I have all the symptoms. On antibiotics from doctor, cough is rough keeping me awake all night.
Any otc suggestions?
Any otc suggestions?
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Pneumonia
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Last: 8 min ago by Absolute
No advice on otc. But don't mess around with it. Put me in ICU for 6 days several years ago
for me... always drink lots of liquids. warm liquids help. like OVERhydrate. that helps keep the mucus flowing and not clogging up your lungs. if you are not having to pee every 30 minutes, you are not drinking enough :-)
i generally hate humidifiers, but i appreciate the moisture in my lungs
hot showers at night (like nuclear hot) for teh steam.
big ass pillows to prop upper back/shoulders and head up.
i generally hate humidifiers, but i appreciate the moisture in my lungs
hot showers at night (like nuclear hot) for teh steam.
big ass pillows to prop upper back/shoulders and head up.
Antibiotics based on symptoms or physical exam/x-ray?
For cough, honey works just as good or better than anything OTC, and better than many prescription stuff. Is that the main thing you need relief from?
For cough, honey works just as good or better than anything OTC, and better than many prescription stuff. Is that the main thing you need relief from?
Cough and chest congestion is the worse. Fatigue is second, comes along with this I know.
Yep, teaspoon of honey at night. Lots of fluids, humidified air, rest. Cough can last 3-4 weeks in many cases. Hope it doesn't for you though!!
Got my first case this past year. Coughed up blood for a month. Heavy at first, just dried for the last week or two (rust brown). Took me about 3 months to not get winded easily. Scary stuff.
There is no great cough medicine. Most of the prescription cough medicines just put you to sleep.
If I have to pick something, I usually go with Delsym. I like the Cepacol cough lozenges because they have benzocaine in them, just can't over do them. You can become toxic on benzocaine.
I also like to take and give people bronchodilators for pneumonia (albuterol inhaler or nebs). Agree with humidifiers and vaporizers--as long as they're clean.
Plenty of supportive care comfort medicines: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, favorite "cold" elixers. I'm usually on DayQuil and Nyquil when I don't feel well (just watch the tylenol and "double dipping."
A couple of other important things to remember and consider about pneumonia: the antibiotics may take care of and kill the bacteria, but the x-ray may continue to look "bad" for some time. There is inflammation and damage in the lungs that takes time to recover. This is why you frequently get a bad case of bronchitis that follows the pneumonia. This also explains why the cough is the last thing to go.
This doesn't mean you need more antibiotics, it means that you just need to recover from the damage that was done. This can unfortunately take months. The "active" phase of pneumonia on good treatment lasts about 7-10 days. The "passive" recovery phase again can last weeks to months. This is what frustrates most people because they can't seem to get better sooner.
If I have to pick something, I usually go with Delsym. I like the Cepacol cough lozenges because they have benzocaine in them, just can't over do them. You can become toxic on benzocaine.
I also like to take and give people bronchodilators for pneumonia (albuterol inhaler or nebs). Agree with humidifiers and vaporizers--as long as they're clean.
Plenty of supportive care comfort medicines: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, favorite "cold" elixers. I'm usually on DayQuil and Nyquil when I don't feel well (just watch the tylenol and "double dipping."
A couple of other important things to remember and consider about pneumonia: the antibiotics may take care of and kill the bacteria, but the x-ray may continue to look "bad" for some time. There is inflammation and damage in the lungs that takes time to recover. This is why you frequently get a bad case of bronchitis that follows the pneumonia. This also explains why the cough is the last thing to go.
This doesn't mean you need more antibiotics, it means that you just need to recover from the damage that was done. This can unfortunately take months. The "active" phase of pneumonia on good treatment lasts about 7-10 days. The "passive" recovery phase again can last weeks to months. This is what frustrates most people because they can't seem to get better sooner.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Vick Vaporub is really a great relief to open up airways. I had pneumonia recently and I couldn't go to bed without it.
rjhtamu said:
There is no great cough medicine. Most of the prescription cough medicines just put you to sleep.
If I have to pick something, I usually go with Delsym. I like the Cepacol cough lozenges because they have benzocaine in them, just can't over do them. You can become toxic on benzocaine.
I also like to take and give people bronchodilators for pneumonia (albuterol inhaler or nebs). Agree with humidifiers and vaporizers--as long as they're clean.
Plenty of supportive care comfort medicines: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, favorite "cold" elixers. I'm usually on DayQuil and Nyquil when I don't feel well (just watch the tylenol and "double dipping."
A couple of other important things to remember and consider about pneumonia: the antibiotics may take care of and kill the bacteria, but the x-ray may continue to look "bad" for some time. There is inflammation and damage in the lungs that takes time to recover. This is why you frequently get a bad case of bronchitis that follows the pneumonia. This also explains why the cough is the last thing to go.
