Anyone suffered with bronchitis?

[Racey]

I've been to doc and she gave me antibiotics and an inhalor, but after 24 hrs my chest has tightened right up rather than feelbetter.

Someone said it gets worse before it gets better- is this right? i phoned the doc, she said I can either go to the walk in centre or wait for an emergency appointment tomorrow. I don't want to waste anyones time so wanted advice of those who have been through it

 

[Gigi22]

I've had bronchitis a few times. I've never had an inhalor. The antibiotics will likely take about 4-5 days to kick in. Keep taking them. If they don't kick in at the 5 day point, then go back to your dr.--you may need a refill of your prescription, or another antibiotic.
The other things you can do to loosen up your congestion is to steam your airway--you can get some really hot water in a sink, stick your head over the water, make a tent with a towel over your head, and breathe in deeply with your mouth open for 10-15 min. Then repeat as needed. You can create a steamy environment in your shower, jump in, and concentrate on breathing deeply--with your mouth open for about 10 min. You can also use a vaporiser (when I was little, we used steam from a kettle--but this can be dangerous). My dr. also told me to use a cough medicine--Benelyn DM was suggested. Essentially cough syrups don't work as advertised, but taking a cough syrup should still allow you to sleep. Remember to force liquids. I also used to place a hot water bottle on my chest when I went to bed, as it seemed to help loosen the congestion.

 

[dgthree]

I've been to doc and she gave me antibiotics and an inhalor, but after 24 hrs my chest has tightened right up rather than feelbetter.

Someone said it gets worse before it gets better- is this right? i phoned the doc, she said I can either go to the walk in centre or wait for an emergency appointment tomorrow. I don't want to waste anyones time so wanted advice of those who have been through it

As a kid, I got at least one case of bronchitis every year, and as an adult, it's gotten to be every other year.

I swear by Mucinex (guaifenesin) in addition to abx, and use the inhaler as needed. I really think the added med to help loosen up the gunk is a crucial part of the mix. Remember that if you do take Mucinex, drink LOTS of water, as your body needs the extra fluids to help flush things out.

Hope this helps some, and that you're feeling better soon!

 

[natashag76]

I also get bronchitis regularly and swear by guaifenisin (or however it's spelled!). I get by using Robitussin though. I've been given inhalers occasionally. Yes, I do feel that it sometimes gets worse before it gets better. Especially if you've only been on medication for 1 day, your body will need a few more doses before it can truly take effect.
Feel better!

 

[erogers]

I hate bronchitis! I got it for the first time this year and it is awful.

I agree with previous statements about Mucinex. Also, use a vaporizer at night. After you finish the antibiotics, if you still have problems, ask your doctor about a steroid pac.

Acupuncture for the bronchitis will also help. It can shorten the course of the illness by several weeks and help your breathing.

 

[kaligal]

Guaifenesin works. It breaks up that ooky stuff clogging up your lungs, breaks it up in to smaller ooky pieces so that it is easier to cough up. The water also helps loosen the stuff up. Thinner, wetter stuff is easier to cough up than thick, icky stuff.

Some people would say that all this breaking up the ookieness is called "making the cough more productive." A productive cough is one in which you get ookies brought up. A non-productive cough is one in which you feel as if you're hacking up a lung but have nothing to show for it. If you didn't already know that, you'll have learned a little something and the bronchitis will not have been for nothing.

If you're getting worse instead of better and your doc told you to go to an urgi-care, that's what I'd do.

Bronchitis can turn into a pneumonia if you don't stay on top of it. You don't want that.

 

[schoen]

I had it once and my doctor gave me the most amazing medicine. It was called tussinex. It is basically super robotussin with vicodine in it. It made me feel better almost immediately, although it didn't cure the illness, just helped the symptoms. Other doctors I have seen seem not too crazy about this drug, but it did help me. I think it is highly addictive, that may be why drs are reluctant to prescribe it.

