Thread: Bronchitis

Man, have I been sick. It started out last week Monday with what was certainly just a cold -- upper respiratory virus. After a couple of days I figure it was over and made plans to start running again when, WHAM!, I'm hit with a relapse: fever, runny nose, blah, blah, blah.

But, the whole family and half the neighborhood seems to have it.

The cold has been followed by a nasty cough. Everyone else is also coughing, but mine sounds like a death rattle and I'm so beat from lack of sleep and from the loss of energy from hacking away that I've pretty much done nothing but like in bed and watch TV for the last week. (Hence my odd interest in True Visions/AKA UBC.)

Now I've done a bit of Internet research on bronchitis, which is what I figure I have. There seems to be no treatment other than to take it easy and wait it out and to avoid caffeinated beverages. (I do not that if you have pink or red sputum or have been coughing for a couple of months you are advised to see a doctor.)

So, I'm now seeking home remedies. Any ideas? Last night I tried scotch, hot water, honey and lemon and that was OK, but I'm wondering if six or eight of those a night might be a bit much.

Ideas anyone?

Is your sputum yellow or green?If so,you have an infection(Secondary?) that needs to be treated with anti-biotics.

I would suggest that you have a Gatorade or 2 everyday to get those essential minerals in and it should help your energy levels too. Otherwise, just take it easy.

Good idea, MtD.

LC - Hardly any sputum at all and what there is is pure white.

I forgot to add that I've gained three kilos since being flat on my back. Bummer!

Originally Posted by Anonymous Coward

Ideas anyone?

Seeing a doctor would seem like a good one....

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I would suggest that you have a Gatorade or 2 everyday to get those essential minerals in and it should help your energy levels too. Otherwise, just take it easy.

Yep and lots of H2O.

rest is what is needed too.If the coughing gets really bad you can use a cotoriod(sp) inhaler.This can reduce inflammation etc.

In situations like this, it is good to be a smoker.
You do at least know what to do to get rid of the bronchitis.
I pity you non-smokers

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

Seeing a doctor would seem like a good one...

Come now. Doctors are for wimps. I only go if I'm bleeding so badly that I can't stop it myself.

OK. If I'm not better by Monday, I'll go.

Is that why my wife goes to the quack every month?

About 4 years ago my son developed a fever and my wife took him to the local clinic where, as usual, we were sold 300 bahts worth of medicine and simply told that he had a fever. The medicine looked the same as what we are always given for colds or fevers. Four small bottles of red, pink, yellow and clear liquids.
After about 5-6 days of medication and rest he was right as rain but after a couple of days back at school the feverous symptoms returned. My wife took him back to the clinic again against my wishes and was sold the same four bottles of medicine again. I asked her again what exactly was the name of the fever, but she didn't know, only that the doctor said my son had 'pen khy' (fever).
Took him immediately to a nearby hospital where he was examined more thoroughly and was diagnosed as having bronchitis. He was put on a saline drip and stayed in a private room for 3 nights and came away fit as a fiddle.
Even when my kids have had colds in the past those local clinics never prescribe something cheap and simple like 5 or 10 bahts worth of 'Tiffy', it always seems to be those same four bottles of medicine at 300 baht a pop everytime.

Originally Posted by Gazza

it always seems to be those same four bottles of medicine at 300 baht a pop everytime.

And absolutely no indication as to what they are. One of the kids here recently got meds for the same cold I have: one pill is white and pink, one is green, the other is small and white. No one has the slightest idea what these medications are or what they are supposed to do.

Health care voodoo.

At least Ms. AC now knows that I will insist on the meds being labeled.

Absolutly.I made a doc here once write everything down in English,rather than a Thai squiggle...