Chest infection: Any suggestions... - British Heart Fou...

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Chest infection

cowparsley profile image
44 Replies

Any suggestions welcome.I`ve had a chest infection for a month now despite antibiotics.I just can`t loosen the phlegm and it`s slowing me right down.Having my pm replaced on Wed.which is a minor procedure but would like to feel tip top before having it done.Thank you.

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cowparsley profile image
cowparsley
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44 Replies
Adaboo profile image
Adaboo

Breathing in eucalyptus oil in hot water always gets rid of my infections, 3 times a day. plus high dose Vit C

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toAdaboo

Thank you Adaboo will try it.

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo in reply tocowparsley

You only need a couple of drops, literally! Close your eyes because it makes mine water, lol ,put a towel over your head and breath away. 🤞🤞

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toAdaboo

Hi Adaboo,steam treatment working thank you.Full steam ahead for pm replacement x

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo in reply tocowparsley

That’s excellent news!!! Works for me every time. Good luck with your pm replacement. Hope it all goes smoothly 🤞🤞🤞

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toAdaboo

xxx

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers

Hi cowparsley, sorry to hear you're still under the weather. Eucalyptus will certainly open your airways and help you breath easier, I usually put a few drops in a diffuser so it's wafting around all day, although I did ask the pharmacist if it was OK first because of meds & the HF etc. However, if you've got an infection thats not getting better, shouldn't your GP be referring you to see if theres am underlying issue. Will they still replace your PM if you've got an infection?

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toLezzers

ood morning Lezzers,steam treatment working so going ahead.I get these infections every winter,always last this long,regrettably ex smoker so mea culpa!

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply tocowparsley

Glad to hear the eucalyptus worked, love the smell of it. I'm also an ex smoker so I suffer when I get a cold, I have the diffuser burning it constantly in winter, like adaboo said it can hurt your eyes when inhaling it.

Good luck for tomorrow, keep us informed when you can, keep your hands off any dishy docs! ☺

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toLezzers

Lezzers what`s the name of the new drug you want me to ask about?I`ve lost the piece of paper with it written on of course!

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply tocowparsley

Wow, thank you for remembering that with everything else you've got going on. The drug is Dapagliflozin, it's currently licensed for type 2 diabetes but is due to be licenced for HF this year.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toLezzers

No worries,will do x

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

Do you have to go through a pre-op for the replacement? Even though it's considered a minor procedure will they let you go through if you've a chest infection?

As it's hanging on so long, have you considered it might be something environmental? I hope this doesn't make you feel sick but whilst trying to recover from what became a unusually stubborn acute flare of my recurrent pericarditis this past year, we rearranged our bedroom (unrelated to the illness, we just love rearranging furniture every six months or so) - OH MY WORD - we discovered a line of mould across the entire wall we'd had the bed, bedside cabinets, and two chests on. It was shocking the way the mould managed to stay hidden behind the furniture, I would have thought mould would just grow up and up and up and become visible above and around the furniture but no, this horrid mess stayed stealthily out of view. Also a shocker was the furniture had only been on that wall six months.

Cleaned that up, did what was needed to address the cause of the development of the mould (tip - damp proof course doings in winter is not for the faint of heart even with the assistance of certified contractors) and I was soon on the mend.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toSunnie2day

Hi Sunnie,know where you`re coming from,mould spores a danger for damaged lungs but no mould.Late husband was a builder so all walls tanked,no damp patches allowed.Been taking Abadoo`s advice and steam inhaling,it`s working and I`m going ahead with replacement pm tomorrow.Only concerns are getting up at 5 30 AM and a sleepover invitation of NHS!!!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply tocowparsley

Oooh, I never like those sleepover invites, always makes me think they're thinking the worst. Even when I know a night over is a good idea it still makes me nervous. When I had my angio in November they told me to bring a bag packed for two nights and I spent the entire week before the procedure in a state of barely controlled panic - I was sure I'd be coming home with dozens of stents and a pacemaker. Lol, I went home eight or so hours after the angio without anything more than a bruised arm and leg.

Please update us after your replacement!

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toSunnie2day

Only have to sleep over cos I live on my own.Just worried about rolling out of the hard narrow bed!!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply tocowparsley

Ah, that make sense - they want to make sure you have someone close by the first night. That's actually rather nice despite the narrow beds. Now, my thing would be avoiding the menu 'choices', lol - after my angio I skipped their offer of a hot meal after seeing what the lady in the next bay was 'enjoying'.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toSunnie2day

Had the pre op in Dec. before the chest infection.Will be fine x

Stumpy47 profile image
Stumpy47

I doubt they will go ahead with your replacement with any infection, I wish you well.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toStumpy47

Feeling better,full steam ahead.x

Stumpy47 profile image
Stumpy47 in reply tocowparsley

Great stuff ,speedy recovery I hope for you.

