I'm really struggling with this persistent dry cough I've had for about 4 months now, and it gets worse when I'm trying to sleep. I've tried a bunch of antibiotics and different cough syrups prescribed by local doctors, but they only work temporarily and then the cough comes back. I'm a 33-year-old male and have RHD MS. I've undergone ballooning twice and currently I'm on MetXL BD, Aquazide 12.5 OD, and Pentidure 12 LA every 21 days. I consulted with my cardiac specialist at AIIMS in New Delhi, and he said my heart is okay but recommended a PA view X-ray and a chest specialist consultation. I've been using a water steamer for steam for about 15-20 days and taking some antibiotics and cough syrups from local docs, but nothing seems to be working now. I've also been dealing with constipation and gastric problems, and I started taking laxatives for bowel clearance, which has been effective. I don't drink or smoke and don't use any other drugs. What should I do next?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Ranjith Darla

General Practitioner

MBBS
3+ Yrs

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Pulmonologist opinion is advised to the patient.

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Answered 04/07/2025

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I'm really worried about the free fluid in both pleural cavities on the imaging scan we got back. They measured around 500ml on the right and 300ml on the left. How serious is this situation, and what should we be doing about it? Can you please let me know soon? I'm really anxious about it.

This condition is known as pleural effusion. To help reduce the fluid buildup and relieve symptoms, you can take diuretics like Furosemide. Additionally, a medication called Spironolactone can also be prescribed to help with fluid retention. It is important to follow up with your healthcare provider for further evaluation and management.

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I'm really worried about this pleural empyema situation. If there's a 100ml buildup, do antibiotics alone help clear it up, or would it definitely need to be drained? I've heard different things and I'm not sure what to expect.

antibiotics alone not be alone

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I've been keeping an eye on my Spo2 levels and they're usually at 98, but I've noticed that when I sleep, my oximeter shows it drops to 94. Then, when I wake up, it goes back to 98. Should I be concerned about this fluctuation? Is it normal for my oxygen levels to dip while I'm asleep, or is there something specific I should be looking into?

there will be positional variations in saturation levels ,it is normal

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