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2nd lot of antibiotics not working

(50 Posts)
gillybob Thu 27-Mar-14 11:48:27

I have just finished a second course of anti-biotics for a chest infection which I have had now for over three weeks. It is better than it was but not better (if you get what I mean) the GP has said that he is reluctant to prescribe a 3rd course and that it will probably get better on its own. I am not able to take time off work to "keep warm and rest" (the doctors suggestion) and am driving everyone (including myself) up the wall with coughing and wheezing and my whole body is aching with the constant straining, not to mention the fact that I look a complete mess due to lack of sleep. Any ideas or home remedies would be gratefully accepted.

Lilygran Thu 27-Mar-14 11:58:08

Hope you feel better soon. wine Vicks or Friar's Balsam inhaler? Also, shouldn't they be trying to find out what bug you've actually got? Do a culture?

JessM Thu 27-Mar-14 11:58:29

Miserable!
It could be viral or it could be whooping cough. The vaccine wears off and there is more around these days due to anti-vaccination nonsense.
I think i had it a couple of years ago and my DS definitely did, whoops and all.
Patience and hot lemony drinks, Sorry.

Nonu Thu 27-Mar-14 12:03:47

Vitamen C, Langdales Cinnamon . Hope you get on the mend soon , I had a chest infection a while back and it just sooo miserable , I know what you are going through !
((Hugs))

Riverwalk Thu 27-Mar-14 12:11:40

Gilly if you're wheezing you could be in need of steroids e.g. Prednisolone which would reduce the inflammation.

I think a return to the GP is in order.

gillybob Thu 27-Mar-14 12:20:19

Thank you everyone. You are all so kind.

The GP did mention steroids last week Riverwalk although having been on them on and off for years (for the MS) I am extremely reluctant to start again, however if needs must..........

I have never thought of whooping cough JessM perish the thought as I have been looking after grandma and the children shock

smile ..............through the pain

Ana Thu 27-Mar-14 12:22:11

My DH is prescribed steroids (along with antibiotics) every time he gets a chest infection, as he suffers from COPD. It's only a short course, gillybob, and they certainly seem to work in his case. Hope you feel better soon smile

mcem Thu 27-Mar-14 12:42:20

Have had a similar problem since mid January! It has come and gone temporarily but is still here - after 3 lots of antibiotics and a course of prednisolone. Chest x-ray came back clear and am now awaiting blood test results and will have lung function tests when the wheezes subside. Have been able to 'take it easy' as advised but am still totally drained with no energy. This is SO frustrating as I normally can shake off anything like this with 2 early nights, whiskey toddies and lemsip!
Haven't been able to help much with GC's so also have a guilty conscience.
Is this what getting older inevitably means???

Anne58 Thu 27-Mar-14 12:56:37

I read somewhere that rubbing Vick onto the feet at night helps a cough, although no one seems to know why!

Also an old Indian cough remedy is turmeric in hot milk.

gillybob Thu 27-Mar-14 13:12:14

I have had quite a few chest infection over the last few years. They always start with a little cough, nothing too drastic and then flu-like symptoms of feeling hot one minute and shiveriing the next and then the tight chest and then the full on coughing and wheezing. I am coughing so hard I could be in an advert for Tenna Lady as I am "whoopsing" quite a bit. grin

Tegan Thu 27-Mar-14 13:16:14

Maybe an inhaler; I sometimes used to get a lingering cough and used an asthma inhaler; it's also a more topical way of having steroids without affecting the whole body. I find the Vicks on the feet works well but if you're working it's dificult to get rid of the smell. Oh and cherry brandy is good also. I had a cough that lasted so long my daughter used to refer to me as 'Mrs TB in the corner'. Dr refused to give me antibiotics; when he did it cleared up straight away.

rosequartz Thu 27-Mar-14 13:32:30

Yes, phoenix, my DD recommended rubbing vick on the feet then putting on a pair of socks at night, which I tried doing last week. Not sure if it helped or not. Still coughing and feeling under the weather after 10 days. DGD2 is a lot perkier today though, she is 48 hours ahead of me. (I am typing this with the lid of a puzzle box balanced on my head)

nightowl Thu 27-Mar-14 14:01:43

Jess there is more whooping cough around nowadays precisely because the vaccine wears off, not because of 'anti vaccine nonsense'. Take up of childhood pertussis vaccine is now very high. It's actually people in our age group that are infecting one another, and at the same time, vulnerable children who are too young or can't have the vaccine. Perhaps we should be making sure we have boosters?

