Bronchitis or Pneumonia with Depression

Dear Ask The Doctor: I usually get bronchitis every winter (although I am a non-smoker and have no lung conditions), and I believe I have it now, but I'm worried that it may have become pneumonia. Since I don't have insurance, I don't want to go to the doctor's office if it isn't necessary. Every year with the bronchitis, my chest and back hurts. It is usually a moderate dull ache most of the time. In the past when I had insurance, I would go to the doctor, and every time I was told I had viral bronchitis, and to rest and drink lots of liquids. This time, it has been going on for 2-3 weeks. I have taken several days off work, and drank a lot of liquids, but I do not seem to be getting better. In fact, I have been having some difficulty breathing, which is what worries me. I keep feeling like I can't catch my breath. It seems to be worse when I am lying down and trying to sleep. Also, I have been having a lot of pain besides the back and chest pain. I do have a slight curvature in my neck and very low back which causes me a lot of neck pain and headaches. However, it seems like I am having pain all over. I have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a slight scoliosis, and I broke my tailbone 3 years ago and my pelvis 11 years ago. Some of the pain is related to that, but for example, my tailbone hurts more in the past couple weeks than it has since it was first broken. Also, I have not only dull aches and pains, but some sharp stabbing pains in random places, like my knee. I don't know if that has anything to do with this or not, but since it started about the same time, I thought I should mention it. Also, Excedrin, which usually works for me has not been working that well. I've been taking it at least once a day, and frequently more often than that, but it only seems to help some with my headaches and not at all with anything else. I also use heat and ice for the pain, but it has not given me much relief. I have been sleeping a lot too, and by that I mean that I just fall asleep sitting up and/or reading, and that is not normal for me. I also have depression, which I don't know if that may be related or not. I have been out of my medications for depression for over a month now, and I don't know if that has anything to do with this or not. The other thing that is odd for me, is that it seems like the bronchitis symptoms keeps fluctuating. One day I will feel better and the next day I will feel worse again. It doesn't even correspond to when I get more rest and liquids. It doesn't make sense to me. Do you think this is pneumonia or just a different type of bronchitis. Thank you for your help.

Dear Lorrinda: I understand your apprehension about your current symptoms. According to way you describe your symptoms , they might have been caused by a Bronchitis process  but since they have been persistent for 3 weeks by now and is fluctuating , my advice to you would be to get an evaluation by a physician if you present signs of sputum production, fever and cough to rule out a possible Pneumonia.

I would also suggest you to talk to your physician about your Depression medication, it is not clear to me if you stopped taking them by yourself or if your treatment ended. In Both cases you should have to be re evaluated.

About the pain that you feel in multiple locations of your body, they could also be explained by depression, sometimes this could be accompanied by weakness and fatigue.  All these signs and symptoms will have to be evaluated by a Doctor obtaining a more detailed clinical history which will help rule out other possibilities.

In the meantime, for the respiratory process you could try drinking warm fluids and other home remedies to help removing the sputum if present. For the pain in your body you could try doing stretching exercises, heat application until you get the exact diagnosis and treatment.