Chest Infections.

[HillBill]

I quit smoking in April 2024. Since then, my breathing got worse, not better as you might expect... For months now, i have been very short of breath when doing anything coming close to exertion. Walking up the stairs, getting he shopping out of the car boot etc... Nothing major, just something which made me need to breathe even slightly harder that sat here typing.

So i finially managed to get a docs appointment... He checked me over... Stethoscope job. Said my left lung wasnt expanding when i took a deep breath, or any type of breath... Sent me for a Chest X-ray. Results came back... massive chest infection (docs words not mine) Thing is... i've had many chest infections over the years... and i knew about every one of them... coughing, coughing Phlegm up... pain etc. This one... not a thing like that, Not a cough, no pain, no phlegm... Just shortness of breath.

So i'm now about to finish my 2nd round of (stronger) anti biotics... and theres no difference at all.

Have any of you had breathing difficulties which was down to chest infection you didn't know you had?

Only asking as the doc said we need to shift the infection, and then have another chest X-ray as the infection could be hiding something else. So i'm having another X-ray in around 6 weeks.

While i trust the doc, i'm still not 100% that it's an infection.

Thoughts? Experiences? Is this familiar to any of you? If so, what happened?

Thanks,

 

[scruff]

Ay up Mark. Sorry to hear you're going through some health issues.

I would ask if you can be referred for a respiratory consultation if you are concerned....however my experience is that it'll take a while to get seen.

My immediate thoughts are, from your smoking background, and the issues you described, are some chronic respiratory issue, and you may need some help to deal with the symptoms.

I would also recommend you may get some benefit from respiratory physio which you could try some exercises of yourself.....

Physiotherapy for breathing pattern disorders resources for physiotherapists

Our primary aim is to provide resources to both Service users and Service Providers, to help educate and raise awareness of the condition, through media such as this website, leaflets and other educational materials.

www.physiotherapyforbpd.org.uk

Good luck amigo and I hope there is something above that may help.

 

[Silverclaws2]

I've heard lots of weird health issues, presentations and complications seem to have popped up since the pandemic

 

[Woody girl]

It could be copd, and get your heart checked out too.
My best friend's son began having similar issues last August and it turns out that he had an infection in a heart valve. Now awaiting replacement
He's in his mid 40s and has never smoked, though had multiple jibby jabs due to his father being imuno compromised and dying during the pandemic.
Not saying its connected, but I've noticed how many people, young and old are having serious heart and lung problems, the last few years.
Having strange symptoms myself and have been hospitalised twice since August. Still getting weird heart rhythms, pulse over 100 with no excertion, tired and exhausted all the time, and breathing problems. My doc doesn't seem at all worried about it. Hospital even less so.
Blue lighted in, a couple of hours in a and e, bloods taken, then thrown out in the early hours with no way home! nothing back from either doc or hospital. It's worrying.
I'm going back tomorrow to demand some more tests.
Not right, and I need to know what it is.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Hey @HillBill , any news or an update following the expected second x-ray ?

 

[HillBill]

Hey @HillBill , any news or an update following the expected second x-ray ?

Copy/pasted the report for you Chris. Collapsed lower left lung.


Specimen
Specimen Type: Type Unspecified
Specimen Reference#: 1
Collected: 02 Oct 2025

Pathology Investigations

Standard chest X-ray XR Chest
Clinical indication
History : weeks repeat CXR as per Radiologist adv; History : SOB
on exertion reduced air entry in the lower L bases smoker Question :
lung pathology Report XR Chest - 12-Aug-2025, 14:19 No previous
films available for comparison. The heart size mediastinal contours
are normal. There is extensive new linear atelectasis/segmental
collapse within the left lower lobe associated volume loss and
elevation of the left hemidiaphragm, appearances most likely due to
infection. The right lung and pleural spaces are clear. A follow-up
film in 6-8 weeks is advised.
Question : Progression of alelectesis/ segmental collapse
Report XR Chest - 02-Oct-2025, 11:12
Atelectasis/segmental collapse left lower lobe is unchanged when
compared to the previous examination dated 12/08/2025 and therefore
likely longstanding. The lungs pleural spaces are otherwise clear.
The heart size is normal.
A further follow-up film in 8 weeks is advised to ensure appearances
remain stable.
Creation Date: 07-Oct-2025, 12:46
Verification Date: 09-Oct-2025, 10:10

 

[HillBill]

It could be copd, and get your heart checked out too.
My best friend's son began having similar issues last August and it turns out that he had an infection in a heart valve. Now awaiting replacement
He's in his mid 40s and has never smoked, though had multiple jibby jabs due to his father being imuno compromised and dying during the pandemic.
Not saying its connected, but I've noticed how many people, young and old are having serious heart and lung problems, the last few years.
Having strange symptoms myself and have been hospitalised twice since August. Still getting weird heart rhythms, pulse over 100 with no excertion, tired and exhausted all the time, and breathing problems. My doc doesn't seem at all worried about it. Hospital even less so.
Blue lighted in, a couple of hours in a and e, bloods taken, then thrown out in the early hours with no way home! nothing back from either doc or hospital. It's worrying.
I'm going back tomorrow to demand some more tests.
Not right, and I need to know what it is.

Seems to be lower left lung collapse caused by an infection i didn't know i had, and probably had for a while. It was a chest cavity infection, rather than a lung infection, which is what i'm used to referring to as a chest infection.

