I had been fighting a cold for a week when I woke up on Wednesday feeling absolutely horrible. Pain in my ears, in my face, eyes, headache, body aches, sore throat, chills, a fever and a horrible cough. I was sent home from work and went right to the ENT. I was told that I had an ear infection, a sinus infection, and bronchitis. I was given amoxicillin and a cough syrup to take and told not to go back to work until Monday.
This is my 5th sinus infection this year and 2nd ear infection. I no longer have a fever and my body aches/headache, etc. have lessoned a lot and are helped by tylenol. However, I have horrible tightness in my chest and feel like I cannot breathe deeply even when I'm not coughing.. Between this feeling and coughing I am having a very difficult time sleeping. I am supposed to go back to work on Monday and I absolutely do NOT want to miss any more work but this tightness in my chest scares me. I am wondering if this is a normal part of bronchitis and I am just overreacting or if it is something I need to get checked out. I've never had bronchitis so I don't want to sound like a baby if I go to the doctor and complain if he's already diagnosed me with bronchitis.
Please just let me know if it is a normal part of bronchitis or if I should call my doctor on Monday to see if he can help. (or if you can recommend any medicine, treatment, or anything that can help this feeling in my chest!)
Hi Lauren,
I feel your pain!!! I am JUST now getting over a sinus infection and bronchitis and it was UGLY!!! (I also waited two weeks to see a doctor too).
I'm not quite sure why your doctor prescribed just regular Amoxicillin for your situation. Usually with an upper respiratory infection, you will need a stronger antibiotic to combat the infection specific to the area (ie your lungs!). Amoxicillin is such a catch-all antibiotic, but does nothing really for bronchitis.
You need something called Zithromax to really knock it out of your system. My doctor also prescribed Prednisone (a steroid) to help really kick it in the butt and an inhaler to boot, as well as cough medicine with codeine. This was last Wednesday. Granted, I am feeling much better, however, I still have a cough and it will probably take another day or two to feel REALLY good.
Something you can try, which has been also helping me, is using a Neti Pot in the mornings upon waking. All the gunk from my lungs and throat comes right out. Sorry for TMI, but you should really give it a go.
I would call your doctor by Tuesday if you're still not feeling any better - the tightness in your chest is "normal" with bronchitis, however you should be feeling better after the medicine.
Good luck!
Also, read my post on "Will Cipro help bronchitis?"
