(no subject)

[geminigirl]

I tend to avoid self-diagnosis because it's usually a mistake. But when I still had my tonsils, I could tell when I had tonsillitis, because I'd had it so often. So frequently that in fact, the NP asked me what antibiotic I preferred for it. (I went for Zithromax-easier dosing, and shorter duration.) So, despite having all the symptoms for bronchitis, and guessing that that's what was going on, I avoided self-diagonis, only to walk away after a graphic description of symptoms, with a diagnosis of bronchitis, might powerful cough syrup and a ten day presription for Biaxin (apparently they're really smacking it hard this time-I've had Zithromax for bronchitis before, and various other less powerful antibiotics, but not Biaxin. Let's hit it big this time.) And a nebulizer treatment which left me shaking, but I'm not breathing much better at the moment.

I haven't had bronchitis since I moved out of the dorms in college. It never surprised me then when I got it, because of the terrible air circulation, the constantly being with someone else, and the inability to stay away from sick people or stay away from others when you were sick. I'm sort of wondering what happened this time. Whatever. I'll see how I feel in ten days.

I hate bronchitis though; I went through my entire childhood without ever having it-not until I got to college. It leaves me tired and worn out, and despite the actual infection being gone, I end up feeling drained for weeks after. It also makes sleeping difficult, sleeping which is problematic to begin with. So I'll take some of this powerful cough syrup, which supposedly has something that will help me sleep in it, curl up and try to sleep for a few hours before I go to work.

Comments

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Hope you feel better soon.

[rockstargrrl.livejournal.com]

i hope you feel better soon.

i have asthma and chronic bronchitis. every year about this time i get the bronchitis - and then by january i'm in the hospital with pneumonia. i know for me, it's a combination of allergies (which i didn't even know i had) and the cold, dry air. i'd suggest an allergy test and a humidifier if you're still having problems.

[melebeth]

Does the humidifier help prevent bronchitis? Wow. Now I have even more motivation to get one. I've been getting bronchitis around this time every year for ages and ages. It drives me crazy.

[rockstargrrl.livejournal.com]

i don't know about "prevent" per se, but it certainly does move things along...

[geminigirl]

Actually one of the first things after my asthma diagnosis was a visit with the allergist for treatment. So I already know my deal with allergies, and those are treated. When we started treating my asthma more aggressively, it cut bronchitis out-I went six years or so without it, after having battled it several times a year since I was 18.

I suspect this time it's the result of a cold that I had that just lasted too long, combined with the amount of illness that's been passed around my office lately (my boss and her two kids have been sick for at least a month, and she's been in the office quite a bit.)

[kellfire.livejournal.com]

*hugs* i hope the med's let you sleep some and settled the coughing.

I've btdt, and let the bronchitis progress into p-monya a few times. Finally the insurance company bought me a nebulizer and I haven't had an icky chesty thing since. (it's not that i used it, it's just Murphy's Law)

We're headed to your neighborhood this afternoon/eve if you need anything feel free to give me a shout.

[geminigirl]

Thanks. Mostly I just want to get some rest, and that's not happening yet.

[lcohen]

hope that you are better now (yes, i am reading this far behind).

i can't take biaxin--it makes me sicker than a dog. zithromax for me when i get bronchitis.

[geminigirl]

I'd never had Biaxin before. It's done a number on my stomach, but it seems to be working. Usually they give me Zithromax for this-I'd asked about it, but he said he was concerned enough that we should try the Biaxin first. It's worked faster than the Zithromax does-I've stopped coughing green stuff much faster.