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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have A Crackling Sound Under Rib Area. Smoked Earlier. Have Chronic Cough. Sputum With Brown Specks. Belching Empty Bile. Treatment?

I am 43, well 44 in a week. Lately, well 6 month ago or so I noticed a crackling or gurgling sound coming from under my left rib area. I thought it was rales in my lungs but now I'm not so sure that its not my gallbladder. I smoked for 25 years (menthol) and quit when I noticed this. It does not occur everyday but when it does occur it persist all day. I have a chronic productive cough. Clear sputum with brown specks in it. I have this pain under my left side of rib cage in sternum area if I push on it it hurts worse but feels like excessive air constantly and I have been belching a lot empty bile tasting. Some days the pain is radiating to back between shoulder blades and hurts to lay down. I thought it may be COPD then after research I'm not sure if its that or gallbladder or both. I could have two things going on. I had EKG about two yeas ago and clear. Was told I had pleurisy but never treated for it. Can you tell me what's going on? Yesterday and today I seems to have shortness of breath and yawn to catch breath. My lungs literally hurt when I go out in hot humid air (I live in Texas). This just started about a month ago.
Mon, 7 Oct 2013
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Gastroenterologist,  's  Response
Hi,

The problems you are referring to are related to pleuritis, confirmed by the crackling sound under your left rib area (it might sound like walking in the icy snow).

It is important to do an EKG again together with X-ray and ro-scopy of your lungs to see the level of damages.

You need immediate treatment according to the causative agent. Please see a physician as soon as possible.
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Have A Crackling Sound Under Rib Area. Smoked Earlier. Have Chronic Cough. Sputum With Brown Specks. Belching Empty Bile. Treatment?

Hi, The problems you are referring to are related to pleuritis, confirmed by the crackling sound under your left rib area (it might sound like walking in the icy snow). It is important to do an EKG again together with X-ray and ro-scopy of your lungs to see the level of damages. You need immediate treatment according to the causative agent. Please see a physician as soon as possible.