infectious or complication?

[polly22]

What can be wrong? One week ago I came down with a "cold" the sole symptom of which is a bad cough and lots of phlegm. My son had it so I presume I caught it from him. Two nights ago, the cough got much worse---so bad I can only get snatches of sleep, and sometimes I cannot quite finish the cough, perhaps since so much mucus, but instead wheeze and gasp to breathe. I have had colds, bronchitises, sinusituses, and once pneumonia in my life (I'm 69), but never this sort of gasping wheeze. This condition is no longer helped, except for a few minutes, by expectorant cough syrup, codeine cough syrup, drinking lots of water and juices, cough drops, vitamin C, or echinacea pills. Tea and chicken soup, and breathing in steam, perhaps loosen the phlegm--but they cause more coughing, which gets so severe as to cause a tearing pain in my throat. I'm fairly okay when outside walking on a sunny afternoon like today, but as soon as the weather cools, the cough starts up---but the indoor heat makes it worse too. There is no fever, only very rare sneezing or nasal symptoms.          People say there's "a cold with a *bad* cough going around" but my son's cough, for instance, did not advance to this point.

[polly22]

Yes, I am feeling better now--a bit of cough, still, but not much (comparatively). A good thing, since the next step would have been a Levaquin prescription, and when I looked that up, it sounded like a more dangerous antibiotic than most (though I can handle Cipro, and they're apparently related). But I'm taking it easy, working no more than can handle. Thank you again for your suggestions. It is good to find someone who clearly knows her stuff, in this regard. Thank you.

[Sunny602]

Sputum cultures can give a pretty good clue if there is enough sputum in the sample. I think that when people give a sample sometimes they just spit and not give a good sample from deep down so the results come out as normal flora for the respiratory tract. For the most part, as far as personal experience goes, it has been accurate. I have given many samples (I have bronchiectasis from atypical CF) and the bacteria that grows out has been invaluable in regards to my treatment. I don't think that it would hurt if your doctor ordered the test. If you have a whopping infection, something should grow out in the petri dishes. I know of kids who get swabbed (they aren't able to cooperate and cough up a sample) to see what bacteria are growing. It isn't as good as getting a deep sample, but it isn't that unreliable.

Zithromax stays in your blood stream from 5 to 10 days after the last dose, at least that is what my doctor and drug book told me.

How are you feeling? Hopefully you are turning the corner...it sometimes takes awhile before you start to feel better. It took me well over a month to recover from a bout of pneumonia that I had last year.

It is good that things are moving around in your chest, the next step is to bring it up. If it were still tight and nothing were moving, I would be concerned. That is how I can tell the medication is working for me, my chest will rattle as things begin to loosen up. The dull ache gets better as well. Remember to drink tons of fluids to help this process along.
I am glad that I was helpful to you...thank you for your nice compliments!
Take care, Sunny :)

[polly22]

Thanks for these suggestions! I asked the doctor would he do a sputum culture but he said "They're not very accurate." I am definitely having less cough, both yesterday and today, but there's plenty of phlegm moving around in there, still, and I'm still getting some cough paroxym in the evening. In a little while, I am going to phone my doctor again and see if he will prescribe at the least a couple more of the zithromycin since I doubt the bacteria will be thoroughly defeated by the remaining zithromycin (it's a one/day 250mg pill, and now only one, for tomorrow, remains to be taken).  I've no idea whether this is/was whooping cough; the doctor, in prescribing, said "This will work for any of them--whooping cough, pneumonia, bronchitis," and that sputum tests were "inaccurate." He's considered the best doctor in Hood River, Oregon, though that hardly says much.    But the doctor who was on call in the hospital on Saturday, and who released me to home, is not so considered.  Thanks for your cautions and your knowledgeability; it is very appreciated. I am sure you have saved lives on this list.

[Sunny602]

Hi Polly, I am so glad you went to see your doctor. Did they by any chance do a sputum culture on you? If this is bacterial, then something would grow on the cultures. Invaluable information can also be gathered from that test such as sensitivities to antibiotics. The doctors would be able to figure out what antibiotic would best suit your infection. How long have you been taking the zithromycin? Sometimes it takes a few days to start to feel the effects...by any chance, are you running any temperatures or noticed any lightening of your sputum? If you feel that nothing has changed, then I would definitely talk to your doctor again You just might need a stronger combination of antibiotics to cover your infection.
Are you sure you don't have whooping cough? You sound miserable, I hope you find relief soon. You seem to be very sensitive to the cough suppressants which do contain some sort of opiate. It is effective but sometimes too much so. I would talk to your doctor about any alternatives. Honey sometimes works. Also, please remember to drink plenty of water, being hydrated helps coughing as well. There are also cough suppressants that are sold over the counter that are non drowsy. Ask the pharmacist which one would best help you.
I really hope you get some relief and soon....rest up if you can. If you are coughing as badly as you are, you might want to sit tight at home until you are feeling better.
Sunny

[polly22]

My doctor diagnosed bronchitis, probably bacterial, possibly a bit of pneumonia, after examinination and x-ray. Since the "whooping"---can't-stop-the-paroxysm--cough was so bad, he had me stay overnight at the hospital. He had me take 6-pill form of azithromycin (500 mg the first day, 250 each the next four days), plus Betanatate (cough suppressant), plus lorazapam for sleep and muscle relaxant, and I've an inhaler (bronchial dilator) that can be used every 4 hours, in case the whooping/paroxysms interfere with breathing.  He said the azithromycin should make me start feeling better by this afternoon.  The hospital released me after the one night, saying I should be getting better soon.     However, the azithromycin doesn't seem to be helping at all, and this evening I find user discussion on another med website indiating that numerous respiratory bacterial infections don't respond to it. Nor was it definite that this is bacterial, in any case.          I don't know aht to do. I'm still getting the whooping/paroxysms and certainly cannot take an expectorant cough medicine. I have to work this coming week and can't function if super doped up. Further, either the bronchities or the cough suppressant (or the combination) is giving me hiccoughs. I slept okay in the hospital since so doped up and since the bed could adjust so could recline nearly upright---which I can't here, even using my five pillows/cushions. The hiccups and the cough paroxysms are frightening. The medications are basically affecting my nervous system rather than the one tiny point where the cough sensor/stretchor senses and operates. I suggested why couldn't I use a surface-numbing spray such as is used to keep people from gagging when they have laryngoscopies (or some other local numbing agent), but was told Oh no, without anyone really thinking about it. I don't know what to do.

[polly22]

Thank you. I am seeing my doctor in a couple of hours.

[Sunny602]

I would most definitely see a doctor...you could easily have acquired a secondary infection such as bronchitis, even pneumonia being as you seem susceptible to getting respiratory infections. You need a thorough examination by your doctor so that he or she can determine the proper treatment/ diagnosis for you.
You are doing right by keeping yourself hydrated, taking vitamin C etc...but you may need some antibiotics to help you along.
I am a former nurse so please take what I say for face value...what I write is out of personal/ professional experience.
I hope you feel better soon...Sunny