Plugs, plugs, and maybe more plugs

[sue35]

Ok so I have had a pain in my side/back for about two months on and off. I figured it was a plug because it did get better with advil and my doc said that if it was a collapsed lung it wouldn't. Of course without advil i feel like someone is stabbing me.

Anyway, yesterday i was coughing and all of a sudden I felt like i pulled a muscle in my other side. It is now KILLING me and makes it hard for me to stand even. But the other pain is gone. Can a plug move to the other side?

I can't see my doc because I can't get off of work.

Thanks!

 

[coltsfan715]

I am not sure on this, but I do not think the plug in say your left side will jump to your right side. That being said mucus is always moving in our lungs, so it is possible that if you have a plug it is being caused by mucus in a different area of the lungs. I hope that makes sense.

Like the plug on the left cleared itself. Only to have mucus get built up in an area on the right side and cause a plug there. It wouldn't be the same plug, but still it is a plug.

It s possible too if you have been coughing really hard that you pulled a muscle. Especially if you felt it pull. My doc told me before that if you touch the area that hurt and you can feel an ache or pain (like pushing down on the muscle) or even if it feels better by pushing on it - you are probably experiencing muscle pain. I find I always have this problem across my back and under my arms on my sides.

I hope you start feeling better. If you are on hypertonic saline make sure you are drinking plenty of water. The salt from the saline will pull water into the secretions and help thin them out so they are easier to clear. The only problem with that is you have to have the water in your system for it to work. That may help with some of those plugs.

Lindsey

 

[princessjdc]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>coltsfan715</b></i>


I hope you start feeling better. If you are on hypertonic saline make sure you are drinking plenty of water. The salt from the saline will pull water into the secretions and help thin them out so they are easier to clear. The only problem with that is you have to have the water in your system for it to work. That may help with some of those plugs.



Lindsey</end quote></div>


so, what your saying is to drink a lot of water, then do the hypertonic saline. I've never heard of that. I thought HS was made from water and salt.

 

[coltsfan715]

Not to drink water right before persay but to make sure you are taking in the proper amout of water.

My doc was telling me it helps the saline to work more efficiently. I had never heard that before either til I started going to the new CF Center in town here. He said that the extra salt in the HS would help to draw moisture/water into the secretions making them easier to clear.

So I am not saying to drink a bunch of water right before you do your treatment - just that my doc was saying to make sure you take in the proper amount of water through the day it will help to thin and clear the mucus if you happen to be on HS. I know taking in the right amount of water seems like a no brainer - but I know I rarely think about how much I take in each day so I figured it would be worth mentioning.


Lindsey

 

[Scarlett81]

Lindsey, correct me if this wasn't your thought, but I think what she means is drink plenty of water while doing the Hyp Saline in general, and if you have plugs up it even more. b/c there is so much salt in the HypSal, it can build up in the lungs. And if you are going to up your Hyp S dosage, which may get those plugs out, drink even more water. It will also help thin your mucus.

I also wanted to relate to you what happened to me recently. I get exactly what you are talking about. Exactly. Normally, its just plugs. And its so obviously plugs that I don't worry about it.
But recently I got an even sharper pain in my side, and it persisted longer than typical plug pain does. I had a CAT scan and it showed kidney stones. If your pain is in the side and esp if it wraps around the side a little, maybe check it out.

Also, I have heard of people coughing so hard they sprain/bruise a rib. Or like was said before, tearing a muscle. If it was such a big Pop you heard, maybe that's it?

A plug could not move from one lung to the other lung like that.

 

[Scarlett81]

You answered lindsey, sorry!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">

 

[princessjdc]

Thank you Lindsay for clearing it up, i dont think I drink a lot of water throughout the day, so Ill especially need to make a note and drink more water. Im going to see how well this works, cause if it can clear me that much more, then horray for me. I can never cough anything up but atleast the mucous will be or is thinned enough that it wont grow bacteria, thanks again.

I dont know if Im understanding what you have said Christian, but I never thought that the hs ever built up salt in my lungs to cause plugs, I knew that it was clearing my lungs of the mucous making it thinner. I just never heard of drinking more water to help the hs clear the mucous or thinn the mucous more. I also do HS twice a day, and I use 7%. Hope all this makes sense.

 

[anonymous]

Thank you all!

Today it hurt so much at times I couldn't cough or do much of anything. I am going to do my HS but I am so scared because it hurts so much to cough. But I am drinking water and will continue to do so<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Sue 24w/CF

 

[Scarlett81]

Careful Sue!!
Maybe you should call the doc tommorrow if it gets worse? Hope you feel better.

 

[Asexyblond23]

Hi,

I recently the past 3 months went thru 3 different times of pain in both sides of my lungs. They tested and tested me and nothing turned up. One thing that they did think was causing my pain for a couple of months was plursey. Has your doc ever talked to you about it. My old Doc never told me about it. My new one did and she had me take ibuprofen (sp?) to help with inflamation in the lungs. Your doc can do an xray and it will show up. Its something that I dont think is talked about alot but I have come to find out is pretty common in Cf adults. So maybe that might be something to mention to your docs and see what they think. I hope that you get to feeling better soon!

 

[blackchameleon]

maybe stained "intercostal muscles"(sp) i often get
strained intercostals, especially if i am a bit sick. im talking
about the little muscles in between your ribs if that makes sense?!
i rub them to help ease the cramp like pain, also i have to stretch
often. geez cf throws lots of weird shite at us hey!! i love
(sorta) you guys!! Blacky.