Medical question

Shivalia - Lost City
Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
edited April 2011 in Off-Topic Discussion
Hey guys, its me again. Looking for more knowledgeable people with varied life experiences.

So I have a medical inquiry. Its almost midnight, so calling my doctor to inquire will have to wait, and I'm wondering what might be going on, so I'm just trying to get a few ideas to keep down my curiosity.

I went to the doctor exactly one week ago, complaining of a very sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, earache, and lack of sleep from coughing constantly. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and influenza. I was given a prescription for antibiotics, steroids, and two preventative medications to help the cough, one being an inhaler, and the other being liquid codeine.

I was instructed to take two antibiotics the first day, one steroid, and the other two as needed every 4-6 hours. From then on, one antibiotic per day, and the rest the same until its gone. I've followed that by the letter and all but the inhaler and the codeine is gone.

So to the issue. I feel much better than I did. But I'm still having occasional uncontrollable coughing fits from bronchospasms. Starting today, exactly 7 days after starting to take all of those medications, I started coughing up some very odd colored phlegm. That's what I'm worried about. I believe most of it is coming from my nose and from drainage in the back of my throat rather than coughing it up from my lungs, and it is extremely yellow. Like canary yellow. Like this. Not an exaggeration. Very thick, and not clear in the least bit. I've never in my life seen anything that color come out of the human body. From what I've read in any searches online, it seems to indicate an infection. I'm not sure whether or not to believe this since I've been on all of those medications, or if its a sign of getting rid of what's left of the infection, and that because of those medications that I have nothing to worry about.

So that's my question. If anyone is aware, or even simply have any opinions, on whether its something I should worry about, or be relieved by. I am aware I should ask a doctor, and I plan to, so don't worry about suggesting that to me or telling me I'm dumb for asking a gaming community instead of doing so. :/ I'm just curious and want some input is all. So anybody have any ideas? This ever happened to anyone else before?

Thanks!
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Post edited by Shivalia - Lost City on

Comments

  • PlayfulSoul - Heavens Tear
    PlayfulSoul - Heavens Tear Posts: 55 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I'm not a doctor and never will be.
    I have no clue what the intense yellow colour stems from. Never seen it. I have no idea whether this is serious or not.
    I hear sometimes the little ugly meanies inside you that make you ill become resistent to antibiotics. Might have happened here? Go see the doctor, he might want try a different type of antibiotics.
    Get well soon :-)
  • Shivalia - Lost City
    Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    PlayfulSoul - Heavens Tear wrote: »
    I'm not a doctor and never will be.
    I have no clue what the intense yellow colour stems from. Never seen it. I have no idea whether this is serious or not.
    I hear sometimes the little ugly meanies inside you that make you ill become resistent to antibiotics. Might have happened here? Go see the doctor, he might want try a different type of antibiotics.
    Get well soon :-)

    That may be so. Hmm. I've never have antibiotics before in my life, so figuring its from me becoming unaffected by them, I doubt that's that case. And since I feel so much better, it makes me doubt it. But I certainly will check with the doctor about it and ask them about that possibility. :) Thanks for the input!
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    Wonderful drawing of Shivalia done by the ever talented Shirrii of Heavens Tear. b:heart Much love to you forever!
  • chaoticshelly
    chaoticshelly Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    That color does indicate infection, as I'm prone to suffer from those I've had my share and I know exactly what you're talking about. Bronchitis is a pain.

    A bronchitis treating cough syrup should help with that, but I'm not sure what you have over there, and its always best to ask your doctor. If your bronchitis is chronic, you should really not worry about these sort of infections (however, its important to treat them regardless), since they tend to become frequent.
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  • JanusZeal - Heavens Tear
    JanusZeal - Heavens Tear Posts: 3,852 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I've had conflicting beliefs from doctors surrounding the color of phlegm. I've always been particularly susceptible to respiratory problems that comes with being exposed to extremely heavy smokers in small rooms both while my mom was pregnant with me and throughout my early childhood. Being what it is, I've had years of experience with this kind of **** that I wish hadn't been.

