Chest infection remedies

[User474738473747322]

In my thirties and experiencing my first every chest infection. Didn’t even have a cold first. Went straight to sore throat and coughing which gradually got worse, crackles and pops in my chest and throat, then coughing up gunk. Out of hours prescribed antibiotics and I’m on second full day. I’ve also had fatigue, aching limbs , headache and feeling hot/cold!

feeling a little better energy wise but the cough! I keep having severe coughing fits where I feel like I’m going to wee myself. I can’t also cough anything up

my throat is incredibly dry and sore now too.

I have Benylin mucus cough night time liquid which is meant to thin the mucus but not sure if it is working.

I’ve tried the usual vicks etc. I don’t drink tea or coffee but did have a hot chocolate

trying to drink as much water as possible!

I’ve tried pastilles and lozenges. Pastilles seem okay but lozenges seem to make my throat drier.

anything else worth a try? Dh has had a week off which has been a god send but he’s going back to work and I have children with SEN. I’m dreading doing the school runs etc if I’m coughing my guts up 🫣

I cannot tolerate anything to do with lemon because of the smell/taste.

I am trying to rest as much as possible. But also doing small chores too but needing to take breaks.

Bed rest
Sleeping propped up
Humidifier if you can get one
Lots of hot water with fresh lemon slices
Paracetamol
Night Nurse if you need to knock yourself out.

does the benylin contain guaifenesin? If so, keep taking it night and day. If not, find something that contains it. It is a potent mucus thinner.

are you checking your O2 levels with a pulse oximeter - you can buy them online or at Boots if you dont have one.

you can get a prescription cough suppressant, but maybe not a good idea if you need to clear the mucus. I used to take one at night if I couldnt sleep for coughing

if you still have a temp tomorrow, go back to the GP and get checked again, not all antibiotics work for every bacteria and you might need a different type

Rest, rest and more rest. Basically dont get out of bed

Sorry missed that you hate lemon! Hot water and honey in that case. Slug of whiskey in it at bedtime.

Himalayan salt pipe works for me.

Every hour, spend a couple of minutes trying to make yourself breathe deeply. It helps get secretions in your lungs moving. Hot steamy baths/showers may also help. Definitely sleep propped up - with my worst couple of pneumonias I had to sleep in a recliner to be able to breathe properly. Stay well hydrated. Give yourself time to recover, it really takes it out of you.

Inhaling with vick does help, but you need to do it for as long as you can bear, with a towel over your head.
I hope you feel better soon. If not, go back to the doctor.

I've just had something very similar to what you described. Not to scare you but I ended up in hospital having iv antibiotics.
If you don't feel improvement with the antibiotics soon please call the dr and say you want to be checked over.

Wishing you all the best op.

There’s absolutely nothing in night nurse that will make you feel remotely sleepy, orange and honey ( instead of lemon)with paracetamol, if you’re really struggling with the cough you could ask your doctor to prescribe a cough suppressant syrup which will have codeine in and will help with sleep 😊

Hot drinks (hot blackcurrant is good - steel bottles are good in case you wake up coughing in the middle of the night), hot baths (for the steam) and hot water bottles. Some cough medicines can make you cough more. I tend to stick to a glycerin one.

Steam inhalation - boil kettle, put water in a bowl, sit over the bowl with a towel over your head creating a tent that traps the steam. Breathe steadily. You don't need to add Vicks or anything. Don't scald yourself.

I hope you feel better soon.

If the antibiotics are not helping by day 4 ring the doctor and they can arrange different ones.

Night Nurse contains a sedating antihistamine and always works for me and mine with getting to sleep.

Hot drinks - I know you don’t like tea or coffee but I swear by hot blackcurrant with some honey in.

Old wives solution (but does work) - cut an onion in half, and put it in some sugar in the fridge then drink the juice - it genuinely works but is disgusting!

Other than that - lots of rest, night nurse, and sit up as much as you can.

Chest infections are usually viral so antibiotics won’t do much sadly, they just have to pass.

Steam your face

Can just put a bowl of bowling water in table and hold your head over it with a towel over your face trapping the steam in. You can add Vicks to the water too if you like.

Cough syrup doesn't actually do anything but mallow extract is meant to possibly so the only syrup worth trying is buttercup broncostop.

Proper bone broth soup if you're not veggie (aka Jewish penicillin.)

And rest as much as you are able.