Feel like I'll get pneumonia *again*! How to prevent? - Page 2

[iamme]

Originally Posted by beaner&tiegs

Hey Flowmom! No skin off my back re: garlic oil! I personally ingest tonnes of raw garlic on garlic toast with a big bowl of soup, the oil is more for the kids who I can't get to eat the garlic!!!!!!! The important part is to get as much garlic into you as possible:-) Also, I don't know if I mentioned it before, but our naturopath suggested to J to do a ginger bath to help get rid of fever and congestion. Not sure how it works, I'd be inclined to steep a bunch of grated ginger in water for 4 hours, then strain and put in a hot hot bath and sit in it for a while. Then wrap up in lots of blankets to sweat out the bugs. BE SURE TO DRINK LOTS OF WATER during this!!!!!

As for drinking juices, iamme, I would tend to stop drinking juices and stick to tonnes of teas. Hot tea is great for congestion, and has no sugars. If rehydration is an issue, I'd be inclined to drink more coconut waters along with hot teas. I'd cut out all sugars and starches, and absolutely all dairy, to try and help cut out muccous and let your immune system boost up. And if you're always getting it, I'd start look at environmental factors like dust and rugs and bedding that might be triggering allergies/asthma-like factors? And basic immune-boosting stuff. Sorry to hear your frustration, it sucks to always feel sick.

Thanks for the advice! I did stop all juices and just stuck to teas today. Also, I ate a total of 8 cloves of garlic. Is that too much? I feel fine-a little better, actually. I just had a piece of toast with chopped garlic on it and a bowl of soup with more garlic-then realized that I had eaten that many. I love garlic, and could probably eat twice that much if it's safe(can't imagine why not?). I've been trying to think of anti-viral foods or supplements and garlic was the best I could do.

Originally Posted by vancouverlori

Don't feel bad about hijacking - I'm sure Flowmom shared this thread with the community at large for everyone's benefit.

Asthma can come up at any time. I've found that after each pregnancy, my body was changed. After my first, I developed allergies and asthma. Since my second, they've hardly bothered me. Heck, some women even have premenstrual asthma. Gotta love our female hormones! As for the inhaler, depending on what kind you're using, it may take time to work. Short-acting bronchodilators (like Ventolin/albuterol/salbutamol or terbutaline) should reduce coughing and wheezing within 10 minutes, but are not an instant cure. Steroid inhalers (Flovent, Pulmicort, etc) work by toning down the immune system's overreaction (yes, that's what happens) right at the level of DNA (by stopping the production of inflammatory proteins and enzymes). They take time to work, usually 4 to 7 days before you notice any difference. And then they should be continued for a week or two, depending on how it goes, and then as determined by frequency of need for short-acting bronchodilators) Patience, grasshopper! I hope you feel better soon!

That is interesting and weird! But, I'm all too familiar with female hormones and the odd changes they can bring about. Anyway, this inhaler is albuterol. I stopped taking it today as I got freaked out by the gassy-like smell. My breathing is better, but if I start wheezing again tonight, I'll use it.

Thanks!

[vancouverlori]

Originally Posted by iamme

That is interesting and weird! But, I'm all too familiar with female hormones and the odd changes they can bring about.

I should point out that I probably had food allergies and asthma as a kid, but they went undiagnosed. Numerous "ear infections" (that stopped when I stopped drinking milk b/c I didn't like it anymore), numerous bouts of "bronchitis"... these can be signs of allergies and asthma in kids. I seemed to outgrow these things somewhat by age 14 (I also believe in 7-year cycles to the body), and both my pregnancies coincided with ages that were multiples of 7.

[JaneS]

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml

Cold and flu season is low vitamin D season.

I do 5000 IU daily as maintenance. 10,000 IU for a month or two to get blood levels up when they tested low. I haven't been sick in over a year and this is huge for me. (Also have a very stressful life and divorce!) See website for advice.

[iamme]

Originally Posted by JaneS

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/treatment.shtml

Cold and flu season is low vitamin D season.

I do 5000 IU daily as maintenance. 10,000 IU for a month or two to get blood levels up when they tested low. I haven't been sick in over a year and this is huge for me. (Also have a very stressful life and divorce!) See website for advice.

Jane, thanks so much for posting this information. Until two weeks ago, I understood how important Vit. D was, but had no idea how much our bodies really need. I am seeing a new chiropractor, and he had told me to switch to a vit.D that was in sublingual form(lozenge) and the amount for each tablet is 1,000 IU. When I just saw him he said to take 10,000 IUs and I really doubted this. I've been taking 5,000-and after reading this information just took another 5,000. I noticed yesterday that my body seemed to be on the mend, and I do think it is due to the increased vit.d! To think that this is most likely an appropriate maintenance dosage and the medicinal dosage is 10,000 is mind blowing yet oh so encouraging!

The link also cleared up what I have been wondering this week(but too lazy to research)and that is whether Vit. D is different than Vit D3.

I don't need to take the test, I *know* my body has needed Vit D3 in great amounts for a long time.

[raksmama]

Thanks everyone for sharing. I am not the OP but I also pneumonia seemingly out of the blue last year. I am writing all this down!