rosequartz Thu 27-Mar-14 16:01:43

Ps I did not have the box lid balanced on my head for any medical reason, it was because DGD2 insisted it should be there, which obviously means she is feeling better. Last week she just wanted to cuddle and not do much. However, she is still not 100% after nearly 2 weeks and I feel post-viral and the coughing is driving me mad.

Nearly all of her playgroup have gone down with it.

granjura Thu 27-Mar-14 16:57:44

Hope you get better soon. Must say it seems strange that you are on second lot of antibiotics after 3 weeks- as most of the time GPs will not give antibiotics for about 10 days, as it is normally a viral infection. With bronchitis, research shows that taking antibiotics early can make things worse in long run.

Had the same for 5 weeks, then got antibiotics on 6th week- finally got over this.

I know you say you haven't got time to take time off and rest- but your health is so much more important, really. Steam 4x a day with Olbas or similar oil is the best way to get rid of this, and plenty of hot drinks + hot toddy at night.

TOOBIGFORTHEIRBOOTS Thu 27-Mar-14 17:19:48

Gilly I was recently ill for 6 weeks with the very same and my poor daughter was ill for 10 weeks. She eventually had 3 courses of anti-biotics but then had to be referred to a specialist who put her on a steroid pump. It still took about another 10 days to feel better and one day she just realised, oh I feel good. At one stage we had a masseuse going to the house on alternate days to try and soothe her battered and aching body. She even had what was to all intents and purpose a nappy rash caused by weeing herself when coughing, the baby she had last year was a whopper and her pelvic floor isnt fully recovered. In the end I suspect what really helped her was taking the time if work the Dr offered her. Like you she was saying oh I can't its impossible but in the end I just said to her, oh yes you are. I think she needed me to do that. Is there anyone who can say that to you?

As for me, I gave up the anti-biotics after one course because I felt it was very much a case of 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other.

I hope you feel better soon.

harrigran Thu 27-Mar-14 17:44:45

Hope you get some relief soon gilly. Sounds like the chest infection I had last year, when I had to miss Absent's leaving do. Cough medicine didn't really help but steam inhalation did soothe the airway.

rosequartz Thu 27-Mar-14 18:20:00

I put a couple of drops of tea tree oil in the bath.

Mishap Thu 27-Mar-14 18:25:03

There has been a lo of this about this year. Our neighbour and a relative have been in hospital with pneumonia. I hope you will be well soon. My GP gave me an inhaler and it worked very quickly - opens up the tubes and lets the gunk run free - lovely!

granjura Thu 27-Mar-14 18:56:31

It seems resistance to antibiotics is due to repeated use in modern society- as we are all so busy and insist on them instead of taking a little time off, and take hot drinks and do steam, etc. Believe me, this is not a flippant answer- and I know how difficult it is to take time off. I would have done anything not to let kids and colleagues down.

MiniMouse Thu 27-Mar-14 19:03:10

Putting Vick/Olbas/Four Thieves Oil on the soles of the feet works because they are more easily absorbed there. Don't know why!

rosequartz Thu 27-Mar-14 19:08:36

Is it a similar theory to reflexology I wonder? Perhaps the vick or whatever hits the spot?

DebnCreme Thu 27-Mar-14 19:15:43

What a relief Rosequartz I thought you had either lost the plot or had a very unusual medical solution. Was about to ask whether the choice of puzzle made a difference.

Nonu Thu 27-Mar-14 19:39:00

I like that , Mini plus Rose , makes a lot of sense.
Will give it a go next time I am afflicted.

rosequartz Thu 27-Mar-14 20:13:37

It was a Noddy puzzle, not feeling a lot better though! DH had to have the bottom of the box balanced on his head. He obviously does not fidget as much as me as his stayed put.

I do hope everyone feels better soon, if it is the same bug it is quite vicious.