I have the worst cold in 35 years at the moment and need some drastic action to clear my chest and head - lost my voice and senses of smell and taste over a week ago and keep the house awake all night barking. None of my usual harmless-to-AF remedies have made any difference.
Has anyone got a tip which won’t set my heart flying - I’ve already tried honey, lemon, steam with Vicks, salt gargle, TCP gargle, damp heat and heated cushion on my chest.
Really fed up with this and dreaming of a good pre-AF cough mixture. 😀
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Finvola
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I used to get terrible vhronchitis and the only thing that helped was Friars Balsam.....used by my grandmother, mother and now me and offspring.Run it past the pharmacist first re. Afib.I used to pour a few drops into a bowl full of boil. water and then cover my head with a towel and breathe in the vapour until I 'almost' fainted!!
Ah - that triggered my longterm memories from the 60's - Friars Balsam, eucalyptus oil and Olbas oil. I seem to remember that Friars was excellent. Thanks for the reminder - will get some.
Sorry to hear your so unwell. Could you have a chest infection? Also have you tried putting “Vicks” on the soles of your feet then nice cosy socks. I know it sound weird but it can work or at least help. Best wishes ☘️
I did wonder Eirecara about the chest infection but have no fever and don't feel 'ill' if you know what I mean. No, haven't tried that with Vicks - it does sound strange but, I would think there is truth in there. My grandmother advocated Vicks rubbed into the chest and a Thermogene applied to the mess and worn for days. She was convinced it worked but we kids were mortified and teased at school with this orange thingy sticking out of our jumpers. Old Irish remedy as many of my school friends underwent the same treatment.
Sounds like you have a really nasty dose, poor you. Have you tried fresh grated ginger with your honey and lemon? I find the ginger really can help with the horrible coughing fits. Do take care and get well soon!
Wow - brave you. I'm not a spicy person but at the moment I wouldn't notice as I have no taste at all. I had read that chillies can clear the sinuses and it makes sense that curry would have the same effect.
Turmeric is considered to be good for the heart has is garlic and onions which also help to clear the chest!.
Good advise there and you are doing everything possible to help yourself..
The only thing l can add is from my Welsh heritage is to sweat it out off you..
We would have hotwaters bottles, wool blankets and feather duvets piled up on the bed - windows closed until we had sweated the fever out and Temperature and infections had subsided...
Realize this is contradicting modern medicine ie ice packs and ventilation but l am still here to tell the tale...
Thank you Carol - in Northern Ireland it was common treatment for flu and cold. Interestingly, I have been pouring sweat for the last two nights and actually started to feel a bit better. My German mother in law was a great believer in a 'Schweißbad' for various ills. It involved a really hot bath with some oils added, then a bed as you describe to sweat the illness out.
If it is against modern mrdicine it shows how wrongthe latter can be about some things. Fever is the body's natural response to infection as the raised temperature helps kill off microbes.
I have great faith in Teatree oil on tissue on pillow at night and inhaled and gargled with very dilute. Not to be swallowed. It's anti bacterial and antiviral. Also manuka honey the most expensive you can afford for your honey and lemon, plus trip to GP to rule out a chest infection. Be well
Thank you Bagrat - I use Teatree oil as a bacteria killer and will also try it. The GP visit is obviously at the back of my mind if things don't improve over the weekend.
I once visited the GP with very bad sinusitis and was assigned to a locum who was Asian and suggested I chop up onions to loosen the gunge 😭 I wasn't amused at the time but maybe worth a try? Do you sleep propped up? I've had to do that this week with cough. My pharmacist suggested a simple expectorant cough mix which helps me but I note it says may interfere with antiarrhythmic meds which is ok for me but maybe not for you. Send loads of sympathy 💞
Oh my, the onions might be worth a try. I have been trying to sleep propped up as the moment I lie flat, the barking starts again. Yes, Covonia was always my friend with coughs until I started Flecainide and AF and now I wouldn't risk it - cough is better than AF. Thank you for the sympathy.
Old remedies were tried and tested in the absence of modern methods. Salt water in the nose works - I use a saline spray and a Neti pot but the congestion is severe. ☹️
You certainly have plenty to choose from there. If all that fails get yourself down to Benone Beach and brave the elements and surround yourself with the bracing sea breeze. That might do the trick (and you can always indulge in some of the above when you get home.) Hoping you get over it soon.
