a general family medicine practitioner. She's had no symptoms of gerd........she's only very occasionally experienced heartburn when eating too fast or drinking coffee on an empty stomach, and this burning is different than the tightness.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is she having breathlessness on exertion?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I dont think she is having GERD or asthma.
Please let me know
1. Is she having breathlessness on exertion?
2. Is she having trouble only in taking deep breathing?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)
1) not breathlessness, only chest tightness and inability to take in full breath
2) it used to be only with physical exertion, but for past 2 months it has gotten almost constant, with exacerbation of these symptoms with exertion
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is she obese?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
She is not having asthma or GERD,atleast at this moment. We need to get done PFT first.
Please let me know
1. Is she obese?
2. Is she having stressful life?
Please reply me answers of above asked question,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)
She's at the correct weight for her height.
She is having average stresses of a teenager.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Have you checked for hemoglobin level?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
Sometimes anemia can also cause similar symptom like chest pain,difficulty in taking breath in.
So please let me know
1. Has she ever undergone hemoglobin level?
Please reply me answer of above asked question,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15003 Questions

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What Causes Chest Pain And Shortness Of Breath While On Valacyclovir?

Brief Answer: No, valcyclovir can not cause these symptoms. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. No, valcyclovir can not cause these symptoms. In my opinion, she is having both, GERD and asthma. Uncontrolled GERD predispose to asthma and worsen the symptoms. So we should treat both of them simultaneously. So please let me know 1. Has she ever consulted pulmonologist? 2. Has she ever undergone PFT (pulmonary function test)? Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your daughter. Thanks