Bronchitis

Iv had a very nasty chest inf this last 10days,still wheezy ,could it be bronchitis,my peak flow is 450.,how long does bronchitis last usually? Doc has given me an xtra bronco dilator,to help,it's been 8days now,I sat out in the sun for a while yest,it seemed to help,could the veryc old weather have caused all this?

[Gordon57]

Peak flow applies to Asthma, bronchitis isn't asthma so peak flow would not give an indication, other than being short of breath.

The NHS give this information: nhs.uk/Conditions/Bronchiti...

The cold weather may not have helped, but please check back with your GP if the symptoms are not easing after this length of time.

[Hidden in reply to Gordon57]

I was ther fri gone, got a throat spray to ease inflammation in my throat and a bronco dilator,the docs aid this very cold weather hadn't helped either,I'm takin it easy and lots of dinks and nourishing food,thanks for all your advice Gordon at this difficult time

[Pepsicoley]

Hello Meg

I hope you recover from your bronchitis soon. I have had quite a few things happen to me in the last few years but I have not had bronchitis.

When my brother and I were small children, in Scotland, we quite often had bronchitis and I hated the remedy. A visit from the Doctor, medicine which tasted of cherry (although I like fresh cherries, I really dislike 'cherry-tasting' things) and the most awful thing of all, a poltice of Kaolin.

Mum would put a tin of Kaolin in a pot of water on the range to warm up. Once warmed, she would spread the Kaolin on a large piece of lint and clamp it to our chest with a bandage! My brother was fine with the procedure but I cried.

I have no idea whether this part of the remedy was medical advice or whether it was advice from our Grandmother and I have no idea whether it did any good.

Not much help to you but your post reminded me of it.

As I said, I do hope you recover quickly.

Best wishes

Annec

xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to Pepsicoley]

Thank you,

[maxer in reply to Pepsicoley]

That was a blast from the past Annec. I had what my mum called rheaumatics as a child and the Doc gave her tins of Kaolin Poultice on prescription which she would heat and apply on bandages to my knees.

maxer xx

[Hidden]

I remember kaolin,my dad used to have it slapped on his knees ,as he had shrapnel in them from the war,for a bad shoulder or stiff neck mum used to fetch out a tin of FIERY JACK,silly name I know but it worked ,boy was it hot

[James48]

Hi Meg, bronchitis infections are viral so antibiotics have no effect - it just has to run it's miserable course which might be weeks and weeks. You may also get a bacterial infection with it, which can be treated with antibiotics.

You should send a sputum sample at the start of an infection for analysis to local hospital Ask your GP about this as you should be able to leave sample at the surgery. I have bronchitis so I know how it feels - very horrible!!

Do you take anything to keep the sputum thin so you can shift it like Mucodyne? and do you use steam inhalation? It all helps, along with drinking plenty of fluid.

[James48]

Hi Meg, bronchitis infections are viral so antibiotics have no effect - it just has to run it's miserable course which might be weeks and weeks. You may also get a bacterial infection with it, which can be treated with antibiotics.

You should send a sputum sample at the start of an infection for analysis to local hospital Ask your GP about this as you should be able to leave sample at the surgery. I have bronchitis so I know how it feels - very horrible!!

Do you take anything to keep the sputum thin so you can shift it like Mucodyne? and do you use steam inhalation? It all helps, along with drinking plenty of fluid.