Thank you Mo - I love the tale of beautiful Finvola. You certainly would get the breezes round you on Benone today. My profile pic makes it and Downhill look so calm and inviting. I live on Benevenagh - 6 miles or so directly from the beach and on a really windy day our windows are covered in sea salt.
Lots of good advice for you here Finvola. I make a thyme and root ginger (if I have it, some in the freezer now) tea, strain it and add honey and lemon . This can be gargled and also swallowed. In between if my throat is very sore I gargle with pure coconut oil.
Everyone has been so helpful and I love the sound of your tea. I add ginger to pork and chicken casseroles and I love its fresh taste (😩 have no taste). I have never tried coconut oil - something to keep in mind. Thank you for the good wishes.
I thought I would research Covonia cough mixture to find out why cardiac patients shouldn’t take it.
The manufacturer’s leaflet to the medical profession shows that it can cause hypokalaemia (low potassium) and hypomagnesaemia (low magnesium) - both of which can trigger cardiac arrhythmias.
Thank you - I would be inclined to eat if I could taste anything. Don’t even have my 3 pieces of dark choc as it seems like such a waste! I remember reading about the saying as it seems contradictory. One theory was to add the words ‘if’ and ‘you’ - if you feed a cold, you starve a fever.
Comisserations - lots of nasties that takes weeks to clear, mine started 10/12 & although it has mostly gone I still have a little residue cough and phlegm.
I favour Olbas Oil in steam bath to help clear the phlegm & Tyrozets for throat - but they did give my husband Tachycarddia although that’s what the pharmacist recommended and I was fine on them. Hope you feel better soon.
Two months is an awful long time for you to live with the effects of a cold and it does tend to pull you down, When I was younger, I used to treat myself to a new hairdo etc after a cold but I think I’m past that stage now. 🙂
If this has lasted over a week you probably have developed a secondary sinus or bronchial infection. The common cold virus usually just lasts a few days. An antibiotic such as Augmentin would seem to be worth a try. Cough syrup with codeine in it but no decongestants might work better and is afib friendly. See your doctor.
Sorry but the average time for a post cold / flu cough caused by a virus is 18 days. Taking an antibiotic for a viral cough is not only useless but downright harmful as you are damaging your microbiome(where a good part of your immune system resides) for nothing thus ensuring that you will be more susceptible to the next infection that comes along.
Don't know where you got your numbers, but if there is ear and sinus involvement, which considering the symptoms described is probable, an antibiotic would be necessary. Waiting 2 weeks to treat this is foolish. As a retired ER doc , I would have been remiss to not prescribe one at this point.
This is the treatment pathway from NICE, which GPs are supposed to follow in the UK. There is a big push on to reduce antibiotic prescription across the board, because of the increasing problem globally of antibiotic resistance. Do you feel that medicolegal issues influence prescribing practice in North America?
Certainly the threat of malpractice suits has some effect. In the US most physicians would prescribe an antibiotic to someone who has been sick for that length of time. Medicine attempts to be a science, but many would consider it more of an art.
As a doctor you should be aware that only bacterial infections are treatable with antibiotics and that to treat an infection not caused by a bacterium is counterproductive. You must also be aware that most cases of acute sinusitis are viral and usually caused by the virus that has caused the cold in the first place. So please explain the rationale for prescribing an antibiotic. It is the prescribing of antibiotics when not needed that has led not only to antibiotic resistance but to the damage of FADS - Fluoroquinolone Associated Disability Syndrome.
My sympathies to you Finvola but it looks like you have tried everything I know of! Wrap up keep warm and get well soon. Nebivolol is still working wonders for me thanks to your recommendations! 😉
I’m so glad Nebivolol has worked for you too, reinaway. Thank you for your good wishes.
Pukka elderberry syrup is the only thong that helped me. I had two really bad virus's last year. This stuff is all natural but it works. The only thing that stopped me getting a chest infection and having to take antibiotics. In fact I keep a spare bottle in the cupboard now just in case
Get to your GP, last thing you need with AFib is bronchitis or worse. Mine turned to phneumonia and I hadn't had a cold in years either. Had to suffer two Cardioversons after. Coughing no good for your heart. Don't get fobbed off especially if you get breathless. I had no significant fever, but lost appetite and sense of smell. It started as a cold that went to my sinuses then chest and so on. Because I had no cough it was misdiagnosed. Just had to warn you hope yours is a more simple problem.
I had sinusitis quite badly some time ago and all the symptoms you describe point to it - you have my sympathy. The sinusitis was much much worse than the cold, and I strained all the muscles in my chest with convulsive coughing. You may well need antibiotics to clear this, it is very debilitating.