This doesn't mean you need more antibiotics, it means that you just need to recover from the damage that was done. This can unfortunately take months. The "active" phase of pneumonia on good treatment lasts about 7-10 days. The "passive" recovery phase again can last weeks to months. This is what frustrates most people because they can't seem to get better sooner.
Great advice. Are you a pulm?
I also do the nyquil dayquil fan. Not life changing but helpful.
For kids the beta agonist data is not great but I have no issues trying a LABA ICS for pneumonia
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
ER doc
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
I used to get pneumonia/upper resp infections constantly. Mucinex is what I would immediately take but if it lingered, I'd request a z-pack which always seemed to nip whatever I was building up the quickest. Constant hydration. The worst of it all is the coughing pain in your muscles, though.
I hope you feel better soon, it is awful! Also, we got rid of carpet upstairs and added air purifiers in bedrooma and I have been upper resp. free since those changes.
I am runner, and I had one urgent care doc tell me to stop running all together because Houston air is so bad. Sorry, no chance of that!
I hope you feel better soon, it is awful! Also, we got rid of carpet upstairs and added air purifiers in bedrooma and I have been upper resp. free since those changes.
I am runner, and I had one urgent care doc tell me to stop running all together because Houston air is so bad. Sorry, no chance of that!
Thoughts on the vaccine for healthy 56yo? Had a mild case maybe a decade ago and it sucked pretty bad.
One of the smartest medical professors I've ever had, a Doctor House of sorts, but the nicest man possible was an avid runner in Houston. He died of lung cancer shortly after my graduation.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
rjhtamu said:
One of the smartest medical professors I've ever had, a Doctor House of sorts, but the nicest man possible was an avid runner in Houston. He died of lung cancer shortly after my graduation.
I always attempted that to his military id work
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Absolute said:
Thoughts on the vaccine for healthy 56yo? Had a mild case maybe a decade ago and it sucked pretty bad.
I woukd get it. Strep pneumonia is very bad and more people aren't vaccinating their kids for it so we will likely see more in the senior population soon.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Possible, having lived in Houston for 4 years, I can see why people might blame Houston.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Get the inhaler that people with asthma use, it helps keep the airways open during your recovery period. I just came off "walking pneumonia" as a secondary infection to bronchitis in August. Lasted a month. Miserable. Rotated between afrin, whatever that drowsy prescription cough syrup is, and about 3 antibiotics. Nothing helped except time.
KidDoc said:Absolute said:
Thoughts on the vaccine for healthy 56yo? Had a mild case maybe a decade ago and it sucked pretty bad.
I woukd get it. Strep pneumonia is very bad and more people aren't vaccinating their kids for it so we will likely see more in the senior population soon.
Thanks. Can it be taken at the same time as the flu shot?
Quote:
Thanks. Can it be taken at the same time as the flu shot?
I got the pneumonia and flu shot today after my doc reassured me that it would okay. So far I just have two sore arms.
Before today, I wasn't aware that doctors recommend the pneumonia shot after you turn 50.
Absolute said:KidDoc said:Absolute said:
Thoughts on the vaccine for healthy 56yo? Had a mild case maybe a decade ago and it sucked pretty bad.
I woukd get it. Strep pneumonia is very bad and more people aren't vaccinating their kids for it so we will likely see more in the senior population soon.
Thanks. Can it be taken at the same time as the flu shot?
yup!
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
rjhtamu said:
Possible, having lived in Houston for 4 years, I can see why people might blame Houston.
I am not going to argue about that! Since moving out of Houston (circa 2005 or so) I have had a dramatic decline in my severe asthma population. I also get kids move out of India to Aggieland and their asthma dramatically improves.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Got the vaccinations Monday afternoon. Flu was uneventful as usual. But man, the pneumonia one kicked my butt as my body processed it. Spent Tuesday on the couch popping Advil. Better yesterday but still noticeable. Feel fine today but that arm is still red and warm and sore over the entire upper arm.
Definitely keep that in mind when scheduling. Yes, I still consider it worthwhile based on how I remember feeling from my minor case years ago.
Definitely keep that in mind when scheduling. Yes, I still consider it worthwhile based on how I remember feeling from my minor case years ago.
52 and got the pneumonia vaccine four months ago.
With that said, does it prevent? Or just lessen the symptoms?
With that said, does it prevent? Or just lessen the symptoms?
$230-$260 for chest x rays with insurance sound right?
Buford T. Justice said:
52 and got the pneumonia vaccine four months ago.
With that said, does it prevent? Or just lessen the symptoms?
I believe that with most vaccines we hope for prevent and expect lesson symptom at worst.
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