I've been sick for 7 weeks. 7 weeks ago my girlfriend got tonsilitis. 2 days after she was diagnosed my glands in my neck got swollen. I was put on penicillin for a week as more of a precautionary measure. I never got tonsillitis, but instead got the symptoms of sinusitis. headache, head congestion, stuffed ears and nose, occasinal tightness/soreness in the chest. Things got a bit better after 2 weeks but for the last 5 weeks things haven't improved or gotton worse. 2 weeks ago I was put on cleftin for 10 day. just finished with no real improvment. My nasal mucous is usually white/clear and slightly milky, however in the morning it is yellow sometimes, probably why I was put on cleftin. I don't cough, but if I clear my lungs/throat, it's clear with bits of brown stuff. No bad smell from discharge. My only symptoms now are:

headache- minor and reoccurring
head congestion - reoccuring but not as often anymore
ear/nose stuffiness - reoccuring
swollen neck/throat glands - swell and deswell throughout the day

Any info or answers? I've seen 3 doctors who sort of shrug it off. Is this sinisitis, or something worse. is 7 weeks normal? What about the swollen glands? The only thing I'm taking now is Claritin Extra decongestion, for past 3 days. Doesn't seem to be doing much. Any feedback is greatly appreiated. I quit smoking 4 months ago, don't know if this would have anything to do with it. I also seem to be almost 100% at night. Somedays I feel great, very few symptoms if any, then another day I feel congested and headachey.

Thanks

nick :(

The antibiotic you were given is not the right one for the particular bug you have. My doc gives me Z-Pak. In fact, I was in early this morning with tracheal bronchitis. He also gave me a refill for the Z-Pak in case the first round does not clear it up.

If you still have yellow, green, or brown mucous you still have an infection.

Mucinex tablets are over the counter and will help thin mucous which helps to get it out. Some pharmacies keep Mucinex in the back, ask if you do not find it on the counter. Mucinex is extra strength same ingredient as Robitussin.

At night I take 1 teaspoon plain Robitussin before bed to help keep mucous in throat thinned during the night.

I have a very similar problem.

I had a cold that was not a big deal for two weaks. Then it turned to something more serious. I got very tired. I got congestion in my chest. I lost all sense of smell for 10 days. I got clogged up ears and somewhat stuffy nose. I had mild occasional headaches. I started taking Zithromax that I assume is the same as z-pack. I was done with them 5 days ago. I am better. I can smell. I have more energy. But I still have a bad cough and cough up greenish to brownish phlegm once in a while. It is not clear to me that the Zithromax was the reason for the improvement.

This seems to be something that is going around this year. What is it? No one seems to really know.

Marie55, so it seems that your doctor thinks that you should possibly take two sets of z-pack? How many days apart? Are you better now? Do you also have stuffy ears. How did he determine that you have bronchitis and what kind? I never had a fever. THE BIG QUESTION IS DID YOU HAVE FEVER?

You could get bronchitis with productive cough from viral infections as well.

I really appreciate your reply. This is getting to be a real problem for me.

DVKD,
Yes, my doctor said if I still had colored mucous to take a second round of Z-Pak immediately after the first 5 days. I took the 5th pill today and mucous is clear, will not take the second round unless things change. Mucous in windpipe is beginning to break up and can cough some up.

I did not think I had fever, did not check, but, at doctor's office had 99.5 on digital therometer. Doc said the digital therometers registered on the low side and he thought I did have fever. Apparently fever was low grade, I have never had fever with bronchitis before, if so, was only low grade and did not know it. My ears were not stuffy but my nose was. Doc listened to my chest and back and said the conjestion was just above lungs. He called it "tracheal bronchitis". For days back of throat was like a running faucet then suddenly it shut off.

I was irrigating sinuses with salt water, Beconase, Afrin, 4-Way saline, Robitussin Cough Syrup, Hycodan Cough medicine, vaporizors. Doc said I was doing what I should have. However, that was not enough.

Doc said it was highly contagious and he made sure he was leaning away from me while I breathed in and out while he listened to my chest, then, he said he was going to wash his hands good and told me to do the same often. It must be a powerful bug travelling around now.

I really appreciate your reply Marie55. I am better already! :-) I have improved significantly today though am still quite clearly sick. I do not seem to have productive cough today and my energy level is way up. I get the productive cough more when taking a shower as it loosens up. I'll see how it goes in the shower tomorrow. I do have some minor wheezing on deep breathing that is in all likelihood RAD as my airways have become sensitive. God willing, if I continue to improve through Monday then I think I'll be ok. If this thing continues to stick around then I better get checked up once again who knows what tests they may want to do.

dvkd,
I am headed to pharmacy to refill the Z-Pak. Took last one on Friday and as of last night (Mon.) throat is a firy burn, uncomfortable feeling in chest is worse and cough increasing. Felt good yesterday morning but lost grounds last night.

Hope you fare better than I with this miserable bug. The discomfort in chest never did go completely away and that made me question whether the first round of antibiotic killed the bug or not. Now I know it did not. Mucous is still clear but other symptoms are increasing rapidly.

My advice is to keep close watch and do not let the bug take over to the point you will be starting over. Best to try and nip it in the bud with second round of antibiotic. I do not like to take antibiotics if at all possible but I have no choice this time.

The doctor gave me a refill in case I needed it, and now I do.

Marie55

Hello,
I live in Southwestern Montana, and it is going around here like crazy. It is the strangest bug, and it has doctors baffled. Basically the Dr.'s here are not giving out antibiotics unless you have a fever or have had it for a long time. I've had this off and on now for three months. I first got it in October, then went on Cephalexin for 20 days and it finally went away (after five weeks), then I was completely healthy for three weeks, and then it came back, so they put me on Zpack for five days, which did nothing, so they put me back on a strong dose of Cephalexin for ten days. I am off of that as of yesterday, still not better. To top it all off, my throat started hurting 5 days ago, and it is not a normal sore throat. It hurts on the outside of my throat as on the inside. Hurts to swallow too. I've known a few people here that it has turned into walking pneumonia. But the majority of them have it off and on again like me. They just can't shake it. It's got me scared.

