so, shortness of breath, pain in upper back, cough

[IShallWearMidnight]

not a chest infection as lungs clear, possibly was tracheitis (infection of windpipe) last week, now on second type of ABs. GP said to go back today for urgent blood tests if breathlessness didn't get better overnight, but receptionist will only give me an appointment with a different GP this afternoon (who I have issues with as she didn't refer DD last year when she said she would).

NHS direct (online) say I should phone a ambulance and get to A&E asap (default option I've found with NHS direct), but GP yesterday didn't seem to think it was as urgent as that. I've been googling (I know I know) but have only found either a heart attack (although presumably as I've been like this for the best part of a week, I'd've noticed a heart attack ) or a blood clot (was investigated for one two years ago, and it turned out be ibuprofen irritating my stomach ).

Anything else it could be, and do I need to insist on being seen earlier (as if this other GP says blood tests, I'll need to go through to the hospital to get them done, and then won't get the results till next week). Is waiting another 4 hours going to make much difference? I feel uncomfortable, but not omg i'm really ill, so cant decide.

I have had the same, I had a chest xray and nothing found. I have improved, but my symptoms are exactly as yours. Do you smoke? My symptoms are disapearing now, but have had them for the best part of a moth or two, Dr. is not concerned, since my symptoms have reduced Im no longer overly concerned, but I am attempting to stop smoking.

I think mine stems from a drip from my nose causing irritation.

ooh, yes, drip down the back of my throat, but I've had that for years (and never got round to doing anything about it). Don't smoke though, which was one of the things which puzzled the GP, as she automatically expected that I did when she first saw me - presumably these kind of things are more common in smokers.
That sounds more reasonable an explanation than a heart attack!

When were your lungs last listened to? Do you have a walk in centre you could go to?

I think it is the drip, Im not sure about the breathlessness but my friend who is an a&e nurse seems to think this could case the breathlessness, she said I should go back and queerie asthma also. but im going to see how the non smoking geos.

lungs listened to yesterday, all clear. Walk in is at the main hospital, otherwise there's minor injuries at two closer hospitals, one I can be seen within the hour, the other one will be longer (and the main hospital will be sometime today unless I get fast-tracked through A&E via a GP letter/phone call). Plus the walk in interrogate you as to why you haven't gone to your GP (not being able to get an appointment isn't a good enough reason apparently ).

my mum has diagnosed me over the phone with asthma (NHS direct have nothing on her wink]) so i'll query that later as well.

IShall,

You would not necessarily notice a heart attack. Quite often old people have congestive heart failure where the main symptoms are swelling of lower limbs due to fluid accumulation, breathlessness, especially when lying flat. I suspect you are unlikely to have this being too young, but an ECG would not hurt.

The pain in the upper back and cough do suggest some kind of chest infection, though. How do you know your lungs are clear? I am not sure that just listening is 100% reliable and you prob should get a chest X ray.

Why not go to A&E? They will always take breathlessness coupled with pain seriously and I think they would do an ECG and chest X ray.

And another serious possibility that does need ruling out is pulmonary embolism. I would def not ignore.

I think the possibility of PE is what the blood tests are for (I have a feeling it's the really painful back of the hand one) - I'm going into the GP surgery early anyway to moan about being fobbed off when the GP told me specifically she'd fit me in today, and hopefully get seen a bit sooner.

Best go to A&E, chest listening is unreliable in my experience - I went to GP with chest pain and he told me my chest was clear and it was probably a pulled muscle, 4 hours later DH called 999 as I was having trouble breathing because of the pain and x ray showed pneumonia. I never realised till then that you don't always have a cough with pneumonia (at first) because the lung is solid, cough comes later

Turns out I have pleurisy which triggered an allergic reaction resulting in asthma, so I'm a bit surprised that no one heard anything in my lungs as pleurisy is supposed to be quite distinctive. Anyway GP referred me to the local hospital where they were very quiet, so quizzed me through a chest X-ray, ECG, and two lots of blood tests with results AND a diagnosis within 35 minutes
I now have ABs, steroids and two inhalers, but thankfully I'm ok to go on holiday next week (flying)
Best of all though rather nice doctor prescribed a glass of wine when I got home

Quizzed? Whizzed

Query Pleurisy. Does the pain appear upon coughing and feel like a sharp 'thud' in your back?

it's perfectly treatable but get seen asap. good luck.

Didn't read the whole thread, sorry and see you were dx with Pleurisy. I made an online 'catch' then albeit too late.

Get well soon.

Cross posts Doctor ATree!

Are you feeling any better? I know how Pleurisy can drag you down especially as it often develops after another illness.

so, after two lots of ABS, and two inhalers, plus a holiday , I was feeling better till the weekend. Chest/back pain is back, shortness of breath is back, I'm OK so long as I sit around and don't do anything (so lots of MNing ).

Different GP thinks I may have atypical pneumonia, despite chest sounding clear, and no temperature, so am puzzled, as dr google say that atypical pneumonia is serious and severe . So I have another week of second ABS, plus I can double the dose of one inhaler, and carry on with the second as needed (3-4 times a day, which is quite a lot really. She wants me to wait and see how the ABs do, otherwise she'll "have to send me back to the hospital to re-run all the tests" as some kind of threat (although the wrist blood test was Not Nice).

Plus she tutted at me for going on holiday a week after tests said it WASN'T a blood clot, as she measured one calf as being bigger than the other yes I know I have fat legs, please don't rub it in, am further puzzled as to why that is an issue - presumably NOT have a blood clot doesn't make you more likely to get one .

Anyway, anyone had atypical pneumonia and been a bit ill with it, and not seriously ill?