Fever? Bronchitis?

[Stevi]

I have Emphysema and have kept it pretty much under control for the last couple years. I get a flu shot and take tons of antioxidents...

But, now I think I'm sick. It feels like Bronchitis, but I don't recall having fevers with that. A bad 3 months of Bronchitis is how I found out I had Emphysema in 2005.

Any recommendations? Ideas?

[lotus.blossom]

to you! I don't really have any advice, just that I am geting over a really long 2 week cold and on top of the all day sickness it has been really rough on me. I am hoping you can knock this out of your system!!

Do you have access to fresh juice? I have a juicer and do a carrot/apple/spinach/celery mix when I am getting sick. Usually helps. I also used to take airborne when I was coming down with something but since I'm pregnant this time (and was camping when I came down with it) I didn't catch it in time.

[itsang]

as soon as i feel like i'm coming down with any type of cold/congestion/cough/flu type of thing, i take lots of SA & that really kicks it in the butt before i have a chance to fully come down with it. SA has saved me from many colds.

[catters]

Oh honey, I hear you loud and clear. I have had pneumonia seven diagnosed times in my life and countless bouts of bronchitis. It is like MY personal illness. Ugh. Currently I'm battling a chest cold that leaves me gasping and coughing up tons and tons of crap. Ugh. Of course, I'm all freaked out by all the coughing. Bleh. I have been using a saline sinus rinse 2x a day and trying to drink as much fluid as I can suck down. Anyway, I know its no help, but I hear you. URI's suck!!!! I'm sorry to read you have emphysema, that is no fair.

[Stevi]

Thank you all. I guess I'm going to just take my butt to a doctor, I haven't seen one yet for my pregnancy anyway. I'm feeling worse today, so maybe a doctor can help me get through it faster.

I wouldn't mind juices, but I also have acid reflux, so I can't do many of them.

What is SA??

Catters... So, you have COPD? They group Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema under that heading, meaning we have the same illness, sort of. Did you have it when you had your son? Did it cause any major problems?

[itsang]

ooops, sorry for not clarifying. SA is sodium ascorbate...a buffered vitamin c.

[Stevi]

I already take 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, plus whatever is in the prenatals. Not sure my reflux can take much more...

It seems to be Bronchitis, though. I guess I just forgot about the fevers. Now that the throat ripping cough is in full force, my memory is returning!

I have an appointment tomorrow with some clinic that is supposed to also help me apply for Medicaid. Ugh!

[russianthistle]

ooops double post!

[russianthistle]

chew a clove or three of garlic!
it's kind of intense, but it really kicks an infection (and always does the trick for me w/ sore throats).

[Stevi]

Garlic? Won't that irritate my Acid Reflux? I'd like to try it, but I hate garlic...

The coughing is getting worse, it's so violent that is kicked my nausea into gear and I lost half my dinner, including the supplements/vitamins/etc I took right beforehand!! Aaaarrrgh!

[ColoradoMama]

Does ginger irritate your acid reflux? If not, I'd suggest that. Our acupuncturist had me giving it to my son.

[Stevi]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

Does ginger irritate your acid reflux? If not, I'd suggest that. Our acupuncturist had me giving it to my son.

I'll have to look that up...

I have an appointment tomorrow to hopefully see a doctor, so, we'lll see what they say as well. I'd really prefer not to take antibiotics, but I also do not want to risk being as sick as I was before! And antibiotics is what finally got me over it before, so, probably better sooner than later.

[catters]

Originally Posted by Stevi

Catters... So, you have COPD? They group Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema under that heading, meaning we have the same illness, sort of. Did you have it when you had your son? Did it cause any major problems?

I had a really bad chest cold with DS, right about the same time in my pregnancy as now and I am currently dealing with another chest cold. I didn't have any problems with DS though and I remember worrying about the coughing affecting my pregnancy so early, but, it went fine. I feel like my coughing is worse this time around though. (I moaned about it to my mother and she says to me, "Honey, if you could cough a baby out, do you think there would be a need for abortion? People would just get a cold" - that sort of made me feel better ). I hear you about the violent coughing, I almost threw up the other day to as it was so bad. I totally had to swallow it back. Ugh!!!! Last night I was up for a about an hour in the middle of the night coughing. No fun.

I've not been diagnosed with COPD. I've been tested for CF though and I've even had a few doctors recently suggest I have some weird adult form that you can live with. Whatever, I'm not buying that. I haven't had pneumonia in almost ten years so I am about that, but I do get the bronch more than one should. Sooo...
I drink a boat load of tea with honey, vapo-rub myself up in the shower and am trying to drink my weight in water to flush this stuff out. I also do a sinus rinse with 8 oz of saline through my nose twice a day. I swear it helps immensely.

Feel better. I hope your appointment helped. Good luck and try not to worry!

[Stevi]

Catters...

The doctor appointment is in a couple hours.
Pnuemonia, that's scarey, I'm glad you haven't had it in a long time!
The coughing is already so bad that I only slept in short spurts last night. So I am really tired and more than ready to take anything they want to give me!

[~Katie~]

Stevi - One of my first pregnancy symptoms with DS was getting horrendously sick with bronchitis somewhere between 6-8 weeks. I usually get it once a year but during pregnancy it was one of the worst cases I've ever had. I hope your doctor can help you and you're feeling better soon

[Stevi]

Thank you!

So far I am just going through all of the paperwork to even see a doctor!! I was told it will take awhile, so I should go to the ER. Blech! I'm still thinking about whether I want to go tonight or tomorrow.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Stevi

I already take 1,000 mg of Vitamin C, plus whatever is in the prenatals. Not sure my reflux can take much more...

I've been scared of taking vit C because I have used it before to start AF. What are our thoughts?

[blueRhino]

Stevi I have no ideas for you just wanted to over your my support. I hope you get better very soon!

[Stevi]

Originally Posted by kriket

I've been scared of taking vit C because I have used it before to start AF. What are our thoughts?

I'd never heard of it being used for that... I've been taking it for a couple years as it's a strong antioxident, which is good for my lungs.

I think the amount in the prenatals is more than safe, but if I weren't taking any now, I would not start taking large doses, just in case.


BlueRhino... Thank you.

[Stevi]

Well, back from the ER, where I was told to go as I can't see a doctor until October... Thhhhpppppptttttt!!!!!

At the ER, I was given Zithromax a generic azithromycin, 500mg. Which I'm going to look up right now to double-check it's safety.

I have an appointment tomorrow at 1 to sign up for Medicaid, then another appointment at 3 for "Lab". Apparently the "Lab" is bloodwork, I'm assuming to get those numbers everybody talks about? But my first doctor appointment is October 2nd. I hate our medical system...