Miche,
Thanks for your update. I sure hope this does not last that long. It is a wicked bug for sure. I usually get bronchitis this time of year or in January but this time the bronchitis is in the tracheal area instead of the bronchi. Z-Pak usually knocks it out with one round but this time it did not work. Today the drippy nose, faucet down throat, firey burning sore throat, coughing, chest discomfort is going strong. I did not have fever this morning, but did in the beginning.

You may be interested to know that very warm water with Cool Mint Listeren mouthwash gargle relieves the sore throat. I also take 1/2 or 1 teaspoon plain Robitussin at bedtime to keep mucous thinned in throat during the night. I also take "Mucinex" tablets twice day. Mucinex is over the counter and is same ingredient as Robitussin but much stronger. Mucinex helps keep mucous in whole body thinned. Makes coughing up pflgem easier.

Halls cough drops helps the throat some. I also take Hycodan cough syrup. This is synthetic codiene.

I agree, the sore throat is not the normal one, much worse, a firey burn, raw feeling.

We may be battling a "virus" instead of "bacteria" bug. If it is virus it will have to run it's course and the antibiotics will help keep pneumonia at bay, hopefully. I did get the pneumonia shot last year but there are so many kinds that most likely there is no protection for the one I might get.

Keeping a vaporizer going helps keep moisture in the air, better for air passages.

If you find a way to knock this bug, let us know.

Marie55
Texas

Thanks for your updates.
First it appears that my symptoms are not quite the same as yours. Although it is entirely possible that the same bug results in different symptoms in each. Also my symptoms move around. The constants have been a congested chest, lack of energy and general congestion. I never had fever. I did get cold initially but did not really get chills. I did have painful muscles and body initially but that is mostly gone. Now my ear congestion is worse than before. I also got wheezing that is likely due to RAD or my own defenses getting over active. A noteworthy point is that I never got sore throat.

In general I am much better than before but am still sick without a doubt. It is now four weeks. It does seem to me that whoever gets this no matter what it is it lasts a long, long time.

My best case is that this is caused by mycoplasma, but a super mycoplasma that has developed resistance to antibiotics. In my case I am certain that the antibiotics help. My observation has been that it is even more important than normal to absolutely stay on the correct schedule with the antibiotic. Also, I believe the antibiotic does not completely eliminate it. Other observations are that a correct sleeping schedule and rest are crucial. Any night that I do not sleep well or do not rest well the next day I am worse.

dvkd,
Sorry you are still under the weather. Yes, it seems lack of rest really plays a part in this misery. The doctor told me to get plenty of rest. Well, during Christmas with all kids and grandkids home that was impossible. Doing better now. I still do not walk treadmill and I need to, control diabetes with diet/exercise only.

Yes, I agree that we no doubt have a "superbug" resistant to antibiotics. First round of Z-Pak helped and thought it migh have knocked it but it did not. I will see what the second round does.

Misery loves company but sorry so many of us are having to cope with this "bug".

Read the other day that when a person coughs or sneezes the bugs remain in that air space for 10-15 minutes and if anyone walks thru that air space they are exposed. So many people never cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, so, no wonder so many people get sick.

While kids and grandkids were here I tried to stay away from the little ones and not breathe on them, also used paper towels and was in hopes others would do the same since they all had the sniffles. I miss not getting to hold the little grandbaby but can't wish this on anyone, especially a baby.

Keep us updated.

Marie

It doesn't appeat that I have a bacterial infection, as my doctor thinks i would be "sicker". He thinks it might be chronic hayfever. I'm on nasalcort now. Symptoms are much better this last week. Could be the nasalcort, virus running it's course, or simply the fact I haven't been at work for 5 days (meaning the building is causing the hayfever). no more phlegm from the lungs. Congestion much milder and headaches virtuallyu nonexixtant. If i start to get worse then clearly it is the old building i'm working in. Just happy to be improving. Maybe it was just a 2 month virus. Glands in neck under the jaw still swollen though. probably will be the last thing to heal.

This is a very helpful thread. If I'm into my 2nd day on amoxycillin with total head congestion/dizziness/liteheaded/cough, treating it with all the right things you all suggested, and the mucus is turning slightly pale yellow but liquid, should I worry? All the med sites I visited recommended amoxycillin for strep and pneumonia. Any suggestions?

OK, it's day 7 now and I finally got the strength to see the doc. I've been on amoxycillin for the sinus blockage, and just today it went into my upper chest(doc said my lungs themselves are ok), and I cough up chunky lite green mucus. It's very loose, and my cough just about knocks me out. Doc prescribed another week of amoxycillin saying the same moderate dose over 2 weeks is more effective than one or 2 days of a super-med, or a shot. So it may be a virus--which he never mentioned. I guess I'm wondering why the sinus stuff has moved to my upper chest if I've been on the amoxycillin for almost a week already trying to prevent it. I sure would like to hear about your experiences with amoxycillin, what you think is my next step thru this.
Thanks for your really detailed, helpful stories! :bouncing:

Well Trucky, it may be a while before you recover. I have had the problem for a total of 3 weeks now, plus 2 rounds of Z-Pak antibiotic. It just has to run it's course. I feel better today and think I just might live after all. The last week I almost coughed up my toenails and crouped til it was pitiful. Had worse cough near the end than in the beginning.

Hang in there, you will recover.

My problem started in the sinuses and travelled down, nature of the bug.

Marie55