    One doctor told me that the color spectrum from good to worse goes clear->green->yellowish, with yellowish being more severely infected. Another told me color doesn't matter at all. I hate to point out a rather popular and politically correct way of dealing with it, but simply go back to the doctor's and don't worry unless maybe there's blood associated with it or a high fever.
  • Dudzjhen - Archosaur
    Dudzjhen - Archosaur Posts: 16 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    does your voice became hoarse? does your phlegm have streak of blood? is your phlegm thick and frothy in appearance?
  • Sparafucile - Harshlands
    Sparafucile - Harshlands Posts: 456 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Don't forget that it is sometimes helpful to seek the opinion of a second doctor. Doctors are human like everyone else and can miss things or make mistakes. Lower the possibility of this by 'shopping around'. I personally wouldn't worry too much about the colour - I've had yellow and green before myself from infections - unless you see red or pink (blood).
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  • NiightmareXz - Harshlands
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands Posts: 1,569 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I honestly wouldn't worry about it too much. I have had that colour of phelgm before, right after I finished my bout with mono. I think it's just the left over medication and the infection coming out in that sort of form, mixed with a bit of mucus, since your nose can drip into your throat at night if you sleep on your back. Unless it has a streak of blood or is completely bloody, I wouldn't worry about it.
    Atleast that's what my dad told me. b:surrender
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  • Shivalia - Lost City
    Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    JanusZeal - Heavens Tear wrote: »
    One doctor told me that the color spectrum from good to worse goes clear->green->yellowish, with yellowish being more severely infected. Another told me color doesn't matter at all. I hate to point out a rather popular and politically correct way of dealing with it, but simply go back to the doctor's and don't worry unless maybe there's blood associated with it or a high fever.

    I understand, it really is the obvious response. Lol! But no worries. Thankfully there's not been any other issues like the fever and all, since I've been watching out for that, and no blood at all, so like you say, I don't think its probably anything to really worry about. :)
    Dudzjhen - Archosaur wrote: »
    does your voice became hoarse? does your phlegm have streak of blood? is your phlegm thick and frothy in appearance?

    Not hoarse, not bloody, but the phlegm is pretty thick, to the point that when I'm coughing it up, it feels like I'm spitting out a pea, or something more solid of about that size. And then the bright highlighter yellow. Haha
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands wrote: »
    I honestly wouldn't worry about it too much. I have had that colour of phelgm before, right after I finished my bout with mono. I think it's just the left over medication and the infection coming out in that sort of form, mixed with a bit of mucus, since your nose can drip into your throat at night if you sleep on your back. Unless it has a streak of blood or is completely bloody, I wouldn't worry about it.
    Atleast that's what my dad told me. b:surrender

    Yeah, its sounding like its probably just getting out the remainder of the infection, which would be a sign that the worst is over. Its not bloody so I think I'll be alright. :)

    Thanks everybody! You're all awesome. b:thanks No wonder I keep coming back with silly inquiries of a gaming community. b:chuckle
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    Wonderful drawing of Shivalia done by the ever talented Shirrii of Heavens Tear. b:heart Much love to you forever!
  • NiightmareXz - Harshlands
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands Posts: 1,569 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Shivalia - Lost City wrote: »
    Thanks everybody! You're all awesome. b:thanks No wonder I keep coming back with silly inquiries of a gaming community. b:chuckle

    The forums might be the best place for problems, since people from a wide variety of backgrounds come here. One person might be a stay at home mum, or another person could be a doctor. "Silly" inquiries might easily be answered here since we have such a diverse forum-user base b:chuckle
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  • Shivalia - Lost City
    Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands wrote: »
    The forums might be the best place for problems, since people from a wide variety of backgrounds come here. One person might be a stay at home mum, or another person could be a doctor. "Silly" inquiries might easily be answered here since we have such a diverse forum-user base b:chuckle

    Exactly! b:victory Makes me wonder why I always get 'why are you asking us' responses any other time. XD
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  • NiightmareXz - Harshlands
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands Posts: 1,569 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Posted in the wrong section, more than likely xD
    included in our diverse playerbase, we seem to have a fair amount of arses in here. b:chuckle
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  • Shivalia - Lost City
    Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    NiightmareXz - Harshlands wrote: »
    Posted in the wrong section, more than likely xD
    included in our diverse playerbase, we seem to have a fair amount of arses in here. b:chuckle