You could ask your doc for a sputum test to ensure it is actually a bacterial infection. The fact that antibiotics mess up your gut might encourage him/her to give this.
Awful thing to have, I hope your feeling better soon. I had a bit over Xmas and find for me that a bowl of steaming hot water from the kettle with a spoon of Vicks mixed in dissolved and towel over my head and the bowl really clears any chest / sinus problems. And if it doesn't the comedy value of seeing yourself doing it cheers you up anyway. Get well soon.
Pics or we don't believe you, my son said it was like a scene from star wars with me doing a darth vader over the bowl, and steam rolling out under the towel.. Darth style.. FINVOLA I AM YOUR FATHER , just laughed at my own joke now, were all doomed 😂
Twice last winter I caught a virus from my grandchildren, both times went to pneumonia and I was admitted, and had to take antibiotics.(choosing some I was neither allergic to or were warfarin friendly was tricky) This year I took pneumonia and flu vax, although I have never been one to do so before, but times and circumstances change.In January I caught a fresh virus and for 10 days was totally wiped out .ģI took panadol every 8 hours, apple cider vinegar gargles, stayed in bed as long as I could hack it (not easy for me), The Dr asked me to chk INR (I take warfarin) daily, and i took 5000 iu of vit D as my levels were down at 50, and sweated it out on ginger, garlic and lemon teas and homemade veg soups. It did pass but has left me exhausted, as you have a lingering virus best to see the gp, chk your bronchials and other tests. I do use a humifier with olbas oil even now at night and still use the neti pot often.I do hope you are beginning to feel better now....After try to raise your Vit D sun and or supplements to boost your immune system, we can't avoid exposure these days but the AF and our meds do complicate our recovery so try to boost your immune system. Regards and sympthy...
We take Vit C and Vit D year round too - and I did struggle this year to get my flu vac but got it eventually in mid December, thank goodness. The next struggle will be to get a GP appointment . . . Thank you for the good wishes.
If you get the flu jab ask for the Pneumonia jab as well. Prevention is better than a cure. As soon as all the little germ breeders go back to school give them 3 or 4 weeks to spray germs over everything. This is the time to act decisively.
Get on board a nice shiny aircraft and don't get off until you are somewhere warm and sunny. Schedule lots of vitamin D absorbing sessions, along with lots of vitamin C, oily fish, olive oil, salads and such. Include the odd glass of good quality red wine and enjoy daily promenades.
Repeat on a regular basis. If you are working try not to get a really obvious sun tan -It upsets all the dedicated germ spreaders who valiantly struggle in to work because they can't manage without me, etc..
Too far fetched? Just bought 2 return tickets to Murcia airport for £98, cheaper than the train to London...
I used to teach germ breeders - man, they came to college with colds which hardly affected them but which left the oldie staff dying on their feet!
One of the quieter islands of Hawai'i would be just the job - if only we had matter transference beams - couldn't be bothered with airports and planes. One can dream of course.
Would you perhaps need some antibiotics as sounds as if you need them. I know "they" say antibiotics are no good with a virus,, but I had the worse cold/flu I had had for 6/7 years and in the end had to go to GP who said antibiotics probably wouldn't work, he gave them to me anyway...and they did Hope you feel better soon
I think it may come to antibiotics, sadly as there may be bacterial action too in sinus or chest. If it is 'only' a cold, they don't work and they play havoc with my gut. Fingers crossed for next week.
How do yo know for certain? The average length of time for a virally caused cough to last is 18 days. Most people will not wait that long before thinking they need antibiotics. The end of the course of antibiotics could just coincide with the cough naturally getting better. No antibiotics should be given for coughs without a sputum test to confirm a bacterial infection. This is the only way to stop unnecessary prescriptions for infections that are viral and to really tackle antibiotic resistance. Same for UTI - wait for urine analysis to confirm infection.
