Couple of questions for the more educated.

[refracted]

I don't want to sound like another worry bug, but I figured that there might be some folks here who could give me some educated insight.

I have been smoking for a few years now very seldomly; more or less a recreational smoker (maybe once a month or so). I recently acquired a roommate who I have been living with for roughly 10 months now and for around 6-8 months there has been consistent smoking at my place. Since then, I have been smoking more frequently (maybe 2 or 3 times a week) and breathing in the occasional second hand smoke.

About a month or two ago, I acquired a pain on my left side right under my arm pit that was I guess in line with a tooth ache (consistent and a decent amount of pain). I quit smoking for roughly a week and it dissapeared. My uncle who has been a smoker for 20 some odd years seems to think it was pleurisy.

Recently, I have had pains again in my left lung but not the same as before. It almost feels like a pain in my shoulder. For two days after I quit smoking this time, I had a pain every time I took in a deep breath. I have quit smoking for roughly a week now. The deep breath pain is gone but the other is still occurring. I am also a pretty stressful person with a little anxiety here and there but nothing too bad (meaning not a hypochondriac). I thought that might have something to do with it. I planning on paying the doctor a visit but I figured I might be able to catch some useful information from you guys. Any idea of what's going on or any advice?

Thanks

refracted Reviewed by refracted on 11-26-2007. Couple of questions for the more educated. I don't want to sound like another worry bug, but I figured that there might be some folks here who could give me some educated insight. I have been smoking for a few years now very seldomly; more or less a recreational smoker (maybe once a month or so). I recently acquired a roommate who I have been living with for roughly 10 months now and for around 6-8 months there has been consistent smoking at my place. Since then, I have been smoking more frequently (maybe 2 or 3 times a week) and Rating: 5

[Storm Crow]

Advice- go see a doctor. And yes, I'm fairly well educated. - Granny:hippy:

[birdgirl73]

Storm Crow gave you our standard "educated people's" answer here: Only a doctor who can evaluate you in person and talk to you in detail about the pain can tell you what it is. It could be anything from a sore muscle to an irritated place in your lungs to anxiety to bronchitis to a "stitch" in your side to something like a small area of pleurisy or atelectasis. A doctor or nurse practitioner can palpate, take an X-ray, check your oxygen saturation, and put all the info he/she obtains together and hazard an educated guess. No one with any sense would even attempt that over the Web.

[refracted]

When I used the word "educated" I was referring to the subject matter. Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated.