Very chesty after a cold.

[RATTER15]

I had a horrible cold a fortnight ago, I am over that but I still have a horrible crackly chest and coughing up phlegm and just cant seem to shift it. Any ideas or do I need antibiotics.

[tinkerbell23]

I think mabye you do. Have you tried decongestants?? They break it all up, but its horrible bringing it up and spitting it out!! They do work though!!

Soo many people i know have this cold, on & off since xmas...get well soon x

[RATTER15]

I dont mind hacking it up if it works and it moves it, which decongestant is the best?

[Maydup]

I swear by Potters products. They're old fashioned and cut to the chase!

Holland and Barrett sell them and independent stores.

http://www.pottersherbals.co.uk/

[tinkerbell23]

Sudafed id say, tablets. They seriously broke it all up for me pretty quickly xxx

[RATTER15]

Tinks, it appears sudafed is for nasal congestion, I have it on my chest.

Potters products mat be worth looking into.

[sunny-dave]

I have a bottle of Covonia for similar problems - works for me

http://www.covonia.co...ty-cough-mixture.ashx

[Sqad]

If you feel well in yourself then you do not need antibiotics.

The phlegm is loose, easy to cough up, so should settle within the next week or two without medication.

[237SJ]

I`d just drink plenty of fluids to thin the mucus and you could put your head over a bowl of hot water so that the steam can loosen it. I don`t bother with Olbas oil, I just get the cheap menthol and eucalyptus inhalation from the chemist.

[RATTER15]

Sunny-Dave: Covonia is a product of the devil, I can take most things but not that.

I just spoken to the pharmacist at the Pharmacy, He said all these products are a waste of time and I need anti-biotics from GP, they suggested I phone out of hours GP. (I thought that was just for emergencies) Anyway I followed his advice and I pick up antibiotics in the morning.

Sqad, the problem is whilst I can cough up a little, it is never clear, its always on my chest and it keeps me awake.

237SJ, The pharmacist said the inhalers will only work if the congestion is in my sinuses but wont touch it in my chest.

[wolf63]

It was over a month before I got rid of the aftermath of my last cold. There seemed to a torrent of gunk flowing everywhere above my belly button. I just stuck it out (and coughed it up) and it eventually dried up. Like you my breathing was crackly and I wheezed badly. However there is something really rewarding about a coughing fit that proves to be productive.

I tend to avoid antibiotics unless I really really really need them.

[237SJ]

Ratter - in my experience the inhalations can help the chest as well. I breathe in through my mouth though (if the congestion is on the chest).

[RATTER15]

I would normally stick it out as well, but I have just started a new job and im tyred and spend all day trying to hack up phlegm, not a good start and it has now been two weeks with no improvement.

Time to get rid of it now.

[wolf63]

Apart from everything else Ratter the disgusting noise that one makes when coughing up gunk might not endear you to your new employer. :-)

[starone]

Hope you get rid of it before you start your new job. You will have enough to cope with without having to deal with that. If antibiotics will get rid of it quickly, just as well to take them.

[LoftyLottie]

I had the same Ratter and had to resort to antibiotics. I also was given an asthma relief inhaler (I am not asthmatic) which really helped.

I never want another virus like that. Lasted about a month in total.

[jno]

just a month, wolf? Loooxury! I was coughing for two months after my last cold. It did gradually go away of its own accord without antibiotics. Night Nurse helped me sleep. But it does wear you out.

[RATTER15]

Thanks all, Starbucks, I started my new job on Thursday and I'm loving it, loads of training to do though. :-)

[RATTER15]

ok, GP wanted to see me before giving Antibiotics, I got Amoxicillin but he also wants me tested for COPD. that sounds a bit OTT and thinks I may need an inhaler due to my heavy smoking in the past.

I think he is just being over cautious.

[starone]

Get all the help you can RATTER. Didn't realise you had started your new job already. Didn't take you long to get rid of the other one!! Hope you are enjoying it.

[RATTER15]

Thanks Starbuck, My old company let me go with just one week notice, they were glad to get rid of me, I made their lives very difficult, I just feel very sad for the residents that they no longer have anybody to fight their corner, I tried and was defeated because the home is full of young staff and foreign staff that are afraid to speak out in fear of losing their jobs. The hey have recently had a CQC inspection and got a "good" rating due to all the staff telling lies and saying how wonderful the place is out of fear of reprisals. All the staff are clearly aware of the abuse, not serious abuse like you see on the TV and youtube etc but it is abuse.