According to the NHS website antibiotics are only needed if there is a bacterial infection AND the patient is generally unwell . It goes on to say that most sinus infections are caused by a virus. That implies that even if the infection is bacterial if there is no systemic infection it will clear up in time itself. To fling antibiotics at all sinusitis is downright irresponsible. I am myself a victim of this. After moving to Birmingham in 1989 I started to suffer from sinusitis . My Gp gave me antibiotics. It came back . More antibiotics. It came back . More antibiotics and a referral to an ENT specialist who suggested cutting a bit out of ny nose. I started going for acupuncture and declined the op to see whether the acupuncture would work. It did and when I went back to the GP to tell her I would not be needing the op she confessed that she had had the same op and that after 6 months the sinusitis had come back and she might well give the acupuncture a try. I have been sinusitis free since then.BUT one of the courses of antibiotics she had given me was a fluoroquinolone and I started to suffer badly with tendonitis and excruciating back pain which lasted years. I am certainly not the only person who has heen given Cipro for a sinusitis that was either viral in origin or caused by some other factor ( perhaps air pollution). There are thousands of people suffering from FADS which for the most part is a result of inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.
Cipro is not indicated for sinusitis. It is only effective against gram native bacterium. Newer flouruquinolones such as Floxin do work well but are almost never prescribed for this because of potential serious side effects which you unfortunately encountered.. unless allergic penicillin based antibiotics such as Augmentin are generally safe and efficacious. Erythromycin based such as Zithromax work but are inferior to Augmentin.. But as you say the condition is not life threatening and will generally clear in several weeks of symptomatic treament.if you are willing to put up with it that long. . Hope you don't have chronic problems with sinusitis. Don't think legal malpractice plays a part here because the long term downside is low. However in more serious potential conditions such as head injuries or undiagnosed abdominal pain the use of expensive tests such as CT scans is certainly impacted by the malpractice crisis. Is this much oak factor in the U.K.?
It might not have been officially indicated but thousands of people have been prescribed it by their doctors all over the world. Fluoroquinolones were developed for serious diseases like anthrax and plague . But there is no money in that and pharma reps have promoted it for sinusitis , bronchitis and uncomplicated UTI for nearly 3 decades leading to thousands of people suffering multi system damage. Many ending up bedbound or in wheelchairs. The class effect of collagen destruction has been in the scientific literature for most of that time but it is only in the last couple of years ( now that the drugs are off patent ) that the FDA and EMA have acknowledged this and brought out new guidelines to say that they should not be used for these conditions as the benefit risk profile is negative. Despite this new "floxies" are still appearing on the patient forums having been given an FQ for these conditions. This is just one aspect of inappropriate abx prescribing but one that has ruined the lives of many patients.
As I stated above my sinusitis was "cured" by acupuncture.
There is less resort to law in the UK in medical matters. There are probably less "ambulance chasers" and even for very serious malpractice it is hard to get justice .
My husband was prescribed Ciprofloxacin when a minor skin complaint (an infected follicle) turned nasty. On the third day he suddenly developed very high blood pressure and the doc sent an ambulance. Reading of your bad experiences, my husband probably had a lucky escape.
I have had a iucky escape despite being floxed 4 times over the last 30 years. I never knew until after the last time in 2015 what was probably responsible for decades of health problems. Because I had delayed reactions which is very common. The fluoroquinolones actually act like chemo for a lot of people giving delayed reactions that come on weeks or even months after finishing the course. There are thousands of people who never connect ( even worse nor do their doctors)the tendonitis or tendon ruptures or neuropathy with the antibiotic they took ages ago. They get diagnosed with fibromyalgia or told their problems are in their head. But I have suffered very little compared to others. Some of the stories from victims are appalling- people who have been left bedbound or wheelchair bound in terrible pain for years. I did recover quite a bit between poisonings. Now I know about this I know never to take a fluoroquinolone again and I wear a dogtag pendant. And I bang on about it to try and warn others . Once you have reacted badly to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic the next exposure will be worse so your husband should never take one again. If your husband's exposure was recent you should be on the lookout for any tendon pain as ruptures can occur months after exposure. After my 3rd floxing I got what was probably my first attack of afib though I didn't realise at the time and just thought my heart was going fast and trying to leap out of my chest. It lasted about 3 hours When I went to the doc the next day all was normal. A week after my 4th and last exposure ( one pill only- luckily I had an immediate reaction of visual symptoms ,looked it up and stopped it) I was taken in an ambulance and the afib diagnosed at the hospital.
I hope your cough is getting betterand you have not had to resort to antibiotics. .
I’ve been reading some of the horrors caused by this drug and cannot understand why on earth it is still prescribed for relatively minor infections. How awful that you had 4 bouts with taking it. My husband took it about 16 months ago and we have it on our list to avoid but it would seem that the whole group of similar drugs is to be avoided. Thank you so much for the warning.
My cough is less troublesome thanks and I am using Friar’s Balsam and saline washes. I still have no taste or smell but intend to avoid antibiotics unless it appears that I am becoming really ill.
