Bronchitis??

JVanRN · Jan 10, 2005

Tussionex is the best in my experience....but be careful....it made me sleeeepy (couldn't take it and work)...but it afffects everyone differently. Hope you feel better....Bronchitis sux big time . : )

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2005

I had the worse of the symptoms of the same thing the next day after that post! LOL! It is no fun, and I tried just about anything to help with the cough, sore throat and oh boy the nasal drainage!

Here is what worked for me...hopefully it can help. One, I took a rice sock and heated it up and wore it non stop on my neck..that so helped with the neck ache from all those swollen glands.

Two, I drank lots of tea with honey in it...and this hot drink that a friend suggested..it is a chrysanthemum drink from Japan (most Asian markets will have it). It is made of chrysanthemum and lots of honey...sweet first taste and a little black pepper after taste...very odd but I grew to like it quite a bit! After I started drinking that my coughs became much more productive and less hurtful! I giggled because the box said that it "has a cooling and refreshing effect on the body" and I was like "yeah right"...ummmm it SO DID!

For those nights I couldn't sleep, a little bit of hot sake helped put me right to sleep. I don't condone drinking when you are ill or have taken meds..but I hadn't taken the meds because they weren't working..and that hot sake just felt like a hot liquid massage and put me right to sleep so relaxed! I also didn't cough much! You don't need much (too much does the opposite), just a sake cup or two...oh prrrrrr (may not taste great to me, but prrrrrrrrr did it feel so relaxing!).

Three...breathright strips! I didn't think that would help one bit..just make my nasal drainage come out uncontrollably..but WOW, it did the absolute opposite and I could breath and it dryed everything out just wonderfully!

Four...I wore mentholatum...LOL~! It really helped me.

Five...took many hot soaks in the bath (with my mentholatum..LOL!). That really helped those aches and pains!

and six...stayed in bed, or typed a bit on here and went back to bed. My family put our dvd player in my room so I could watch movies which was so nice...and after a few moments of a movie..I was out like a light!

I found that not a single cold relief med helped me at all...but the other things I mentioned did!!!!!

I still am dealing with the crazy sinuses bit...you know how colds are..like to linger..LOL! But all in all I feel much better, still a bit weak because I had to work and didn't get the rest I needed...but on the road to recovery :)

Good luck to you for a speedy recovery!

IloveSnoopy · Jan 11, 2005

Well...thanks folks for your advice and input.... I did make it to the doc and the verdict is in: a pretty severe case of bronchitis. They started me on a Z-pack and also gave me phenergan with codeine cough syrup and an albuterol inhaler to use prn. Ohh..and most important of all: an excuse note for tonight. I hate calling in...but having a note just makes things easier...i feel less guilt. Anyways...I know I wouldn't have made it anyways.....the walk from the car to the clinic just about killed me...I couldn't imagine running up and down the med/surg halls all night long. Anyways..thanks again guys for the advice...I'm glad I decided to get checked out. Hopefully I will be on the fast track to recovery...

luv,

Snoop

ldynwht · Jan 11, 2005

HI folks,
Well..apparently my previous post on "hating winter nursing" has come back to haunt me big time!! Exactly a week ago....I started feeling a vague sore throat and an occasional cough....well..by thursday morning I had severe body aches, runny nose, headache, and a cough from hell!!!! I have literally been coughing non stop since thursday....I really don't think I've slept at all since then. As soon as I lay down...cough,cough,cough,cough. It has been a fairly dry cough for the most part. Well...tonight, I'm supposed to work and I just don't think I'll be able to make it. I finally bit the bullet and will be seeing an urgent care doc at 4pm today. I'm assuming it may be viral....but for the love of God..I need something for this cough. I've tried a few OTC remedies to no avail. My body literally won't let me cough anymore because my ribs, back and tummy are sooooooooo sore from coughing. The body aches and low grade fever are hanging on too.....oh and the terrible fatigue...(of course not sleeping in days might be adding to this). So...what do you guys think I have??? A viral resp. infection, bronchitis, or the remains of the dreaded influenza A?? I did have the flu shot this year....but Wed., we were all exposed to an influenza A patient. She was admitted for chest pain...hmmmm....turned out to be our good buddy flu-zy.
Anyways...I can honestly say I have not felt this crappy in ages!!! I feel bad for calling in....but I may get a doc's note...as long as I'm there....and seriously..I wouldn't want anyone to get this crap...EVER. Do you guys think I'm stupid for being seen? I thought so at first...but man..this has got to stop sometime!!! If I could at least get some decent cough medicine...I could perhaps sleep a little..which might start me on the road to recovery. Ok...thanks for listening..
Luv ya all...
Snoop

join the crowd, seems to be going around. I drank hot tea with lemon and honey, really sooths the sore throat. :sniff: Feel better soon!!

plumrn, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2005

So sorry you are ill. Hope you can rest and catch up on your sleep. That's probably 1/2 the battle right there!

smk1, LPN · Jan 11, 2005

thinking perhaps i need to head in after hearing what you had was in fact bronchitis. I have the tendency to assume everything will just "run its course" but i have been so fatigued and coughing to the point that i have a sore throat and chest and a low greade fever is there as well (99.0, but i am always bang on 98.6 so i know something is up even with this low of a fever) I hope you feel better. I made the dumb mistake of taking a half dose of nyquil before class this morning because i wanted relief from my symptoms and it was the only thing in the cabinet. I slept in my car at lung for over 2 hours and was late to A&P lab! (hey at least now i know nyquil really will help you get your z's)

Blackcat99 · Jan 11, 2005

Yes I've had bronchitis. The coughing episodes were just awful.!

plumrn, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2005

Nyquil is great, but it will put me to sleep if I take it during the day. The only times I have taken it daytime, were when I was home, sick in bed, and didn't care if I slept all day.