Hi, all.

I have had a miserable winter so far with one respiratory infection after another. I have had a few scattered consecutive days of relatively good health during this time.

Any time I get a head cold, it inevitably ends up in my chest due to post nasal drip. I was like this before OC. I develop bronchitis with every infection and it lasts for weeks where I am miserably coughing and hacking. I am on my 3rd round since Thanksgiving and I never quite got over the previous infection. I use albuterol, Flonase, Mucinex, and prescription cough medicine, but that only helps so much.

The last couple of infections, I noticed that I am wheezing in my upper airway (trachea). It'a very loud as it is close to my hears, but I don't know if anyone else can hear it. It is worse when I lay on my right side. I am unable to lay on my left side for prolonged periods due to hip pain (old injury). When I lay on my back, I think I am having apneic episodes because I wake up gasping for breath and coughing.

I am probably the only oral cancer survivor who struggles with obesity, but it has been a lifelong struggle. Of course I lost weight during both rounds of treatment, but I have since gained all of the weight back, with interest. I haven't been able to work in my profession (or work at all) in 16 months. I have been sedentary during this time because I can't seem to overcome the inertia of my fatigue/exhaustion.

I figured that I likely have tracheal stenosis as a result of radiation damage and obesity, which is causing wheezing in my upper airway. I had a resent scan, so I know that I don't have any masses in my neck that might obstruct my breathing.

I am wondering if anyone has this problem (tracheal stenosis) and if so, how are you dealing with it?

I have many reasons to lose weight, but I don't know if that will solve all of my problems.

I look forward to any replies you all may have.

Love in OCF,
Kerri