Lots of people have taken it several times with no or minor side effects then boom the next time the bomb goes off. It seems there is an individual tolerance that nobody understands the basis of. Some people have been bady damaged the first time with just 2 or 3 pills. It is just too much of a lottery to risk unless it's life or death. Even then I think I would choose death rather than risk being much more badly damaged .
Cipro doesn't kill gram positive bacteria. Most of the causes of sinusitis are gram positive. The main exception is Haemophyllis influenza, which is gram negative and susceptible to Cipro. Other floroquinolones such as Floxin do have a broader range of coverage including gram positives. The side effects of any drugs in this class are similar however.
That is neither here nor there. Umpteen doctors have prescribed it wrongly. Why? Because they take more notice of the propaganda put out by Pharma reps than they do of actual facts. Most doctors are not scientists . Most believe what they have been taught in med school without questioning it and often continuing education programmes are grossly influenced by Pharma. Those who dare to question the "medical consensus" are treated as heretics. The former editors of the BMJ and the NEJM have written scathing articles about how medical publications including their own prestigious journals are corrupted by Pharma. Most KOLs are shills for Pharma. In the 17th and 18th century the medical consensus was to poison patients with mercury and arsenic. Now they do it with statins , quinolones and other fluorinated drugs. And deny that the side effects patients experience are due to the drugs. Whether or not what they are prescribing is effective or safe seems to be an afterthought .
I clear mine with. Juice of one lemon, spoon honey. 2 paracetmol and an antihistamine. This was reccomended by a pharmacist and I find it acts faster and better than over the counter remedies.
Try N acetyl cysteine for the cough. It fluidifies secretions and unlike things like Sudafed does not seem to affect afib. I take it everyday as it is also an immune booster and prevents you catching stuff . I have just had my first cold in 3 years and the symptoms were very mild and no cough afterwards. I have read it has blood thinning properties but don't know if they are anticogulant or anti aggregant. Chewing raw garlic is also good for congested chests but difficult unless you like it!
I take Apixaban, Flecainide and Nebivolol and the RX drug interaction site reports no adverse interactions with acetylcysteine, so that sounds OK. I'm not a great fan of garlic any more - used to love it. Right now, as I cannot taste or smell - it might be OK!!
I had the awful flu that was going around in 1999 when I was still living in Brum. My cough was so bad I was coughing up blood and my GP panicked and sent for an ambulance ( to be fair she had had a patient die of a pulmonary embolism the week before ) . After waiting on a trolley for several hours in a corridor with an icy gale blowing on me everytime the doors opened and no sign of a doctor or even a nurse I discharged myself and went home to chew raw garlic! When I saw my GP again she insisted on a chest x ray ( nowt wrong) an antibiotic and prednisolone. I am sure the abx was a fluoroquinolone and I have been suffering the long term consequences of being " floxed" since. I'd have been better without the antibiotic. The steroid gave me hallucinations.
I forgot to mention a herbal cough medicine thats ok with warfarin. bronchostop. I didnt think it would work because its made of herbs. It worked a treat. Dont know if its available outside Ireland though.
Yes, Bronchostop is available in N Ireland and perhaps across the UK - Boots and Superdrug. Ingredients are thyme and marshmallow and I think a neighbour has used it to great effect. I will certainly inquire about it from my GP - sounds very promising. Thank you.
It tastes of Thyme and Rosemary. I really didnt believe it would work but only needed to take 2 doses. My pharmacist cleared it. I find the pharmacist more knowledgeable about drug interactions than the doctors.
The bad news is that this new cold comes in many forms and the cough can last up to 6 weeks. Paracetamol and cough glug ( ps they all contain the same active ingredient guaifenesin, just choose which flavour ! )
I was talking to a Doctors surgery in my work and they had been sanctioned in the UK to give out antiviral ( bird flu ) treatments last week to urgent cases. So I think the strain is not the normal one
Hello Finova, so sorry to hear you are sufferiing so - I have had some real stinkers of colds and related coughs etc in the past - until I found Echinacea - now it is mainstay in my first Aid cupboard - I buy the liquid form and the very first signs of a cold starts me taking it 3 times a day - If someone already has the dreaded bug then 15 drops in a very small amount of water 4 times a day will see a vast improvement very quickly - as for the Cough I swear by Propolis lozenges , they support the immune system and have the wonderful effect of calming hacking coughs too - you can use them as and when you want as they are completely natural - get them from Holland and Barrett when you pick up your Echinacea, apart from that plenty of fluids with soluble Vit C - sleep with plenty of pillows propping you up and keep the room cool, get out the Vick on chest and soles of feet and you should soon be feeling much better - this has worked for me and all of my family for years - Get well soon - all the best.
