I've been dealing with a cough that has been keeping me up nights for a few days now. Ron finally convinced me to go to the doctor. After I explained my symptoms (essentially just a cough that won't go away) he asked me: Did it start out with a sore throat that lasted just a day or two? Yes Did you lose your voice for a day or so after that? Yes And I'm guessing you don't normally sound the way you do right now? (hoarse and croaky) No, I don't. Are you tired all the time no matter how much sleep you get? Yes. He then told me I have a virus that is essentially the adult form of croup. I never even knew adults could get croup!!! No barking cough, no stridor, (the two thing commonly associated with croup in kids) but the adult virus doesn't manifest those things. He went on to tell me that I'm going to be dealing with this for likely a couple more weeks because it takes that long to run its course, and that because it’s viral there isnt anything he can give me to clear it up, but that he'd be happy to prescribe some heavy duty cough meds to help control the cough at night so that I could sleep. Yes please. Both he and the pharmacist cautioned me that the prescription Tessalon perles must be taken with a full glass of water and under NO circumstances to chew the capsules. It works by numbing the throat and lungs, making the cough reflex less active so chewing them will deaden the mouth, throat etc. I got a full night's sleep for the first time last night. I am still exhausted, dragging my ass to work again today, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Let's hope the virus clears up soon for you Ronni. Croup is a horrible thing to be suffering from. Take care.
TBH I think doctors have no idea what they are doing. I figure in 100years they will look back in horror when they review the medicine of the 21st century. I keep that view in mind whenever I deal with a doctor. I mean, your better off taking anything it if means a good night's sleep, I'm just saying, doctors tend to overprescribe.
Old fashioned remedy for croup ! Gargle with warm salt water several times a day and a hot toddy with lemon and honey before bed ! Works every time ! And if you put enough whiskey in the toddy you will not care if your sick !
Hot toddy is great, unless you cannot drink alcohol and or are allergic to citrus and not allowed honey because of the sugar. Hope it goes away quickly for you. Just be careful when coughing. I pulled a muscle in my side last time I had a bad cough and it took longer to heal than the cough did.
Don`t forget the warm salt water gargles ! Many doctors recommend it ! And the honey in the toddy is antiseptic and antibacterial so it should help !
Thanks for asking Mart! I'm not great. But better than I was a few days ago, so I'm taking my wins wherever i can get them. Someone mentioned a pulled muscle from coughing. I didn't, thankfully, but my abdominal muscles are SO sore that I'm fighting to not cough every time i feel the urge, which isn't a good idea because it hurts almost as much to NOT cough as it does to just let loose! Hopefully I'm on the downside of this. The doc said a couple more weeks, and I'm almost through the first week of those two. So cross everything you have for me that I'll feel some relief this coming week!
Well, I'm not quite sure this is what you mean, Mart, but if I down enough of those toddies after work I won't even CARE what I feel like lol!!!
