Blechy Bronchitis!
I had to go to the doctor today. I've been coughing for a month. It started when we moved back into our bedroom. I thought I was just allergic to all the new carpet, cabinets, and paint. I figured I'd improve after everything aired out.
I got worse when we pulled up the 19 yr old living room carpet. The pad had disintegrated into dust and coated EVERYTHING in the house with a fine layer of dust. We've also had a pretty dry fall and there's lots of crap floating in the air.
Last weekend my ears plugged up, so my equilibrium started screwing up. I also developed a fever with accompanying chills. I haven't slept more than 2-3 hours a night for the last 2 weeks. Everytime my head hits the pillow, I start coughing! I'm exhausted, dizzy and bitchy; time to see my boyfriend's grandpa. (My doctor has a 10 month old grandson, who adores me. The feeling is mutual.)
The bottom line is that my bout with pneumonia, added to hayfever, aggravated by nasty dust, caused a lovely bronchial infection that would eventually lead to pneumonia. At least I had brains enough (this time) to hit the doctor BEFORE this happened.
I now have a 10 day supply of Zithromax and some new anti-coughing "pearls", which should help me get some sleep. Sorry, Zombieslayer; I'm not going to try your exlax cough cure this time!
I'm working on your tag, Notta. I hope to post it tomorrow.
posted by tshsmom @ 6:57 PM
30 comments
30 Comments:
I'd rather you get to feeling better than worry about your ideosyncrasies. :-P
TSHS Mom,
As I was reading, I could do the arithmetic in my head. I was afraid you would already have pneumonia. I'm glad you nipped it in the bud.
Many times I have tried to go to bed and then run into an odd paradox. Unable to breathe lying down, I get up and make some coffee. Coffee is a home ready/first-aid for asthma: it opens up the airways. Sometimes I can't sleep without it.
i hope you feel better!
the Husband has been wheezing from all of the dust that we recently kicked up. he doesn't normally have asthma attacks, but your symptoms and his sound very similar.
Thanks Notta! Actually it's been rather amusing. I asked my guys last night what ideosyncrasies I have; they just smiled and walked away.
Sage, chocolate's been working for me. I think you and I have the market cornered on pneumonia!
Ann, keep an eye on him; it can get out of control really fast!
Those are some smart guys you have, TSHS. :-P
They have already learned an important lesson - it's like when we ask "Do I look fat?" - the response should be automatic by now. ;-)
Notta, the old fart SHOULD know by now, but it suprised me that Z was so diplomatic ;)
Sorry to hear you're so sick.
Do I recall your admitting some time ago that you're also a smoker?
Who, me?
Yeah, it's a vice I'm not proud of.
Bless your heart! Feel better soon!
Thanks Robin! Two days of antibiotics have done wonders.
I'm glad you're feeling some relief after two days of medication. I always have to watch my digestive system when taking antibiotics. Yogurt or acidophilus pills usually help restore what the medicine kills off down there.
Keep getting better!
What's an anti-coughing pearl?
Sorry to hear you are ill. Hope you are feeling better soon and getting lots of sleep!
Ugh! I had no idea. I would've chalked it up to the dust from the carpet (no pun). Good thing you caught it in time. And what IS a cough pearl? I've never gotten pearls for a cough! I get some bile-green cough syrup that tastes like Koolaid mixed with gasahol!
I've heard sagepaper's advice about coffee before, and it does seem to work with Richard's asthma (which is mild).
Squirl, I never thought of that before. I had thrush once, yuck! Good thing I normally eat yogurt.
OK, reading label here. The "pearls" are benzonatate. Dr. says they numb the cough impulse in your lungs. I used to take Nyquil and Vicks Formula 44, but my body has changed over the years and these keep me awake now.
SME, what does the sleep doc say about you staying up 'til 5 a.m.? Hmmm....?
I don't know what Vick's 44 contains, but Nyquil has benadryl, which can switch from something that helps you sleep to something which keeps you awake and irritable.
The drug of choice for severe coughing is codeine. Dextromethorphan is chemically related to codeine, and is the anti-coughing ingredient in many cough syrups. Unfortunately, those can contain other ingredients which are harmful. For example people with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not use sudafed.
Delsym is a dextromethorphan only syrup, if you want only that ingredient. An expectorant can be helpful, too, as in Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan). You don't want to stop all coughing if you have yuck in your lungs. You likely knew that, but a review never hurts.
I don't know what Vick's 44 contains, but Nyquil has benadryl, which can switch from something that helps you sleep to something which keeps you awake and irritable.
The drug of choice for severe coughing is codeine. Dextromethorphan is chemically related to codeine, and is the anti-coughing ingredient in many cough syrups. Unfortunately, those can contain other ingredients which are harmful. For example people with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not use sudafed.
Delsym is a dextromethorphan only syrup, if you want only that ingredient. An expectorant can be helpful, too, as in Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan). You don't want to stop all coughing if you have yuck in your lungs. You likely knew that, but a review never hurts.
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Sage, I'd be willing to bet that 44 has benadryl. I get irritable too, but I thought it was from lack of sleep. Thanks; now I know which ingredient to watch out for!
Codeine makes me REALLY flaky.
Ick. Take care of yourself. This kind of thing always get worse if you aren't careful.
My husband ripped up the carpet in our first home and it was bad. He got some kind of chest cold and a case of shingles from stress.
Sadie, we learned a valuable lesson. Wear a mask when tearing up carpet! I shudder to think about tearing up carpet that strangers have lived on.
I've never had shingles *knocking wood(on my head)*, but I've known a lot of people who have. It's HORRIBLE!!
Tshsmom - I wish you were here in Chico, CA. My wife had a bad case of bronchitis. She's allergic to sulfur and penicillin. The stupid doctor gave her a drug with sulfur, because he didn't bother to check. She got really sick from the drug and stopped taking it.
So we went to the local Chinese herb doctor. He gave her some pills and she was cherry within two days. Ever since then, we've been going to this guy for minor things and his herbs are magic. You get cleared up right away, without the side effects of modern medicine.
I hope you get better soon.
I read a book about treating perimenopause with herbal remedies. It's been working like a charm!
It would be great to have someone to go to for herbal cures. I'm limited by what I can read about them.
Quit looking at my post times!! Heehee.
get better!!!
{{{hugs}}}
At least you got your z-pack early. Recover soon!
Zombie's in Chico?? Did I already know that? Wow. You're a hop skip and a jump away.
I thought you knew that, Sadie? You guys were planning a get together weren't you. Michelle said something about this on your blog.
Thanks Euro and Jason. I've actually slept the last 2 nights, so things are looking up!
Tshsmom - Sorry, Zombieslayer; I'm not going to try your exlax cough cure this time!
Heh, I completely forgot about that joke.
Bridget - She now has the stomach flu that she got from some kids she was taking care of. Went to that Chinese guy and she's working again. That guy works wonders.
Yeah, that sucks you have that allergy too. She swells up really bad and looks scary.
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