Glenn, I have had some experiences with this in the past myself. I think a humidifier would be a big help and I also think Bobbie's suggestion is a good idea.
I won't get into what exactly happened to me, but my recent battle with pneumonia started as a scratchy throat also. It was viral, so they didn't want to give me antibiotics, despite the fact that I have consistently gone into pneumonia with a bacterial infection shortly after contracting a virus of some sort in the past. Mucinex is a good way to go, but you need to make sure you take in plenty of fluids in order to be able to cough up as much of the mucous as possible. Also it is important to do some drainage in Trendelenburg if at all possible. I have a machine which allows me to do a nebulizer treatment while I am in Trendelenburg and this helps significantly with the mucous drainage. In fact, I tend to do all of my quad coughs and percussion treatment in Trendelenburg in order to get all of the mucous up. That is one of the big things which helps me combat pneumonia as quickly as possible. I was able to do it without being hospitalized, but it is extremely fatiguing on you as the quad and your caregivers. I sincerely hope you do not get any worse than you are now. Quadius PS I probably should've mentioned that Vic's VapoRub (spelling) or some generic equivalent is also good at opening the airways and allowing you to breathe at night. PSS if the mucous is up toward the top it is much easier to get out in Trendelenburg and you want to try to stop any kind of infiltration (I believe that's the word) if it's possible. On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 7:29 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > Excuse the language. > > In 2010, 2011 and 2012 each year with in two weeks of May 1, I went to the > hospital with either a mucous plug, severe bronchitis, pneumonia whenever > they could put on paper is what they called it. I can't remember but in > 2011 in 2012 it started with a scratchy throat and sinus drainage. All > three years happened after I visited the doctor, and blood tests and really > didn't have much of an issue. > > And here it is, a new year, 2013. Am I about to do it again? On Thursday > and Friday evening I had a scratchy throat during the night and morning. > During the day it did not seem to be an issue. On Saturday my sinuses > started to drain down my throat and now I have this dry hacking cough. It > almost feels like a reflex cough. > > We have forced air heat in the home and I believe the air to be dry. > Saturday night I had a humidifier > and it may have helped a little, but here it is Tuesday and I feel like > crap. > > I have been taking Musenex for the last 24 hours, not really having much > sinus drainage, but I never really had a lot, just a scratchy throat. The > reflex seems to be in the center of my chest and it almost feels > like I am having minor muscle spasms in my chest. > > I had blood tests done two weeks ago, the doctor said everything looks > good and I felt good. > > Does anybody have trouble with dry heat? Does this sound familiar to > anyone? > > I had started using my nebulizer, taking cough drops, and Musenex. I have > no temperature in my oxygen level is 97. > > Disgusted in Pennsylvania! > > Glenn Henry >