    Nah, unless off-topic is wrong section for them. b:chuckle But you know things wouldn't be the same without them. :)
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    Wonderful drawing of Shivalia done by the ever talented Shirrii of Heavens Tear. b:heart Much love to you forever!
  • Krisnda - Lost City
    Krisnda - Lost City Posts: 1,465 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Glad to see your feeling ok ^^.
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  • Shivalia - Lost City
    Shivalia - Lost City Posts: 883 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    Krisnda - Lost City wrote: »
    Glad to see your feeling ok ^^.

    Krissy!!!! b:heartb:heartb:heart :DDD
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Wonderful drawing of Shivalia done by the ever talented Shirrii of Heavens Tear. b:heart Much love to you forever!
  • JanusZeal - Heavens Tear
    JanusZeal - Heavens Tear Posts: 3,852 Arc User
    edited March 2011
    I would say that this is not the best place for medical advice at all, but it does certainly make me consider how health care is evolving, seeing methods at Stanford, for example, offering pre and post-visit patients an instant message or fast track/ticket style care to get access to the doctor/specialist they are going to see or already saw. I can see this translating big time in the near future to a family physician.

    /off-topic tl;dr
  • firedolphin
    firedolphin Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Shivalia - Lost City wrote: »
    Hey guys, its me again. Looking for more knowledgeable people with varied life experiences.

    So I have a medical inquiry. Its almost midnight, so calling my doctor to inquire will have to wait, and I'm wondering what might be going on, so I'm just trying to get a few ideas to keep down my curiosity.

    I went to the doctor exactly one week ago, complaining of a very sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, earache, and lack of sleep from coughing constantly. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and influenza. I was given a prescription for antibiotics, steroids, and two preventative medications to help the cough, one being an inhaler, and the other being liquid codeine.

    I was instructed to take two antibiotics the first day, one steroid, and the other two as needed every 4-6 hours. From then on, one antibiotic per day, and the rest the same until its gone. I've followed that by the letter and all but the inhaler and the codeine is gone.

    So to the issue. I feel much better than I did. But I'm still having occasional uncontrollable coughing fits from bronchospasms. Starting today, exactly 7 days after starting to take all of those medications, I started coughing up some very odd colored phlegm. That's what I'm worried about. I believe most of it is coming from my nose and from drainage in the back of my throat rather than coughing it up from my lungs, and it is extremely yellow. Like canary yellow. Like this. Not an exaggeration. Very thick, and not clear in the least bit. I've never in my life seen anything that color come out of the human body. From what I've read in any searches online, it seems to indicate an infection. I'm not sure whether or not to believe this since I've been on all of those medications, or if its a sign of getting rid of what's left of the infection, and that because of those medications that I have nothing to worry about.

    So that's my question. If anyone is aware, or even simply have any opinions, on whether its something I should worry about, or be relieved by. I am aware I should ask a doctor, and I plan to, so don't worry about suggesting that to me or telling me I'm dumb for asking a gaming community instead of doing so. :/ I'm just curious and want some input is all. So anybody have any ideas? This ever happened to anyone else before?

    Thanks!

    lol that part made me laugh :)
    That aside, it is not deadly.
    You DO have an infection...That yellow nasty-tasting things that are coming out of your mouth and possibly your nose (mostly mouth) are the proof of that...
    You should drink a lot of water and/or a lot of tea to make it easier to expel them :)
    Try an anti-inflammatory as well as an anti-biotic and make sure to follow all the instructions on the information white paper. It is very important to take it in regular periods...so you better note down what time you started taking the first one.
    Fruit (however, bananas don't do much) and vegetables help too...but i guess you already know that.
    Also, try some oranges and kiwis...
    Sleep a lot...
    After 2~3 weeks you should be fine.
  • firedolphin
    firedolphin Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    btw, it doesn't mean that you are getting rid of the infection...they are thick because you don't drink much water...
  • Drazomyst - Dreamweaver
    Drazomyst - Dreamweaver Posts: 226 Arc User
    edited April 2011
    Necro much?
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