Would like some opinions/advice please?

[garnetgirl29, BSN, RN]

My neighbor quit smoking about 7 weeks ago, and recently had a respiratory infection. They had her on steroids, antibiotic, liquid albuterol, and pulmicort. It took her several weeks to kick this, and then she was hoorifice for a couple weeks after all other symptoms were gone.

Now, she is on day 5 of feeling like she has to force herself to breathe. She is using her intercostal muscles to make herself breathe and loses her breath and fatigues very easily. She coughs a little, but not much at all. She saw her doctor yesterday and he did an x-ray, which he said looked good, and spirometry. It took her 6 tries to get one good reading & she felt like she was going to pass out.

So, the doctor's conclusion: Stress. And, he gave her a prescription for xanax. He is a general practitioner, and I am wondering if those of you that work in pulmonary nursing have seen stress manifest this way? She is 35 years old. The doctor doesn't think her recent illness or that she recently quit smoking have anything to do with her new symptoms.

So, if the xanax does not resolve her problem, should she request that he doctor send her to a pulmonary specialist? (she does not have insurance) Are there any particular questions she should have for her doctor?

Thanks!

[sjonesrn]

My neighbor quit smoking about 7 weeks ago, and recently had a respiratory infection. They had her on steroids, antibiotic, liquid albuterol, and pulmicort. It took her several weeks to kick this, and then she was hoorifice for a couple weeks after all other symptoms were gone.

Now, she is on day 5 of feeling like she has to force herself to breathe. She is using her intercostal muscles to make herself breathe and loses her breath and fatigues very easily. She coughs a little, but not much at all. She saw her doctor yesterday and he did an x-ray, which he said looked good, and spirometry. It took her 6 tries to get one good reading & she felt like she was going to pass out.

So, the doctor's conclusion: Stress. And, he gave her a prescription for xanax. He is a general practitioner, and I am wondering if those of you that work in pulmonary nursing have seen stress manifest this way? She is 35 years old. The doctor doesn't think her recent illness or that she recently quit smoking have anything to do with her new symptoms.

So, if the xanax does not resolve her problem, should she request that he doctor send her to a pulmonary specialist? (she does not have insurance) Are there any particular questions she should have for her doctor?

Thanks!

Has her MD entertained that she may have a clot. DIB without resolve despite steroids,bronchodilaters etc..I think she should definitly get a second opinion. Good luck!!

[artsmom, BSN, LPN]

My husband almost went into respiratory failure when he quite smoking. It can be very dangerous and there is very little literature about it. Maybe your neighbor should just go to the ER , my husband did and was admitted pronto. Good luck to your neighbor.

[garnetgirl29, BSN, RN]

Thank you! I will definitely mention that to her. The thought had crossed my mind, but she isn't having chest pains, aside from soreness caused by her labored breathing. She is very active, which would make that less likely, right? She is not one to sit around.

[garnetgirl29, BSN, RN]

Thank you artsmom. How long after he quit did that happen? My neighbor was in the process of quitting when she developed the respiratory infection, which made if more difficult for her to smoke at all, so she quit pretty quickly. She was also taking welblutrin and chantix, but isn't taking them anymore.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Unfortunately, what you ask is essentially seeking medical advice, and that is something we can't give here at AN.

Your neighbor needs to see her physician. If she is unwilling/unable/unhappy to see her regular doctor, then she should go to the ER. She needs far more help than what we can provide here.

Best of luck.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

As Meriwhen states as per the Terms of Service....[h=3]Medical Advice:[/h] ALLNURSES.COM, INC or it's members do not offer medical advice. Any requests for such will be taken down. If you have a medical problem, please seek attention from your health care provider. You are not allowed to ask for medical advice related to a health situation that affects you, a family member, or someone you know.

The best advice you should give your neighbor is either go to the emergency department or see her PCP.

I wish you the best.

Thread closed.