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo

Hi Londinium! I’m lucky that I haven’t had an infection for a few years now but If I do I attack it with eucalyptus as soon as I feel it’s going to start. I take 5/6 grams a day spread throughout the day everyday.

Londinium profile image
Londinium

My gut was in chronic and severe pain, and severely swollen for weeks, and this would keep happening throughout the year, each year - probably due to loads of antibiotics over the years.

But when I started taking the liquid colostrum, the top end of the severe pain soon reduced. I began with a liquid colostrum throughout January, and when that finished I switched to a powdered colostrum for February.

I was pretty unwell in December and over Christmas, and decided then to try colostrum for several months, from the new year.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply toLondinium

Human breast milk and colostrum are very important.

They should be regarded as a medicine and used for mothers to give to their babies who are unable to breast feed their babies for various reasons.

Donated milk helps in particular preterm babies preventing them from developing necrotising endocolitis which can be fatal.

I chose to donate my extra breast milk to a milk bank for preterm babies rather than sell it to a company for profit.

Just as blood is donated without freely in the UK.

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo in reply toMilkfairy

I didn’t realise you’d recently had a baby milkfairy. Congratulations

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply toAdaboo

Sorry I am laughing too much.

I meant to say chose.

Which I suspect you may have guessed.

Time I feel to get back to the original purpose of the thread Cowparsley's question.

All this diversion is irrelevant if not entertaining.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply toMilkfairy

It's not beyond the realms of possiblity milkfairy, wasn't there a case of a 74 year woman who conceived?? Ha ha, not that I'm suggesting you're anywhere near 74 & that is not meant to be insulting to anyone who is 74......gotta be soooo careful here!! 😂

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply toLezzers

Blimey I am not sure if I'll make it to 74!

telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/0...

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply toMilkfairy

That's the one I was thinking of, cricky twins!!

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply toLezzers

😳

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo in reply toMilkfairy

I’m laughing too , believe me.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toMilkfairy

NoMilkfairy,this is much more entertaining!!

Londinium profile image
Londinium

No, I was very unwell - so I did a bunch of research and decided to try colostrum from Jan 2020, I finished off collagen powder that I already had. And then I bought some colostrum to use in January, and then another brand of colostrum to use in February.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Which mammal's colostrum are you using?

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

The immune system of a cow is very different to a human.

No need to reply.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley

quick answer....none

Adaboo profile image
Adaboo

Ah, maybe that’s why I hardly get ill anymore. I thought it was the Vit C, but might be low carb eating.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley

About vitamin C.Didn`t think it made a difference but would like your opinion.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply tocowparsley

Morning cowparsley. How are you now with your chest infection and PM?

Have a look at this link re vitamin c, it does say you should be able to get all your vit C needs from your diet, though Kevin & myself always take hot lemon & manuka honey when we have a cold, hope it helps

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toLezzers

Thanks for link Lezzers,as my diet and appetite have been poor for a month I might be lacking in something other than brain cells.Trouble is pre heart and lungs I was Superwoman, never had a cold or any other minor ailments so I`m rather ignorant on these matters.Perhaps I`ll take something like Berocca for a week or two until back on my usual healthy diet which hopefully will be soon xx

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply tocowparsley

Not heard of Berocca, but goes without saying to run it past pharmacist first. Could you kick start your appetite with some naughty foods to begin with?

Kevin often skips lunch as he just isn't hungry, common side effect of HF sadly. His nurse used to tell him off, she said skipping meals can cause spikes in your sugar levels but he just says he's not hungry.

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply toLezzers

I`m rarely hungry,I eat because I know I must.As for naughty foods I don`t have any cravings for any thing,never been a foodie.It`s living on your own,cooking and eating become a chore.The up side is I never have to worry about weight or BP.I know I`ll soon be back on form,a GnT might be a good appetizer.Thank you for your suggestions,might even try lemon and manuka honey,sounds good.My grand daughter is the first apprentice bee keeper in UK and was sent to New Zealand to learn about manuka honey.xx

in reply tocowparsley

This year I’ve took high strength vit C tabs and haven’t had even a sniffle ( touch wood). However, it’s been a mild winter

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley in reply to

OK,worth a try x

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