Thank you everyone your advice and support helped me and calmed me down some what. August was a bad month for me with the two infections {kidney and lungs} I am hoping and praying that September will be better for me and for all of us. That was very interesting about the smoking Catlin, what I have done is I am smoking 2-3 cigarets a day now, down from a pack and a half, I only light up when the craving gets SO strong, I guess going down from 25 cigs to 2 is extreme, but actually with the broncitis I do not want to smoke that much because I cough and cough. Catlin did you take antibotics for your broncitis? You probably had that bad congestion "gurgling" in the chest, I am keeping my hubby and son up all night hacking, I am scared of lung cancer, I guess we all fear cancer. I should talk to someone about my fear of death sickness and dying, its a very very unpleasant way to live and I want to get better, fear is a terrible thing it can take over your life. You all have been wonderful to me. Please write back when you can. God bless, Debbie.

Hi Debbie - I am a former smoker and I grew up with a mom who smoked, so I used to get really bad bronchitis A LOT!! All the symptoms you are explaining are definitely normal for bronchitis. Also, quitting smoking will likely make you sicker (more vulnerable to sickness by weakening your immune system) for the first year or two - yup, you heard me - quitting will make you sick for a few years. I am not telling you this so you'll start smoking again - quite the opposite - we all know that getting more colds or bronchitis for a few years is WAAAAAY better than getting lung cancer or emphysema down the road. But, it might ease your mind with these illnesses you are getting to know that your body may be sick because it is in withdrawal from a powerful addiction. Withdrawal from anything - street drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, smoking - it's all the same. You should seriously reconsider the cold turkey thing though - especially if you find the cravings are too much and you start smoking again. I used a patch, and it worked like an absolute charm. You just need - and I MEAN NEED - to relax and reassure yourself that these illnesses will pass and you will come out of this a new and healthier woman! You sound like the fear is really taking over - and I know what it's like to be there. But it's time to stop - stop dwelling on all these symptoms and illnesses and take CONTROL. This extreme anxiety is hurting you - it's time to let it go. Make a list of the 3 worst health fears you have - lung cancer might be number 1 for example, and take it to your doctor and explain that you are suffering from extreme health anxiety but you want to get control over it. To do that, you need a clean slate - so ask him or her to run a few tests to rule out your top 3 fears, and then make a promise to yourself that if those tests come back negative, YOU WILL LET GO OF THE FEAR AND MOVE ON, strengthened by the knowledge that you are OK!! Also, I really think you should investigate some counselling in your area, we all need help with this overwhelming fear we have of illness and death - remember that every minute you spend in fear of dying is a minute you have lost for living!! I still have relapses where I become fixated on symptoms and fear, but we all need to do what w

Hi Debbie, I hope you start feeling better in the next couple days. You were probably asked if you had a lung exray to check for pneumonia. My doctor has had me get them before so she can tell if it is pneumonia. The amoxicllin should help some even if it is, but may not get rid of it completely, in which case you may need a stronger antibiotic. I went to the hospital last year in august I was so sick and I had been on an antibiotic the previous month, but I did have pneumonia and they gave me prednisone along with an antibitoic (zithromax). Have you ever taken prednisone. That makes your body heal much faster and most people can take that. If you're not feeling any better in a couple days, call your doctor and ask about the prednisone. Bronchitus can be hard to get rid of, if possible, get a chest exray so you will know put your mind at ease. Take Care, I will check back later to see how you are doing. Becky

Hi Debbi! I hope you are feeling a at least a little better!!! You seem to have so many concerns about what your bronchitis 'could' be. Why can't it just be a simple bronchitis? Think about it this way, you have the symptoms of a bronchitis so why should it be anything more? I know it's easy to fear the worst, but you have to change your thinking about it. Why don't you list your concerns over what your bronchitis could be. Then instead of speculating on it yourself, take that list to a docotr and ask him/her to evaluate your concerns. Don't worry about your upset stomach. That is a normal side effect of antibiotics!

I was looking up broncitis on the internet {I know very dumb} and I read that lung cancer mimics broncitis! I have all the symptoms, I am not responding to the antibotics very quick, I am very tired, weak, chest pain from coughing etc..... The paramedic asked if the Doctor took a chest x-ray and I told him no, why did he ask that? If anyone ever had broncitis and coughed terribly with lots of mucus, felt tired and weak please let me know, Becky told me it take at least 5 days for the amoxicillian to work and I am holding on to that, I have stopped smoking cold-turkey which is probably increasing my anxiety, its that darn gurgling bubbly sound in my chest that happens when I breathe that is scaring me to death! If that would just go away I would feel better. I hate being sick and scared! Thanks, Debbie.