Its 3am and I'm up! My lungs are so congested that my own wheezing is keeping me awake...and preventing me from getting a full breath. This sucks! Who invented this crap? Its going on week 2 for me now and I keep hoping tomorrow will be the day it breaks. I've avoided the doctor thus far since antibiotics are only for bacterial infections and this is clearly viral-no color to the mucous, no fever, no sore throat, no sinus blockage. I also already have a prescription for albuterol being an asthmatic and all-lucky me! Albuterol helps but only if the mucous is moving and I'm actively coughing which is not happening tonite. I've tried Claritin-D, Flonase, Advil, aspirin, herbal cough remedies, Olba oils, teas such as Herba Tussin and Cold Care P.M. laced with garlic, cayenne pepper & whiskey but tonite the only thing that seems to be working is the one thing I shouldn't take-Robitussin. A swig of that and my lungs are relaxing and I can start coughing again. It doesn't make sense since its a cough suppressant/expectorant. Everywhere I read "they" say don't suppress your cough because you want it to clear otherwise it could become infected. Maybe Robitussin has upped the expectorant percentage-cause its working. The hot teas have also been helping-they don't reduce the inflammation but they do get things moving.
I know viral infections have to just run their course but it worries me that this is taking so long. Maybe I'm prolonging it because I don't feel sick so I've been going at normal speeds. I spent last weekend in a Thai Massage Course which was actually really relaxing and hopefully helped clear my energy channels. I also visited my trusty Acupuncturist Manu who was unfortunately experiencing the same thing. The weird thing was the day I visited him I felt good-no chest congestion! It was like going to the mechanic about a weird noise and not being able to reproduce the noise. So I thought it was done but no such luck. I'll have to go back, maybe a series is required.
The hardest part now is seeing Nat get the same thing. I thought he was escaping this one since he only had very, very mild chest congestion but tonite it appears worse. This viral bronchitis is obviously going around because 2 people in my massage class had it, my friend Tom has it and every second person I run into has it. Its a bit scarey to think about how fast a virus can move and spread in this day and age. One question I have is do we acquire immunity to a virus once we've had it? Or can we keep on getting it again and again? Am I prolonging my experience of it because I keep coming into contact with others that have it? And what is the best defense against viral infections i.e. what could I start taking or doing when I feel immune compromised to specifically prevent being a breeding ground for viruses? Ok thats more than one question but if you have any answers I'd love to hear them.