Many thanks Babs. I remember Echinacea from decades ago and how many people it benefitted. The Vick advice seems to be a strong one from previous posters too. Thank you for your good wishes.
You could try finans bath salts,you must stay in hot bath for at least 30 mins,then go to bed,the longer you stay in the hotter you will glow,Good old steaming helps 3 times a day,with a bit of vick,also wear a scarf at ALL TIMES,best of luck,
Truly I can identify with your plight. I am prone to bronchitis infectiosn and have a sinus condition which I am sure contributes to the development of same. What I found works a lot for me when I am sick is:
1. Use a nebulizor with colloidal silver 3-4 times a day. I put about a tablespoon in the nebulizor cup and inhale alternately in through each nostril, then out through the other. I also breath some deep into my lungs via my mouth multiple times duriong the 5-10m session. Kills the bug dead within a day or two. Another item is a neti pot.
Thank you for the links. I use a neti pot with Himalayan salt but at the moment the congestion is a hard battle for it. My sinuses too get infected easily so I use saline solution regularly. I’ll have a look at your nebulizor - it looks interesting.
I just came across the fluid I use fro netipot and sometimes in nebulizor. Has a eucalyptus like feeling and smell. Alkalol Natural Soothing Nasal Wash, Mucus Solvent and Cleaner Kit, 16 Ounce
That wash looks good and seems to have good ingredients. Here in the UK, the same item is almost 15GBP - nearly twice the price. I will certainly be trying it. Thank you.
Hi Finvola. I developed a cold on 20th Dec and by mid Jan, had the worst cough I have ever had. And still had the cold! Eventually saw the Dr 2 weeks ago and he diagnosed viral bronchitis. He prescribed a steroid nasal spray to stop everything going on to my chest. Worked a treat! My wheezing no longer keeps me awake at night and I feel human again. Hope you feel better soon.
I had the same from the middle of December until last Tuesday I was going back and forth the dr anyway about my AF who kept telling me it was a virus and I had to ride it out, nothing helped to be honest so just ended up taking paracetamol for the pain from wrenching through coughing sadly not much help but it will pass I am much better just crossing my fingers I don’t catch it again
Interesting to observe how differently medicine is practiced in US vs UK. Just about anyone with an URI(sinusitis, bronchitis etc) and a ppersistant cough lasting over a week will be given an antibiotic and cough syrup containing codeine in the US. Reading this forum this does not seem to be the case in the UK. It seems most get better within 2 weeks so it's hard to tell how well the drugs work. My opinion as a retired ER doc is anything lasting over 2 weeks should certainly be given a trial of an antibiotic. I'd be interested in pts who have gone through this and their ecperiance. Thanks
Certainly true and it was introduced some years back to try to combat the over-prescription of antibiotics by GP's who were pressurised by their patients. The commonest prescription 20 years ago for normal effects of a common cold was Amoxicillin or penicillin together with a decongestant.
Currently our GP surgery has large notices throughout the clinic that antibiotics do not help with colds and flu. A few years back I had a cold and very painful sinus infection and was prescribed a hefty dose of Amoxicillin - which cleared it up - but it left me with IBS-like symptoms for months afterward. My GP was sympathetic and prescribed the antibiotic but his partner had previously prescribed Sudafed !!!! for an AF patient. Groan.
Having dealt with so many docs whose pts ended up in the ER ,I have became very skeptical of the profession in general unless I am familiar with the way one practices. I have chronic afib which has been totally controlled and reverted to NSR with Tikosyn. I understand this is not available in the UK or Europe and am amazed at the difficulty these pts have trying to manage on other drug combinations. I have not been able to discover the reason for the unavailability and it just increases my distrust of medicine in general. Anyway, be well and dream of spring. GOt about 6 weeks for the lake I live on to melt and looking forward to that.
From what I can glean about Tikosyn, Pfizer voluntarily withdrew the drug from Europe 15 years ago, citing commercial reasons. I note that it is expensive, which may have influenced its prescribing frequency.
Roll on spring - although the winter here in Ireland hasn’t been too bad - so far.
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Bad cold brings on AF
Having a grim time of things...
cold plunging
