Author Topic: Chest infection anyone? (Read 3823 times)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **on:** May 07, 2016, 06:05:59 pm »

It started out as a sniffle and has ended up as a full blown infection. My mum had it first, so I was looking after her and I think that I must have got it then. A bit of a pain really as I need to get farming done, I feel more sorry for mum though, headaches , sickness, weak and aching all over plus struggling to keep warm and shivering, not forgetting the bad cough, poor mummy. If she isn't any better Tomoz then it will be the doctor. In the meantime plenty of rest lots of fluids and paracetemol to help the headaches, being very careful. Does anyone have any recommended home brews which would help soothe the throat and chest?
Thanks

Jullienne · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2016, 08:15:04 pm »

awww I am so sorry to hear about that, it sounds really terrible. hope you get better soon, sorry I haven't got any remedies for you, just keep warm plenty of rest and maybe and see the doc asap, that includes your mum as well.

pharnorth · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2016, 09:06:50 pm »

You can do worse than the old hot water with a bit of lemon in a bowl and towel over your head as you get a bit of a hot vapour

fsmnutter · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2016, 10:07:08 pm »

Sounds likely to be flu with the aches and pains, and chills would suggest fever, which usually comes with viral infection which runs it's course in time. However, if someone's immune system is compromised, asthmatic etc, flu can hit harder so worst cases can need hospitalised.
Usually not a lot the doctors can do for viruses, other than prescribe stuff you can get at the pharmacy, so a visit to doctors within the first week of any cold type bug is most likely only to spread the virus to others and use up appointments that can be hard to get hold of.
The NHS guidelines are not to prescribe antibiotics (to prevent resistant bacteria evolving any quicker than they already are) unless there are sufficient symptoms to suspect a bacterial infection or culture of sputum etc. and generally this requires at least a solid green coloured sputum or a cough persisting beyond 7-10 days without a fever before they start looking for bacterial causes.
The pharmacy is a much better bet, they can provide expert advise, cough syrups for a range of types of cough, antipyretics such as paracetamol for pain and fever, and my personal favourite for a sore throat is ultra chloroseptic throat spray, which has local anaesthetic to really soothe the pain, along with a traditional hot toddy or hot water honey and lemon, and breathing in steamy baths with a drop of eucalyptus oil.
Hope you all feel better soon.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2016, 12:26:27 am »

Thanks for that [member=26799]fsmnutter[/member] I will definately be doing that. I will have to be keeping an eye on her blood pressure too, because it was a bit low the other day and she felt light headed, mum has had bouts of low blood pressure before, so I am a bit concerned about that. We have a monitor in the house, so when she feels weird I'll see what number its at. could someone tell me what foods would be good to keep hrr strength up whilst ill, because of the infection she cant taste much and isnt wanting to eat much, so something wholesome and good for her blood sugar levels. Its just she doesnt get ill very often and when she does it concerns me hugely. Sorry for all the Q's

suziequeue · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2016, 03:39:16 am »

Apparently chicken soup has been "scientifically proven"

(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/the-science-of-chicken-soup/?_r=0) to improve chest/flu symptoms

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2016, 11:11:38 am »

I did everything that has been listed and it has cleared up my sinus's. However I cant seem to walk 10-15 paces without breaking out into a coughing fit, nothing much coming up and last night I had cold sweats, tons of it I was drenched, this is the third night in a row now. I just cant seem to be able to breath properly without dissolving into a coughing fit. Plus I weighed myself today and I have lost 5 pounds in about 4 days! Not only this but my chest is groaning crackling and popping. Im still keeping hydrated and taking thyme tincture, honey and lemon, paracetemol and clearing the airways, but its not working and I cant seem to get anything done Oh help!

Q · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2016, 12:45:17 pm »

You have my sympathies WBF - my OH has been like this since January - just cannot stop coughing even through the night and to the point of making herself sick. Just waiting for Xray and blood test results.
The Doc said it was the flu originally and when it didnt clear gave her antibiotics which didnt clear it. He said it was taking time to clear because she had had glandular fever at some point in the past

I have it too and we seem to be passing it to each other - mine is at a much lower level or I can cope better because I am a MAN!

My Polish neighbour swears by this recipe and NO we are not going to try it!
400 dandelion heads ( dried off)
1 Litre of water
2kg sugar ( to taste apparently) - she said it would is very sweet

Boil until you get the consistency of syrup and sieve out the dandelion heads

Take one or two teaspoons to soothe the cough.

She says they keep it for the whole year and it solves all their families coughs and colds

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2016, 12:48:33 pm »

did you get yourself to the pharmacy?

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2016, 01:18:09 pm »

I know. I havent been able to see the dr or go to the pharmacy at all as I just havent had the strength all I have wanted to do is drink and sleep, now that I am feeling a bit stronger in limbs I will try and see the dr either later today or tomorrow morning. When I was in a lot of pain with chest and throat over the weekend my local pharmacy was closed as was the drs surgery, so I just have had to grin and bear it, the pain has eased off now though. Im just so exhausted only had 3-4 hrs sleep last night then had to get up and feed calves their milk, between me and my brother we managed to complete the job. Think I will have a nap now.

devonlady · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2016, 05:41:38 pm »

Be careful! I started with a very nasty flu virus, after having norovirus at Christmas which gave me pleurisy (the flu not the noro) I'm not one for trotting to the doctor unless I'm dying. Well, I thought I was in the end!
The upshot was I completely lost my appetite (apart from brandy and water) and have lost two and a half stone and am only just getting it back .
So, my dear girl, go to your GP as soon as you can. Otherwise you will lose your appetite, your strength and the enthusiasm for life I know you have. (and are you practising The Moonlight for at least three hours a day as prescribed?)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2016, 06:03:30 pm »

Quote from: devonlady on May 12, 2016, 05:41:38 pm

Be careful! I started with a very nasty flu virus, after having norovirus at Christmas which gave me pleurisy (the flu not the noro) I'm not one for trotting to the doctor unless I'm dying. Well, I thought I was in the end!
The upshot was I completely lost my appetite (apart from brandy and water) and have lost two and a half stone and am only just getting it back .
So, my dear girl, go to your GP as soon as you can. Otherwise you will lose your appetite, your strength and the enthusiasm for life I know you have. (and are you practising The Moonlight for at least three hours a day as prescribed?)

I'll go first thing tomoz then. Thankyou for all the encouragement guys! No sadly not the piano needs retuning and I keep getting mixed up with the chords. I cant read music I try and play off how I hear it and it does seem to work slightly.

but like they say practise makes perfect

Jullienne · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2016, 02:06:52 pm »

Quote from: Q on May 12, 2016, 12:45:17 pm

You have my sympathies WBF - my OH has been like this since January - just cannot stop coughing even through the night and to the point of making herself sick. Just waiting for Xray and blood test results.
The Doc said it was the flu originally and when it didnt clear gave her antibiotics which didnt clear it. He said it was taking time to clear because she had had glandular fever at some point in the past

I have it too and we seem to be passing it to each other - mine is at a much lower level or I can cope better because I am a MAN!

My Polish neighbour swears by this recipe and NO we are not going to try it!
400 dandelion heads ( dried off)
1 Litre of water
2kg sugar ( to taste apparently) - she said it would is very sweet

Boil until you get the consistency of syrup and sieve out the dandelion heads

Take one or two teaspoons to soothe the cough.

She says they keep it for the whole year and it solves all their families coughs and colds

Have you tried echinaecia and thyme tincture? The echinaecia helps rebuild the immune system and the thyme tincture helps to kick it out, my mum swares by it and it never fails! Hope you all get better soon!