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I hope someone can help me with a health issue I'm dealing with right now. I've never been a wheezy person and I don't have asthma, but I'm doing it now and it's driving me nuts.
I've been coughing for over 3 weeks and although it's finally getting better, it's been very gradual. I was diagnosed last weekend with bronchitis at Urgent Care and given an RX for Augmentin and an Albuterol inhaler. I had already been on Amoxicillin for about 5 days when I headed to Urgent Care with the wheezies.
The Augmentin and the Albuterol did nothing to help, so I saw a P.A. at my PCP's office a couple days later, and she gave me an RX for Albuterol to be used in a nebulizer, and asked that I give the Augmentin a couple more days to work.
A couple of days later, I saw a D.O. at the office who ordered a shot of steroids in my patoot and a shot of antibiotics as well, and said to discontinue the Augmentin. I went in for a chest X-ray last Tuesday to rule out pneumonia and have yet to hear back on that!
While the cough is gradually improving and the gunk is not yucky green anymore, I don't like this wheezing stuff and I'm frankly tired of taking prescription stuff that's not working. The steroid shot didn't work and the Albuterol in the nebulizer or the inhaler just makes me jittery but I still wheeze.
my oxygen levels have been from 93-100% at my visits so I think I'm getting enough air-it's more annoying than anything.
Over the weekend, the P.A. phoned in an RX for a week's worth of oral steroids and another antibiotic, but again, I'm really getting tired of taking a bunch of drugs and am looking for any tips and suggestions at this point. Since the green gunk is turning clear I'd like to avoid the antibiotic and I'm honestly not sure about the steroids. Does anyone have any ideas on why this wheezing is hanging around so long, and what I can do short of sitting in a hot shower 24/7 to get it to clear out? Thank you so much!
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I have to say "ditto" to the above posts, as well! I wrote (back in the summer) about the EXACT same symptoms you have been having, and got to the point of assuming I was just always going to be sick.
Do you have seasonal allergies, by chance?
My symptoms continued to get worse, as I stopped taking what the doctor prescribed (same stuff you are on, plus a cough suppressant). I developed pleurisy from coughing so much towards the end of this, and then THAT took another 6 weeks to get over. I actually don't remember ever feeling better, just one day woke up and realized I wasn't feeling as bad: no more congestion, not wheezing as much, not coughing as much, actually slept that night.
Be patient, but do continue seeking medical treatment to make sure you don't develop anything further. It really did take me 2+ months to recover (I do suffer from allergies, but was wondering if I was developing asthma or pneumonia, just like you said. I wasn't--it was just the virus causing sinusitis, then bronchitis, then pleurisy for me).
One note: I highly respect Coach Virginia's posts, but wanted to give a cautionary tale. I do not typically use herbal supplements, and when I was desperate, I decided to try some fairly common ones (flax oil, aloe vera, etc). Since my body was not used to these substances (albeit, harmless by themselves), and I was already using all of my energy to fight off my infections/diseases...my body did not tolerate the herbal remedies and I THEN developed some awful stomach maladies during the week. I very much support herbal remedies, but hesitate to offer them as solutions to someone not already taking them while they are sick.
December 2, 2008 - 1:54pmThis Comment
NancyDrewfan, Susan and Virginia have given you excellent information, but I'll just chime in here to agree with the long recovery time.
A few winters ago I had this, and my bronchitis turned into Respiratory Airways Syndrome. I too was on the meds that you are on. My inhaler did work, albeit slowly -- the doctor said that an inhaler is one of the best ways to get medicine straight to the inflamed tissues of the lungs, so I kept at it (and eventually got over the jitteryness). It took me probably 8-10 weeks before I felt completely back to normal, so don't give up -- and don't quit too soon. Infections like that can rebound. Work on the natural cures, quiz your doctors when you need more information, and take heart in even the smallest improvement. Bronchitis is tough stuff to break.
Take care. And know that you're not alone in fighting this gunk.
December 2, 2008 - 9:32amThis Comment
Nancy Drew, it sounds from your posting that you have tried pretty much everything that is available through what I call mainstream medicine. It is important to continue monitoring your symptoms to ensure they do not linger longer than what it can be considered "normal" or acute. In your case, it does not sound like a chronic condition, so acute wheezing, when not attributed to an allergen, infection or irritation, may be triggered by extreme weather conditions, strenuous exercise and may even be the adverse reaction to medications.
Whether suffering from acute or chronic wheezing however, the sound of distressed breathing could indicate a more complex respiratory condition that is why you need to ensure that you see your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen. I know of a couple of natural remedies that you can try to alleviate your condition. Give them a try, since they are natural and safe, you have nothing to lose. I am going to assume a few things in your case.
You may be experiencing a narrowing of the bronchia which results in wheezing, which is caused by difficulty to taking deep breaths. Your bronchitis if not treated properly could result in complications that lead to secondary problems such as depression and anxiety, over the fear of being unable to breathe properly.
My suggestions for natural methods to wheezing are appropriate whether the wheezing is caused by an infection or environmental factors:
1. Drink a tea known as coltsfoot or
December 2, 2008 - 1:30am2. Eat or drink garlic juice.
3. Consume natural herbs such as passionflower, to alleviate muscle spasms and ginkgo biloba, to relax the nervous system, both can improve the effects of wheezing.
4. Licorice tea is another popular product used by alternative medicine specialists. Licorice tea, in one heaping teaspoon added to a cup of water, can improve wheezing in as little as five minutes.
5. Massage the chest with Vick's rub
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