posted
Warning: more information about bodily fluids than you might want to read about
. . .
I am incredibly congested - it started out as a sore throat and congestion and then a plane ride made it this big blocky thing in my head. I've coughed a little bit but not much and nothing is coming out. A couple times when I have been able to blow my nose, the mucous is very thick and yellow.
It's gotten to the point where my ears are totally blocked and ringing all the time. I also have a hard time swallowing. How can I get rid of this?
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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I suggest mucinex 2 tablets twice a day to loosen up that thick mucus.
A 12Hour afrin spray, taken every 12 hours for 3 days ONLY.
Saline nasal spray taken liberally every 3 hours.
Breathe the steam of a super hot washcloth every few hours and when you first wake up each day.
Sudafed 12 hour every 12-24 hours if you can tolerate decongestants, if not, then forget it.
Claritin 10mg daily.
Do all the above for several days and keep up the mucinex until resolved. If you get worse or have fever see the doctor.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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The one with most side effects will the the sudafed. The others are quite benign. Especially the saline, steam, and mucinex. The mucinex just smells bad. Oh, but you can't smell it right now so that won't be a problem anyway. The afrin is probably going to help the most but you can only use it for 3 days. Be sure to get a 12hour formula, not the 4 hour formula.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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Are there any generic versions of Mucinex? I was looking at some the other day, and I just didn't feel like paying ten bucks for twenty pills.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Employee discount! The 20 pills only cost me seven bucks! Yessss!
The one thing I'm concerned about, though:
I have this mental image of all this mucous being jammed up my eustachian tubes from the plane ride (and my continual efforts to make my ears pop during said plane ride). It was really quite painful.
Are any of these medicines going to help with my ears? Does that just go away?
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Well, it would have worked much better if you had taken the afrin nasal spray BEFORE getting on the plane. But, hopefully the mucinex will help it drain out. Drink lots of fluids too. If you get worse, with fever/chills etc, then you'll know you've failed and need antibiotics.
Posts: 1990 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Mucinex is nothing more than a concentrated, time release version of Robitussin cough syrup. The drug itself is called Guaifenesin and is an expectorant. Before you could get Mucinex over the counter, I used to drink Robitussin a lot, but it's effects wear off quicker than the time release tablets. Plus with Mucinex, you don't have to taste that nasty cough syrup.
Posts: 995 | Registered: May 2003
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I already had one that was pretty worthy, Mack. It was the size of a dime and it was yellow and red.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Guaifenesin is great! I never take sudafed or anything that dries me up. That just turns my head to concrete and gives me headaches. Guaifenesin loosens it all up so it can go away. And it's got almost no side effects and no drug interactions. It's great! <makes the secret guaifenesin brotherhood sign>
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Annie - next time you fly, start taking half-doses of Sudafed about three days before the flight, and a full dose an hour so before you board.
I have always had nasty pain in my ears during the "going down to ground" part - until I tried the Sudafed. First time since age 10 that I didn't cry when landing.
Now if I could just deal with the vertigo/motion sickness . . .
Take care and feel better - and remember to drink about twice the amount of fluids you normally would. Water with a little lemon.
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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It's a little better, but my ears are still plugged and crackly. I'm on mucinex and sudafed still, and I've noticed a bit of change, but it's still like video games in my head whenever I blow my nose.
The drugstore lady told me that mucinex was mostly for chest congestion and wouldn't help with my head - I didn't see any medicines that said they were specifically for the head either.
And I still have a dry cough pretty frequently. It's a weird thing, really.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
Your sinuses are probably infected with some yucky bacteria. Are you averse to antibiotic therapy? If you don't have a nice prescription plan, let the doc know -- there are bargain antibiotics and pricey antibiotics and probably a load of free samples hanging out in the doctor's office, for the asking.
Untreated sinus infections sometimes lead to unhappy chronic sinusitis.
A good steaming can bring some relief. Shut yourself in the bathroom and run the hot shower and breathe in the steam. The solid mass o' snot in your head may start to liquify.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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You could also try adding some Tiger Balm to the water that's steaming. That'll help clear things up a bit as well.
Alternately, and this sounds disgusting as well, you could try running some saltwater through your nasal passages. I have a nice little machine that sprays it up there for me, but it can be done with something resembling a small watering can and contorted upside down positions. There's probably better information on it on the internet somewhere as far as technique and all that goes.
Anyway, it's great for washing out the sinus cavity of all that mucusy buildup and crud, and it feels way better after that. Plus if you have chronic nasal infections, it can help loads.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Nasal douching is accomplished by means of a bulb syringe. I know nothing of this "small watering can"; is that a Sri Lankan thing?
And it is my belief that any "penetrating vapors" from Tiger Balm, Vicks Vapor Rub, or Halls Mentho-lyptus Cough Drops are patent nonsense and only serve to make you smell funny. However, if you believe in their efficacy, do not allow me to dispel their placebo effect.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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But, hopefully the mucinex will help it drain out. Drink lots of fluids too. If you get worse, with fever/chills etc, then you'll know you've failed and need antibiotics.
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