Prolonged cough, phlegm production, weakness and sweating

Question

Good afternoon. Four years ago I started with cough, sputum production. I have been treated for bronchitis. But my condition became worse. A lot of sputum, dyspnea, and perpetual feeling of heat, and sweating. I can not do any work. Now, in summer is worse. Then frowst, I am sitting and sweating, I have no potency. I have been consulted by pulmonologists several times. Chest X-ray has been performed – no pathological changes. I feel dyspnea then go upstairs and there are no force in the legs, difficult to go, quickly get tired and dyspnea. Now I am sitting and feel that difficult to breath. I am afraid, may be I have a serious pulmonary disorder. Something wrong with my breathing, I feel dyspnea. But pulmonologists say that there is no respiratory disease. But I phlegm and they choke me. Something produce them. May be you can advise where I can get complete examination. I am tired, but nobody found disease. Thanks.

Answer

Dear questioner,
Yours indicated symptoms of a steady feeling of shortness of breath, weakness, heating and sweating may be related not only to a respiratory disorder, but to endocrine or cardiovascular systems diseases, neurological, psychological perturbations as well. Sometimes such symptoms may be caused by overweight and under training.
Upper respiratory tract diseases and gastroesophageal reflux may cause cough and phlegm.
You had several pulmonologists‘ consultations and underwent chest X-ray. They did not find lung disorder, so it is very unlikely that you have disease of lower airways or lung. However, if you did not undergo respiratory function test and/or lung computed tomography scaning, please discuss about it with your family physician. Otherwise, please talk with your doctor about the possibility of other diseases and conditions mentioned earlier.

Yours respectfully,
Assoc. prof. Edvardas Danila

24.11.2008