anyone had this?

[barbapapa]

Am now on week three of viral chest infection. Had penicillin (useless) steroids and a ventolin inhaler. Spent two weeks solid coughing and being unable to breathe.

Am now feeling a bit better . Have had a chest x ray , haven't heard anything from gp re results but the radiologist said there was nothing there which would make him rush me back to the doctors.GP confirmed that they would be contacted straight away if anything serious. Going to GP for a follow up tomorrow.

Do have an odd ongoing symptom though - if I breathe in very deeply I can still feel some crackles in my lungs - maybe mucus(sorry if tmi ), wonder if this is normal post chest infection. Breathlessness is loads better although I am quite anxious that it will come back so sometimes find it difficult to breathe and think it is then caused by anxiety. (Hope that makes sense). Docs gave me a peak flow monitor to make sure that there isn't an elemment of asthma - getting readings of 400-430 ,but no idea if this is good or not!
Anyone have any ideas? Am getting myself into a bit of a tizz.

The crackles are normal, i have v. mild asthma, and if i get a chest infection i get crackles for ages afterwards. 400-450 is a good reading, when i had bronchitis last year i was geting 50 on the peak flow! TBH i'm not sure what a fit healthy (i.e non asthmatic, chest infection etc) reading would be on a peak flow

crackles is caused by flid in the chest. this could be secretions or mucous. it is like blowing air through a straw in glass of water. the chest is designed to exchange gas - oxygen in, carbon dioxide out. in an infection part of the chest produces pus and mucous and cannot exchange gas so well, hense the shortness of breath. after the infection has healed the ches continues to produce secretions/mucous to give some protection. It is important that these secretions are cleared or infection can re-occure. deep breathing and steam inhilation can help to losten and clear tehse secretions. do not be afraid of coughing them up. just make sure you are comfortable. Long steam showers breathing deeply will help.

thanks saltire that's very reassuring . I will question the doc about the peak flow readings - when I collected it from the pharmacy I thought there would be a list of values enclosed. Could prob get it off the internet but try to keep away from anything health related as it tends to make me even more neurotic !

thanks chaps will try some long steam showers to try to get rid of the gunk!