Bronchitis help please?

Question

I was diagnosed with Bronchitis after being sick for about 10 days. The old doctor kept saying that I did not have a bacterial infection so it was just a viral thing that had been going around. Well, new doctor says bronchitis since I have the horrible retched cough,fever,chills ect. He gave me a Zpak and cough syrup with codeine. It seems a little better today but I have coughed up so much phlem! Now I have the chocking feeling in my chest and it feels tight. Is that just a part of this? Help! How long will this last? I have coughed for 4 days straight now and it is hard to get any sleep. Thanks

Thnaks everyone. I dont seem to be hacking up as much stuff now but man does it hurt! Should it make EVERY muscle in my body hurt to cough? My back pain is the worst. Oh and I do take the good cough syrup with the codeine to help get it up and out of my chest. I am still having nasal drip too, would it be ok to take my allergy(zyrtex)? Thanks so much.

Answer 1

i used to get it a lot! its really tough to breathe and ur lungs feel tight. i can tell whether i have it by if my abdomen gets sore from the coughing. getting the phlem out is good cuz it means its not in there anymore. see if ur dr. recommends some kind of expectorant, i take guiafinesen when i have a bad cough and it keeps u from having to cough as hard to get it out. i would have trouble with almost feeling like i was choking sometimes and found that a hot shower helped a lot to relax my airways. when i would get it it would last a month sometimes, the worst part of it lasting maybe a week or so. the trailing cough was hard to deal with cuz u would feel pretty much better, but a nagging cough would remind u that u arent all the way better yet. keep away from smoking and places where people smoke a lot. also see if ur dr. will give u a cough suppresant to use while u sleep so u arent up all night hacking a lung out. dextromethorphan is great stuff when u follow the instructions n dont take too much of it. good luck!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

IF one doctor concluded it was not a bacterial infection, then the Z pack or an other antibiotic will NOT work. All you can do it treat the symptoms until you're over it. If it is viral, you will need to ride it out. Drink plenty of water and or juice. Hot drinks help too. Hot showers may help break up the phlegm. Take all the medication your doctor gave you. Find out what each is for. If he didn't prescribe an expectorant, you need to get an over-the-counter cold medicine with an expectorant in it. Some thing with Guaifenesin in it such as musinx. You can get liquid medications with guaifenesin and a cough suppressant in one. Ask the pharmacist at your favorite store.

Good luck.

Answer 4

The tight chested feeling as well as a lot of phlegm are part of having bronchitis.

The ZPack is taken for 5 days as far as the tablets but the way it's designed is that even after you take those tablets for 5 days it keeps on working for the next 5 (totaling out to 10 days with the antibiotic in the system).

It can take about 2 weeks to clear up but to be on the safe side check with your dr.

Answer 5

It took me two rounds of antibiotics to clear up my bronchitis this winter. I coughed up a lot of phloem and it was hard to sleep at night. It took me about two weeks to feel a whole lot better after I started taking the second antibiotic. The chest tightness was worse at night and my doctor gave me Albuterol inhaler to help open my lungs. I was also on the cough syrup with codeine but it didn't take away the chest tightness for me, only the Albuterol did. Hope you feel better soon!

Answer 6

i know how you feel. take the abx and u will feel better soon.