someone please give me some advice on

[ontariogirl]

Bronchitis:


I started with a sore throat last Sat. and then the coughing began.
I went to the clinic yesterday and I have bronchitis. This is the firsttime.I am on Avelox one pill a day for 10 days. He told me to boil water put it in a bowl put a towel over my head and breathe in the steam, to make me cough the crap up. I can feel the crap in my throat. I took my first pill Sunday night with no hesitation at all.
Question, I have been doing the hot water steam and it does make my nose run which is good for my sinus's but when I cough I feel like gagging which scares the hell out of me, the crap comes up into the throat but that is it. I know if I gag I will throw up and I don't want to, I am very scared.
Please I need some advice please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crimgoddess]

Ontario Girl-


That crap needs to come up or else you will just prolong the agony and feel sick for a longer period of time. I get like this usually about 2 or 3 times a year- and while the steam does make me gag a bit- it usually only brings up the mucus- not anything I have eaten. It sounds gross, and looks gross- but it ain't vomit.


I know you're scared- but you have to get yourself well again. You dont want to get worse- or be sick longer. Just keep telling yourself "I'm coughing to bring up phlegm....This is good for me and I'm not going to throw up".


I used to be asthmatic, and would cough uncontrollably to the point of vomitting- but it wasn't like 'normal' vomitting- more like you only bring up a mouthful or so of whats in your stomach, instead of the whole shibang. Even though at that point I was scared of vomitting myself- I wasn't especially scared of this because it was 'different'.


Hope you feel better-


*amber*

[ontariogirl]

Thanks. The phelm is becoming loose when I cough, and then it happened. I coughed until I gagged. Here I am with my head in the sick having dry heaves, nothing came up, balling like a baby. My jaws are killing me, my nose sure ran though. Later I coughed and got some up. This is so disgusting. My friend who had this said I will have at least 3 days of this. All I can say is GROSS.



Thanks for your advice crimgoddess

[suze]

A couple of years ago, I had something like this, progressed to pneumonia in the end! I just couldn't get the phlegm up, no way. The doc wanted me to cough some up so they could test which bugs were causing it, but I couldn't. I can handle most bodily fluids, but phlegm is treated with the same contempt as vomit in my book - so gross. In the end, they finally got the antibiotic right after three different types. The pneumonia went, but then I got thrush (sorry if it's TMI, LOL), so too did my daughter who I was breastfeeding at the time - poor thing!


Anyway, if you can't, you can't - you're just gonna have to swallow it (uuggh!) and hope your body fights it. It'll make you feel a bit icky, but it's never made me v* - i gathered coughing it up posed more of a risk.

[tayda]

I have been getting this cough that is on again off again.. he first one lasted lke 3 weeks.. and this one has been about the same...


I don't have bronchitis (thank god)... but I've been taking a cough suppressant at night w/ an expectorant (or something like that) to help get the phlem out..


I just thought it was funny that i was doing the same thing to help losen the stuff up and get it out...


It hurts to cough... but at least I can breath when I get it out... gl... the good news is that if it's a bacterial brochitis.. then you should feel better soon w/ the meds./;

[crystalmom]

I HATE that feeling of having your chest be so congested that it hurts. I use the steam thing first thing. I can't take anything with an expectorant b/c I take paxil, and apparently, you can't take both. I did once, then read the label. Totally freaked. Called the pharmasist, and they said that the only thing it will do (taking something with DM and an antidepressant) is make you hyper!


Use the steam...you don't want it to get worse.


Crystal


Feel better!

[chicajojobe]

Yeah you do need to cough the crap up. If you feel like you're gagging
then it's probably from coughing too hard, or if it's more of a
tickling feeling then it's the phlegm making you uncomfortable.



Don't cough too hard if you really just cant get something up, but don't fight the urge to cough up crap when it comes.



When I'm congested I don't usually like using the hunch over a bowl
with a towel over head method either. I prefer a hot shower. Shut the
bathroom door and windows, turn on the water as hot as you can stand
it, and just take a leisurly shower. I find that way there's the steam
exposure to loosen up the phlegm, plus the hot water also soothes tense
muscles, and just generally makes you feel more relaxed.



You said you were prescribed Avelox, which is an antibiotic right? Did
they give you any kind of expectorant? If not you may want to ask the
doctor to prescribe one or ask if it's okay to use an OTC. Expectorants
are
specifically designed to loosen up mucus in the bronchial tubes. It may
have a different name in Canada but there's one here in the United
States that's OTC called Mucinex. Definetly ask the dr before taking it
since, as Crystalmom pointed out, there might me a reason you can't
take it.


Edited by: chicajojobe

[madisonsmom]

Hey...sorry your sick. I had somthing similar a few weeks ago. Coughing and gagging is NO fun.


You need to get some Robitussin DM. It is a cough suppressant AND expectorant which helps loosen the mucous and helps your cough be more productive. Also drink a lot of fluids. This really does help.


Feel better. Do you get on MSN anymore?? I miss you![img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[ontariogirl]

Thanks girls. The doctor told me that using a cough medicine is s**t, he does not recomend it at all.
He told me about the steam and I think that is why I had that fit. I have not had a fit since, but it will happen.
Yes I am on a very strong antibiodic, one pill a day for 10 days.
Thanks everyone.
I want to feel better because I am meeting "Sparky" tomorrow. I can't wait. For those of you that have been on for months will remember Sparky. Health and weather permiting I hope I can go.



Debbie, I miss you to, and yes I am on msn.

[crystalmom]

ok...i've been here a while....who is "sparky"??? Online romance??? [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]


That's how I met my b/f!

[ontariogirl]

No sparky is Helen. She lives about 2 hours away, we have chatted on the phone. I didn't go today because we are getting nailed with freezing rain[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]

[madisonsmom]

I remember Sparky. How is she doing??

[65roses]

I cough up mucus 3 times a day as daily therapy for cystic fibrosis, and I never throw up so I think I can give you a few pointers.


When you start to gag, try "huffing" I'm not sure how to describe it, but if you get the gist give thata try, it will losen it. It is easier to get up if you sit upright and not hunched over. Try humming a little too, it will vibrate your vocal cords so it won't get so stuck there.


A little exercise can help bring it up more naturally than drugs. Nothing too strenuous since you have bronchitis, but some walking or dancing will definitely loosen it up.


Good luck, hope you are feeling better soon!

[sparky2004]

I am great thanks! I am waiting for Ontariogirl to get here...I am so excited.....she has helped me so much.....and she is bringing me Tim Horton's coffee.....(drools).....it's gonna be a blast!!!!