 

[Zip-a-dee-dude-da]

i got bronchitis the first time when I was 19....almost 20 years later it has effected my whole life...Since than i have developed Bronchitis induced asthma...and every time i get a cold it turns to bronchitis...sorry but you may be in this for the long haul

 

[Minniemama350]

If you think it is worse, I would follow my instincts and get a recheck. I have had it many times in my life. A few years ago I got it in August, which was a little different for me. By the time I called the Dr., which wasn't all that long it had already gone into pneumonia. I agree about the mucinex and lots of water. I also got a pneumonia shot after that experience. It has also helped me with not getting bronchitis so much.

 

[Gigi22]

Just to add to my earlier post--the problem with bronchitis is that it is a persistent kind of illness. You cough, and you cough, and cough some more. Over time, this becomes exhausting because you can't sleep due to the coughing. The antibiotics tackle the illness straight on, but they don't help you get to sleep. The cough syrup is helpful because it will let you get some sleep. One dr. I saw for bronchitis prescribed me Tylenol 3 instead of cough syrup so that I could get to sleep. The Tylenol 3 worked fine.
As other posters have mentioned, you do have to keep on top on bronchitis because it can develop into pneumonia quite easily. Antibiotics still require a few days to start to work. If you truly feel that your condition is getting worse, then you should go back to your dr., or the ER.

 

[Joshua_me]

Some great advice posted here...

Unfortunately, I've been dealing with bronchitis since I was four years old. It does go hand in hand with pneumonia, and when I was younger there were a couple of times, that my parents have told me about in retrospect, that they weren't sure if I was going to be leaving the hospital. I don't say this to scare you, just to make you aware of the situation you are dealing with.

Does it get worse before it gets better ? eh.. Sometimes, but there's really no rhyme or reason to it, it does what it wants to...

I'd recommend a vaporizer for your bedside, that helps a great deal, and as others have said, stay on top of it and stay in touch with your doctor.

 

[Racey]

THanks everyone, you have calmed me down a bit because I didn't know anyone who's had it and noone could tell me if the chest feeling was normal, but Reading what you hav said is reassuring. I've got smother spot toddy so see if the doc can give me something stronger and I will def start doing the steam thing.

I do have a another quick question, how do I start gettin rid of the ooky stuff?I'm not bringing anything up!

 

[Tinkershelly]

Also, you're going to have a cough long after you get rid of the infection. My doctor prescribed an inhaler with a steriod just to calm my airways after the antibiotics did their job but I still couldn't stop coughing. I took one course of about 4 weeks but it calmed my "irritation cough" after only a couple of days.

 

[Gigi22]

The OP has asked about getting rid of phlegm. You have to keep drinking clear liquids, preferably warm/hot clear liquids to help loosen the phlegm to the point where you can cough it up. Hot clear tea (you can sweeten it with sugar or honey--I think honey is a bit better) or a clear soup are good. Avoid coffee.
You are going to find you won't have much appetite because your tastebuds are going to be affected too, it is important that you do continue to eat.
Steam helps loosen phlegmtoo--you really need to breathe in the steam through your mouth as well as your nose.
There will be a lot of phlegm to cough up, it is just the nature of bronchitis. It will likely start off as either green or yellow colored phlegm, as you get better the phlegm should loosen and gradually clear.

 

[Minniemama350]

THanks everyone, you have calmed me down a bit because I didn't know anyone who's had it and noone could tell me if the chest feeling was normal, but Reading what you hav said is reassuring. I've got smother spot toddy so see if the doc can give me something stronger and I will def start doing the steam thing.

I do have a another quick question, how do I start gettin rid of the ooky stuff?I'm not bringing anything up!

Once, whenI was in college the nurseadvised me in addition to all of the other phlegm helpers to raise the foot of my bed at night s that it would in effect drain out while I slept. At the very least it brought it up far enough to be expelled. It seemed to work. Other than havig to get used to the sleeping position, it wasn't too bad.

 

[LMO429]

I got bronchitis after my honeymoon back in 2008. I think it was from all the flying. It was horrible it lasted for two months! basically my doctor never prescribed me strong enough antibotics. finally on my fourth visit back to the doctor I basically went nuts and was given stronger antibotics and it finally went away. I hope you get better soon.