Viral or Bacterial?
I needed all the arsenal I could lay my hands on to combat this attack from within!
Having a good immune system I rarely get sick. If I do, I shrug off nasty bugs in no time, usually two to three days and I'm back on track. Perhaps being exposed to viruses and bugs that arrive with the many guests in our Airbnb has kept my immune system strong.
Not this time - the bug was very nasty; clingy like a leech.
I was fighting a war against an unseen enemy.
I'd feel better for a day or so and think I'd won the war, but it would return, attacking another part of my respiratory system!
What started as a mild form of Sinusitis eventually turned into a severe bout of Bronchitis.
When I tried to cough, it felt like something was squeezing my diaphragm on the inside, sealing off the airwaves. Coughing made it worse as my chest went into a bronchial spasm, literally trapping the mucus.
It was frightening, to say the least, and I felt like I was drowning in my own fluids.
Nebulizing, Asthma pumps, Mycolytics (meds that break down mucus), and Cortizone did not help during those episodes. It would start early evening, through the night, and only ease after having chest physio first thing in the morning. I hardly slept as I'd wake up gasping!
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
A week ago I spoke about the value of physio to loosen mucus and make it easier to get rid of it. I also said I was 99,9% healthy. That 0.01% showed up the day after!
My physio taught me how to do postural drainage, amazingly helpful especially when you live alone and can't get someone to perform chest percussion, which is done by beating you on the back with cupped hands. My hands could not get there 🙃 Also a valuable technique to learn if you want to help someone battling with chest congestion.
I believe nature offers a cure for many health issues, and I always start taking immune boosters when the seasons change - Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D (which we do get freely here in our sunny land), and Echinacea tincture. My immune system seemed to have gone into hiding this time around.
I also took Elderberry tincture and drank Thyme tea which eases bronchial spasms, alternating with Ginger, Cayenne Pepper & Turmeric Tea. The latter is soothing and quite delicious when sweetened with honey. One still has to be careful with herbs, as it could interfere/clash with chemical treatments.
I was steaming with Menthol crystals when nothing was helping. The steaming together with my essential oil diffuser, helped soothe the spasms. I initially used Tea Tree oil, then moved to Lavender oil which is calming.
My Arsenal of Natural Meds:
- Immune boosters - Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, & Echinacea
- Herbal teas - Thyme, Ginger, Cayenne & Turmeric
The Chemical Arsenal:
- 2 x Nebulizing meds
- Mycolytic
- Anti-viral Antibiotic (not bacterial antibiotics which did not help)
- Cortisone - short-term only
The Final Attack:
- Chest Physiotherapy
The only difference is that my physio put a pillow under my hip to help with drainage. - Autogenic Drainage
An easy, relaxing breathing technique to clear mucus from the lungs.
Eventually ending with:
- Decongestant
- 2 x Nebulizing (which in turn led to Oral Thrush - winning the fight against that as we speak!)
It's been a long and scary haul, literally a fight with the enemy within!
I do not know how people live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as it is the most frightening experience I've had. You are brave fighters, and I salute you!
The sun is out, the skies are blue, and I am super thankful to have survived the ravages of this war within!
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Wow! There are several things going around here, or it has been through this past winter, mostly things that affect your upper respiratory system and they have been making folks really sick. I haven't gone back to a mask, but I have limited what kind of crowds I have been willing to come in contact with. I'm hoping most of that will clear up as spring is coming in.
I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that. It sounds terrible! Glad you feel you are finally coming out the other side now.
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Thank you!
It's been awful!
Could be the same virus that is doing the rounds here, mine was all upper respiratory, Apparently many people are struggling with a lingering cough. Thank goodness it's all over...touch wood...😉
Have a lovely weekend Jacey.
I bet it IS the same as here. I just saw this past week, someone I follow on facebook describing how they had it and the lingering cough and I could not believe how many folks responded to that post stating they had experienced the same thing, many needing help to finally get past it. Ugh!
Glad you finally slayed that enemy. Well Spring has arrived and I have been laid low the last couple of days with some cold flu thing that has kicked me worse than anything did in the whole of winter! Thank goodness for bed and laptops!!
Stay safe and healthy Lizzie.
Thank you Ed, I hope you're on the mend! Possibly the bug stayed dormant till the temperature became more moderate? It seems these bugs are getting more and more intelligent and keeping us in their grip for much longer! @ericvancewalton's nephew had something similar.
Get better soon Ed🙏🤗
Thanks Lizzie, yes perhaps it did. Although to be fair it is the first real thing I picked up this winter so can't really complain!
O hete, dit klink hectic. Hoop dit gaan darem bietjie beter
Dankie Therneau, gaan beter, net nog effens 'borserig', was erg😒
PS Dean en Andi kom kuier in Mei🥰
Liefde aan julle almal❤️
Ahhh, dis darem so bietjie goeie nuus daai. Glo dit gaan n lekker kuiertjie saam wees.
At last it was defeated. Beating your back with cupped hands help to loosen the phlegm? Maybe this time your immune system show up and ready to fight😌😁.
Yes thank you @asiaymalay, my immune system eventually won! This is the technique🤗
Only difference, my physio used a firm pillow under my hip to help with drainage😉
They are medicine... doctors always warn about taking several pills at the same time that can cancel out the effects of other drugs or create adverse reactions.
Oh, @lizelle, so sorry for what you've been going through.
I am very glad to hear this.
The last week just before I felt better, became very scary. Super thankful I'm better. Thank you so much @nanixxx 💓
Glad that you are now out of it milady, as I have also shaken off an 8 week coughing period. Nothing as serious as yours, but very irritating. Many people here also have the coughing issue, and it is said that the cause is something toxic in the air that we breathe.
Stay well and please take care!
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Thank you my friend! I'm sorry to hear you've also not been well. Terrible if it is something in the air! I wonder, it could be possible as many people are battling with a cough that takes ages to go away,
Take care of yourself as well <3
We are fighters milady and somehow you and I just get through these things. The doc told us that there was a bug floating around that affects the respiratory system. Hard to believe, but such is life.
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Oh my! This sounds horrible! I'm glad you are feeling a little better. Way to go!
Thank you @owasco, I'm feeling tons better, so thankful! Hope you're keeping well 🤗
Sorry about that, I pray for a speedy recovery
Thank you!
You are welcome
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Dear @lizelle I was so glad to hear that you are well and recovered. We are very affected by the weather changes today. But I know you are strong. Have you thought that you have also been affected by all that you are doing today selecting and packing the things you will be taking to the new house. Those things collect dust. And we get it right up our nose. Take good care of yourself, get some fresh air, and take advantage of the sunny days, and go to the sea all that will help you. A 🤗 🥰
Yikes Lizelle, still battling through this it has been weeks! Sorry to hear it has taken so long, worst is at night knowing you cannot find assistance in a hurry.
So many have been sick with respiratory of late, one wonders if it's all the wet caused by floods, along with the dirty air quality we tend to experience at times.
As long as you feeling better, finding the upper hand all is well, take care and sending !LUV to a special !LADY
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