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Posted 9/24/2010 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
As a few of you might remember I have bronchitis, was in the ER last Sat for a few hours.  Went to the ER because I had bacterial pneumonia about 6 months ago and I got a little scared of a repeat.  The meds are helping...........I absolutely hate the pred, hence I am here at 4:14 am.  Infection as far as I can tell (spetum) is under control, the coughing  not so much.

Here is my question or a "what would you do thing?" .  My ribs on the left right below my boob hurt soooo bad from coughing I think (I hope not pleurisy).  My lower back is about shot, spasming from bending over during coughing fits and is killing me.  Would ya'll make the trip back to the ER?  My PCP is off for a while having neck surgery, black ice caused him a nasty wreck.  Maybe I will see how it feels on Sat or if it gets real bad maybe tomorrow????

What would you do?  Tramadol just isn't cutting it.    Thanks

Posted 9/24/2010 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have a walk-in clinic, like an UrgentCare or does your doc have someone who is on call for him? That would be my first shot. I guess if it were me, and I couldn't go to the doctor or UrgentCare, I would probably take the wait-and-see approach, but just for a day or so and only if I didn't develop a fever. I hate the ER with a passion and try to avoid it (as I'm sure we all do, yuck), but if I started feeling worse/got a fever and that was my only choice I would probably go. Since you were just there, can you call them and see what they recommend?

Hope you feel better soon.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 9/24/2010 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
GSD Girl,
I had severe asthma as a child and fortunately outgrew it, but it left me with scars and for years, I would get bronchitis and/or pneumonia every time I would catch a cold, so believe me, I know the feeling and what you are going through. In my experience, when that would happen, the coughing would cause me all kinds of pain in my back and muscle spasms, along with pain in my ribs to the point where I could barely take a breath in. My guess is it's the FM flaring up, but I am NOT a doctor, just from what I've experienced. Has your doctor prescribed anything stronger than Tramadol? Maybe you need to see someone to see if they will prescribed something stronger to get you through this time?
I hope you are feeling better soon,
take care
Miriam
Posted 9/24/2010 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, you might want to go in and make sure it hasnt turned into pneumonia. The last time I had pneumonia I hadnt even been coughing all that much. I was in total pain like you are describing and thought it was from the car accident that I was in the night before. They did x-rays and found out it was the pneumonia. Please get it checked out.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 9/24/2010 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Did they give you a cough medicine?  If so, does it have a cough suppressant in it?  You might need that.  I wouldn't go to the ER for this.  But, see if you can get a cough suppressant.  You will still cough up all the stuff but  you won't be coughing non-stop.  That really does hurt.  Maybe you can talk to your pharmacist, too.  They know all about medications and they might suggest something as well.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/24/2010 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I would go in and at least get an x-ray done of your chest because if you have had pneumonia before you are always prone to it. I was having severe back pain and also pain in my ribs, like you are and they did the x-ray of my chest and found a kidney stone that was almost the size of a golf ball. Before they found that I had numerous ultrasounds of my kidneys and gall bladder and they NEVER found it and it was festering there for over 3 years. It is always better to be safe than sorry. I hope you feel better soon!

 

Well wishes!

(((Hugs)))

Carley

Posted 9/24/2010 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know, Denise. That's a tough call! I'd get several opinions, like Sherrine said, pharmacists know a lot, but it's a lousy situation to have to be in. I hope you get some relief soon...