If the infection is gone, i haven't noticed that either as i still can't breathe properly after mild exertion. (like walking up the stairs, carrying the shopping from the car etc)

I did get covid when it first 'appeared'... no symptoms other than loss of taste/smell for 3 weeks, but then i was completely exhausted for months (long covid probably)

 

[matarius777]

I got single pneumonia when I was living in India a few decades ago. I was staying in the midst of the tiny streets off the great Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, in the winter, everybody coughing and hawking, crowded streets pack with people and rickshaw jams. I had no “chest infection” symptoms at all, I just felt very, very weak to the point of falling over whilst urinating, it got progressively worse over the week- I just left it thinking I would get better. On going to a hospital and producing some phlegm on request that was the most Day-Glo orange I have ever had the misfortune to see, and a chest x-Ray, it was diagnosed as single pneumonia and necessitated a week in hospital with an anti-biotic drip, then another course of tablets after discharge. I was breathless for quite a few weeks after but never margined it was an actual chest infection.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Jeez! I was hoping that you had had better news, or at least more definitive news. I guess one can get an infection in lots of places, but usually folk have an idea of how the infection got where it did, and anything serious tends to produce noticeable symptoms. I hope it is something that will right itself given enough time! Proper rum luck!

 

[HillBill]

Jeez! I was hoping that you had had better news, or at least more definitive news. I guess one can get an infection in lots of places, but usually folk have an idea of how the infection got where it did, and anything serious tends to produce noticeable symptoms. I hope it is something that will right itself given enough time! Proper rum luck!

My mum worked in the NHS. Kinda like a PA to several Doctors... She said standard procedure would be Physio initially, A Bronchoscopy As the 2nd method (tube with camera down my throat with the ability to help reinflation) and surgery as a last resort.

I only received the results the other day. I have an appointment with the Doc on Tuesday, so i'll know more then.

On the bright side, Its fixable. I was worried about COPD, Interstitial lung disease, maybe even the C word. Glad its not any of those lol

 

[Woody girl]

How are you doing now? Hope you've got on top of things, and breathing better.

 

[HillBill]

How are you doing now? Hope you've got on top of things, and breathing better.

Not great in all honesty. Finished my 3rd course of anti biotics 2 days ago. Co Amoxiclav this time (after a sputum sample where they found 'something'). Amoxycillin the 1st, Doxycycline the 2nd. Infection was still there when i started this course. Another X-Ray on the 26th. Breathing is still the same, but this lot haven't had a proper chance to do its thing. Got to see a respiratory specialist when they can be bothered to send me an appointment. Referred to SPECTRA... (Severe sudden adult onset asthma) But i find that unlikely, given that its constant and not subject to 'attacks' and never had issues before.

I don't think they know what's going on at this point to be fair. My shoulders are buggered, i cant breathe properly, especially after even the slightest physical exertion. They have it pegged to an infection, and that's all i really know at this point.

Not a happy bunny. But i do appreciate you asking.

 

[Woody girl]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Remember to take plenty of prebiotic and probiotics, as the anti biotics will be killing off all your good bacteria aswell as the bad.
Kefir, live yoghurt, sourkraut, sourdough bread, and any fermented foods.
Talk to someone at a health food shop to get the right ones.
I was on a course of antibiotics last August, ending up in hospital on iv for bronchitus, two days after comming back from wilderness gathering. I'm still taking pre and pro biotics and, the medics will never tell you there devastated your internal defence system, they just leave you depleted.. It can take 3 months to get it all back up to scratch again with supliments, let alone without.
Good luck, and take it easy.

 

[Great egret]

A friend of mine had the same. Did you have your oxygen percentage checked? He had a pulmonary embolism...

 

[HillBill]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Remember to take plenty of prebiotic and probiotics, as the anti biotics will be killing off all your good bacteria aswell as the bad.
Kefir, live yoghurt, sourkraut, sourdough bread, and any fermented foods.
Talk to someone at a health food shop to get the right ones.
I was on a course of antibiotics last August, ending up in hospital on iv for bronchitus, two days after comming back from wilderness gathering. I'm still taking pre and pro biotics and, the medics will never tell you there devastated your internal defence system, they just leave you depleted.. It can take 3 months to get it all back up to scratch again with supliments, let alone without.
Good luck, and take it easy.

Been doing some digging. I remembered your earlier post regarding the 'Jibby Jabs'...

Well this Spectra thing i've been referred to... Guess who runs/funds it... Astra Zeneca... the same folks whos jibby jab i had... Coincidence?

https://www.healthinnovationoxford.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SPECTRA-information-slide-deck.pdf

 

[HillBill]

A friend of mine had the same. Did you have your oxygen percentage checked? He had a pulmonary embolism...

No, not had O2 levels checked yet. I did come across Pulmonary Embolisms on my way to black belt 3rd Dan in Google Fu though. It does seem to fit.

 

[HillBill]

Small update. 3rd X-ray results in today. Lung collapse the same/unchanged. No mention regarding the infection.. so still dont know if i had one or they were just treating something assumed. CT Thorax next, whenever they send me an appointment. Life sucks, F.ck you Kenny.

 

[TeeDee]

Small update. 3rd X-ray results in today. Lung collapse the same/unchanged. No mention regarding the infection.. so still dont know if i had one or they were just treating something assumed. CT Thorax next, whenever they send me an appointment. Life sucks, F.ck you Kenny.

1 day at a time . Keep positive.

 

[HillBill]

1 day at a time . Keep positive.

Standard.