Helped With Resiratory Infection Needed

[BalthazarBeefheart]

Not long after moving to BKK I became sick with what the doctor called called an infection of the upper respiratory tract - I had difficult breathing and was coughing up a lot of phegm and at night coughing a lot so couldn't sleep. The doctor gave me klaccid 500 anti-biotics which cleared it up.

The problem is that since then I have had the same condition a number of times I guess 5 or 6 times over the past two years. On occasion it cleared without anti-biotics but most recently not long after I gave up smoking it was particularly bad so I went and bought the anti-biotics.

I just wondered if anyone has had similar experience and had any advice.

Thanks BB

[zzdocxx]

Just wondering, are you still smoke-free?

Been tested for other respiratory problems? Do you have allergies? Either of these, or other conditions, could be contributing factors.

Maybe someone could refer you to a competent pulmonologist in your area, if that is within your means.

[londonthai]

be carefull with antibiotics - they are not to be self-prescribed and bought over the counter (even if in thailand farmacies sell them to boost their profits).

clean your air conditioner frequently, avoid air conditioned buildings at all - if possible.

avoid polluted streets - go by the alternative routes, through the parks/greenery. Wear face masks - the good ones (for example with an active carbon), not the cheapest ones, and change them or filter when their time is over.

go away from the town on weekends to get fresh air and boost your immune system - that's on the top of the healthy lifestyle, good diet

[John K]

If it is reoccurring then there is a very good chance you could be repeatedly exposing yourself to what caused it in the first place. I had a similar problem that lasted nearly a month. That turned out to be some air fresheners that were chemical based. As soon as I got rid of them the problem cleared up in 24 hours. When you do your laundry be sure it comes out of the wash right away and is dried. Mold sets up very quickly in damp clothes.

If there is a place that the symptoms are more acute, then start looking there.

What I am getting at is try to identify the cause, the antibiotics deal with the effects.

[VitalGirl]

Not long after moving to BKK I became sick with what the doctor called called an infection of the upper respiratory tract - I had difficult breathing and was coughing up a lot of phegm and at night coughing a lot so couldn't sleep. The doctor gave me klaccid 500 anti-biotics which cleared it up.

The problem is that since then I have had the same condition a number of times I guess 5 or 6 times over the past two years. On occasion it cleared without anti-biotics but most recently not long after I gave up smoking it was particularly bad so I went and bought the anti-biotics.

I just wondered if anyone has had similar experience and had any advice.

Thanks BB

BB, I had something similar for over 4 years after an initial lung infection contracted in Burma. It steadily deteriorated to emergency room visits, oxygen and lots of over-the-counter pills and the Drs here saying they could no longer help. What you have actually sounds like what they call Chronic Bronchial Asthma - lots of night coughing and mucous and repeated infections. Recently, in desperation after two serious life-threatenitng asthma attacks in 4 weeks, I went to a Thai doctor here in Chiang Mai who specializes in asthma and allergies. In 2 weeks she gave me two dofferent courses of lung-specific anti-biotics, gunk-clearing medicines, an anti-histamine to help at nights and a long-acting broncho-dilator/steroid spray. A miracle, I tell you..... feel sensational. If bronchial asthma is untreated it will get worse. Suggest you see a good specialist soon - pooping endless non-specific AB's only makes you immune and makes the infections harded to treat next time. Good Luck... PM me anytime if you want some more thoughts or advice.

[BalthazarBeefheart]

Thank you all so much for taking the trouble to reply and I will try to incorporate your very good suggestions. I think I will have to go back to the hospital as the anti-biotic does not appear to have worked - I wonder if anyone knows of a specialist here in BKK that I could see ?

Its ironic after being more or less confined to my apartment for two weeks I was going stir-crazy and went for a drink last night - there were a lot of people smoking around me and I am wondering if that is why I was coughing up gunge again today - oh dear when are they going to start this smoking ban ?

Many Thanks BB

[macb]

Not long after moving to BKK I became sick with what the doctor called called an infection of the upper respiratory tract - I had difficult breathing and was coughing up a lot of phegm and at night coughing a lot so couldn't sleep. The doctor gave me klaccid 500 anti-biotics which cleared it up.

The problem is that since then I have had the same condition a number of times I guess 5 or 6 times over the past two years. On occasion it cleared without anti-biotics but most recently not long after I gave up smoking it was particularly bad so I went and bought the anti-biotics.

I just wondered if anyone has had similar experience and had any advice.

Thanks BB

It can take up to 5 years for you lungs to get back to normal :

How many did you smoke a day and how many years were you smoking ?

There are a lot of chest complaints I have noticed in THailand, i think due tyo the ever changing climate Humid Damp hot dry and can all be changeable in a few days

I would consider a well being check up this costs about 3000 bht at one of the private Hospitals, do you get short of breath ? You may need an inhaler ?

[zzdocxx]

Just bumping this thread to see if anyone knows a good pulmonologist this fellow could see.

[BalthazarBeefheart]

I just like to say a big thanks to all of you for the advice given and maybe relating my experience may help someone else. Things seemed to be getting a lot worse so I went to the hospital and was given a much stronger antibiotic - by the time I had completed the course I felt considerably better but after a few days it started to get worse again. Anyway as suggested here I got the technicians to clean the air-conditioning units and the large one in the living-room was absolutely black with gunge inside. I do think of all the sensible practices I observed this was the one that cured me cos within a very short time I was fine.

Many thanks for taking the trouble to advise me. Cheers BB