Debbie
Posted 9/24/2010 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
When I had bronchitis really bad and I had all the rib, back, etc pain, my Dr. prescribed cough medicine with codein. It has a cough supressant and pain reliver all in one. I was in BAD shape for about 6 months... (OH I never want to relive that again). I only took it at night but if you are able and can take it during the day, I'd take it every 6 hours (or as directed, can't remember exactly) straight for at least 3 days to give your muscles/ribs a chance to rest. Are you taking anything to loosen up the mucous to make it easier to cough out?? They also put me in asthma medication temporairly as they said I had reactive airway disease (just TOO sensitive to anything..cough till I threw up all the time) and I worked at a Dr's office then and I'd be walking down the hallway hacking my head off and one of the Dr's would yank me into a room and hook me up to the albuterol nebulizers too. Sucky Sucky time...
Posted 9/25/2010 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
hi gds girl, im so sorry your really are suffering. if i were you i would get it checked out to be sure altho i wouldnt fancy going to the er but thats just me.if your in so much pain not much seems to take it away,im saying this as i also took bronchol pneumonia and it lasted for 6 months i wasnt coughing much but i did have a lot of rib pain and sever back pain.i think its the most frightening thing iv ever took, not to be able to breath exept for tiny breaths i was so scarred. i unfortunetly i havent got much better and iv still got sever rib pain and back pain but my gp has since told me iv now got a lung disease and i will have this pain for the rest of my life and that my breathing will never get any easier. so really if someone can help you get better quickly then go and let them help you. it also makes your whole body sore doesnt it. you poor thing i really feel for you and ill keep you in my prayers. i wish you well very soon,
good luck,shana
Posted 9/25/2010 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Ya being on the nebulizer worked great for me. I hated the albuterol meds though they made me jittery. I know that things can progess rather quickly if you dont stay on it. I sure know rib pain though since I broke 4 ribs in a fall and couldnt take a deep breath.
Posted 9/25/2010 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Most cough suppressants don't really work. Might as well try honey and tea.

For horrible, uncontrollable coughing my PCP prescribes good old-fashioned paregoric (anhydrous morphine aka camphorated tincture of opium). Tastes truly awful, like pure alcohol with licorice or anise. It's addicting, of course, but a teaspoon will quiet the most horrible cough. It's nothing to take on a regular basis or for a simple cold!
Posted 9/25/2010 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody and thank you so very much for yore ideas and experiences!!!!  the main reason I was thinking ER was because I was just there and they do everything,  no guess work and no try this..... no here try this.  Honestly (although it seems differently LOL) I am not one to just run to the ER but like I said, I was just there.

Now, the cough,,,,,,,There is almost nothing coming up, it is kinda stuck which I think is part of the problem.  <<<<<gross!!>>>>> I ended up with a nebulizer so I have been using that along with an inhaler occasionally (one of those inhalers  last me a year if not more)  The nebulizer was left here by my step dau (for her 11 yo son) from 11 years ago.  The meds for it are cheap!!  I am on pred which is a whole 'nother story smilewinkgrin  .  also a newer antibiotic  which is avalox. 

I had pleurisy once many years ago and the rib pain felt a lot like that.  And the lower back just went out during a coughing spell.  I figured that maybe I could get an MRI of my whole spine there.  Haven't had that yet.  I would like to know what it looks like.

They also gave me some kind of cherrytussin cough med which did not work much at all.   I ended up taking a fiorinal w/codeine last night.  I know that it is for headaches but I figured the codeine won't hurt.  It did help and I slept like a baby turn

I know that many, many times it is actually from cigs and I'm sure they don't help but I can remember getting this in 6th grade and I certainley did not smoke then................I know, I know, making excuses.

Posted 9/25/2010 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Guess it all depends on the person, Alcie, because cough suppressants work great for me. 

 

GSD Girl, have you tried the Advair inhaler?  The albuterol ones don't work for me as well as the Advair inhalers.  These are used mainly for people with asthma.  I will get a touch of asthma sometimes with lung involvement but have use the Advair even when I didn't have any noticable asthma.  I can breathe again.

 

Now, I think you should seriously stop smoking!  This could be getting a bit dangerous for you, since you have been having this problem more and more.  Think about it.  I will be in your cheering section!  I really do care about you.

 

Sherrine

Posted 9/25/2010 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Ouch, been there. Try to take it easy, doing too much can make the coughing worse. Use a pillow when you cough, just hold it tight where that pain is in your chest and it may help. Also, make sure if you cough or sneeze you are sitting down, standing makes the back hurt worse when that happens. If the antibiotics don't work soon then I would go back, especially if it is a newer one. When I get bronchitis a z pack, steroids and an inhaler usually take it down to tolerable within a few days. Hope you feel better......
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