Is This H1N1, Seasonal Flu, a Virus Turned Bronchitis, or What?

Updated on January 08, 2010
A. asks from Saint Louis, MO
4 answers

I've been sick for a while about 6 or so days with a cough, headache and a very achy neck and back. I've had no fever, but the cough has been absolutely relentless at night, and I feel like I've got so much phlegm in my chest (yuck- sorry!). I tried everything- cough syrup, expectorant, decongestant, vicks on chest and feet, humidifier, nasal spray and wash, gargling with salt water- you name it, I tried it. That, and sleep almost completely upright at night, and I still hacked all night. My doc thought it was an upper respiratory infection and put me on Z-pack. Today is my third day on it and my coughing was no better last night (I slept in the living room so my husband could sleep) and I still have a headache and neck/back pain. And now my kiddos, who have only been over their most recent round of whatever-the-heck-it-was for about 2 weeks, are starting to cough too. I'm terrified that they're going to have a week+ plus of sleepless nights too, and I don't know if I can take that after my week of it. And frankly, since my doc doesn't know what I have or how to cure it/help the cough, I worry that they won't be able to do anything about my kiddos either. Does anyone know what this is? And if it is bacterial, should it take this long for z-pack to help? I had seasonal flu shot this year, but didn't have H1N1 shot. My kiddos had seasonal flu vaccines, but only one round of the H1N1 vaccine, a month ago. If I have H1N1, do they have any immunity from their single dose of the shot? I'd appreciate any thoughts on this- thank you mamas!

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So What Happened?

Today's my 11th day of the cough. The day after I finished my z-pak, my cough got much worse and yesterday my Dr. put me on amoxicillin, as I was still coughing up a lot of bright green gunk. My cough is really deep now and sounds "barky", and both my kiddos are sick. The nurse practitioner yesterday seemed to think it might be influenza A (my daughter has had fever for 4 days, with over 102 for two of those days and has felt really rotten). I think I'll call my Dr. tomorrow to make sure it's not pneumonia now- my chest doesn't feel good at all and I'm just worn out.
I went to the doctor this morning and she said she's seen a lot of upper respiratory infections not responding at first to antibiotics, but that my lungs did sound clear (yea!). She told me to keep taking the amox., and put me on another round of z-pak and prednisone too. If anything will get this thing, I guess this mix of medicines will. Meanwhile, my two year old son's cough has gotten bad, he has a lot of sinus involvement, and a low grade fever. If it's a really rough night tonight, I guess I'll take him in again tomorrow to rule out a sinus infection or ear infection. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't get either!

More Answers

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S.C.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi A.,

I had a similar bout as you are having starting with a hacking cough in mid Dec., especially worse at night. Called Dr. for cough syrup with codene which helped some. I eventually went to urgent care on Christmas day evening and was diagnosed with a virus and pink eye and given a ZPak which really didn't seem to help. I developed a fever within a few days which is very rare for me, started feeling worse with body aches, congestion and just an all over really sick feeling. Finally went to emergency room as was the weekend after Christmas and my doctor not available. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, was put on a different medication. I do feel much better now but am still fighting head congestion. Do yourself a favor and get a chest Xray. I know this is very "wordy" but hope this helped. Good luck.

S. C

1 mom found this helpful

J.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I'm not sure if this helps, but my husband developed bronchitis following our family's bout with h1n1. It took 2 rounds of 2 different antibiotics and then time to get rid of his cough. He did the z pack and then something else. Cough syrup had no effect on it. I'm guessing you have something similar and I'm sure the antibiotic and time will be the only things that help it. hang in there.

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M.B.

answers from St. Louis on

So sorry to hear it! Sounds like a virus to me. The antibiotics will only help if it was bacterial, and I'm surprised they gave you a Zpac after only a few days of coughing. Sometimes coughs can just last a really long time--I had one for about 2 weeks with my last cold.

I found that Mucinex D works wonders breaking up all that stuff and helping it out of your chest. Maybe take a look at the different types of Mucinex and see if there's one for your symptoms?

Good luck with the little one--too bad they can't take the good drugs. :(

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

I got a virus a month ago that sounds like what you describe. I am still coughing from it. It ran around my office and everyone else is still coughing from it. Every antibio has been tried so as far as I can tell it is just a suck it up kinda virus. Love my boss for giving me this. :(

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