Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Breathing issues...

Pete - other input refers.

Go along with Brent re the sprays etc. Now, I don't have em in the house. No way. Nastiness, and marketing hype, so don't use em. Cleaning etc? Am pretty careful what I use and NO sprays - or i'll be coughing like a nanny goat (endlessly!)

As for the inhalers. they gave em me in hospital. Hated em. They made my lungs dry right out and was in a worse state than ever!! Interestingly, a patient in the bed just along from mine noted the same problems. We were then both put onto different inhalers,(sorry, name...??) but I still did not find it of any benefit. She did 'slightly'.

What I did find *wonderful, was the oxygen. Oh man, that was fantastic. Worked a treat.

Then came through it and well out the other side. OK now - though still got the rib pains. Oh well - that's AS fer ya

Molly
Keeping on Keeping on

It very well could be from acid reflux, that's why I'm kind of putting off a return visit to the dr. until the symptoms make it unavoidable. Maybe, maybe, maybe a little better today (I say maybe because I've thought this before, only to grow worse as the day goes on). So, we'll see.

Pete, the albuterol is definitely not a fix, nor is it something on which one should rely for an extended amount of time. My suggestion was to use it as sort of a test, a crude diagnostic tool, to possibly help you avoid the cost of a chest x-ray. It like most all other meds just take care of the symptoms, but do not address the actual cause of the problem. The big problem with an albuterol inhaler is that it contains freon as a propellant.

Dear Pete

It's not unusal for dry coughs to last a long time - my mother had one that lasted 3 months! - I've had a similar cough which has exacerbated my condo. I too went to my doctor but didn't get any antibiotics - in fact the doctor should have taken a sputum sample to test (bronchitus is just a guess otherwise); I used to suffer from bron, and it's not uncommon for it to last months, if indeed that is what it is.

Don't know what to suggest on the doc front but a home remedy is to put a large bowl of boiling water beside the bed when you sleep, add menthol ("vicks") and let the airways breathe that in as you sleep. There's also a special herb tea I used to try which really helpd (agggh can't remember the name but if you want to send me a private mail I'll check it out for you). You don't say if the cough is worse at night (mine usually is) but I wouldn't go worrying about it being anything very serious just yet... Best of luck and let us all know how you get on.
B.

Thank you so much,Boudicca, I have decided to wait for a while before I go back in. It may be getting better. I'll hold out until it seems to get a lot worse. I seem to breathe much better at night, perhaps because you breathe more shallow (ly?).

Boudicca, would that tea happen to be lemongrass? I found lemongrass quite helpful when I had my bout of pneumonia a few years ago.

No. It's called something like Millan tea or Millain --- I'll need to check it up. I just remember, it was the only thing that helped my cough.
Warm wishes,

Bou

Have now checked the tea. It is called Mullein (which is a herb); according to my book on Herbal Medicine, asides from coughs it is good for: ashthma, catarrh, cold, earache, infections, diarrhoea, varicose veins, cuts/grazes/wounds and ARTHRITIS (never knew all of that so I shall go and get some, now ...) I only know one shop where it's possible to buy it in London (Neal's Yard remedies - may have an online site) so I hope it's easy to get hold of where you are.

Best wishes,

B.

Boudicca - Was just checking it out, yes, Millain Tea, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Dried mullein leaf suitable to make mullein tea.

I put in a Google search and came up with a raft of hits, and yes, is available UK and on-line: here's one UK site http://woodlandherbs.co.uk/acatalog/ilm.html#a245 £1.20 50gm. One can usually order over the telephone as well as...

Interesting that it is also good for arthritis. Good info.

Molly
Keeping on Keeping on

Mullein is an awesome remedy for bronchial issues. And it's awfully pretty in a garden. Grows wild in mine and I totally encourage it. Although, last year it tried to grow under my patio table.

Coltsfoot is also very good, by the way. And Tea Tree Oil. It's not generally recommended for internal use, but I put 6 or 7 drops in a cup of Rosehip tea (mega vitamin C in that) and also steam myself with it when I have a cold that's going into my chest.

Hugs,