Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[texasjohn]

I've got some of the respiratory crud you guys have, just not so bad, wife has had it for several weeks now...doesn't get her down but she's not really right, either.

Was hoping to get some weed spraying done today, but wind is 15mph now..no go..maybe it will be stiller tonight before dark.

 

[Bird]

Not to be sissie, but try Puffs with lotion

We accidentally got a box of those once. I guess I can kinda understand why some like them, but not us. I'm very careful now to be sure we get the "non lotion" ones.

Best thing I have found to really help about 90% of the time is a little squirt of cheap Saline nose spray
at night in each nostril right before going to bed

I've used the nasal rinse and it's good for stopped up nasal passage problems, but this time I've had no problem breathing; just nose running a lot.

 

[jinman]

Have you had a PSA test lately?
Even with a normal PSA you can have an enlarged prostrate that will get you up at night.

Thanks Ron. I just got the results of an extensive physical exam on Monday. My PSA is perfect and so were all my other numbers. This nightime-frequent-wizz cycle is not normal for me. Normally, it's once or twice per night at most. Also, whenever I go, I feel fully emptied/relieved, with no trouble maintaining a stream. (Sorry folks if that is TMI.) I just think my body is dumping fluids trying to cleanse itself much like my head drains my sinuses. The problem seems to be that when my lungs collect drainage, their reduced capacity due to years of smoking doesn't allow them to recover. I need the boost of steroids and antibiotics to bring me back on track. That's my Dr. Jim version of it.

On Monday of this week, I was at the local VA community clinic in Bridgeport, Tx for my annual VA physical. I had gone in a week before to let them draw blood. They did all kinds of tests. My PSA was normal/negative and my cholesterol was fine. Even my blood sugar was in an acceptable range, but the doctor said it would go down even more if I lost another 20-30 lb. Every test including urine was fine, but he could hear some congestion in my chest. It didn't seem that bad on Monday. Tuesday, all that changed for worse and I got in touch with my regular doctor for her earliest appointment tomorrow morning. I think she is busy with a lot of folks having similar symptoms. It always seems the nature of this stuff is to come on slowly and seem to dissipate before suddenly getting much worse.:confused3:

I have a nebulizer with albuterol and do a breathing treatment each night before going to be. That helps clear me out and open up my lungs so I sleep easily and soundly.

I apologize to everyone if I'm making this thread the medical round table discussion, but springtime always brings on these types of ailments and is part of spring/summer in Texas.

 

[Western]

If you guy's would try crushing a glove of garlic then spooning it into a piece of fresh bread (like a burrito), I bet you'd feel better. Not enough time to go into all the benefits of garlic, but there are many.

You have to crush the garlic, ( I bought a garlic crusher from Amazon) to activate the chemicals ( read this ) Medicinal Properties Of Garlic

I use it all the time, smoke and hardly ever get sick.... and yes I know I should quit

 

[Bird]

Yeah, it's been so long since I heard that information about garlic that I'd forgotten it.

 

[Western]

Yeah, it's been so long since I heard that information about garlic that I'd forgotten it.

:shocked: Shoot Bird, you probably remember the exact date you 1st tried Blackberry cobbler!!:laughing:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My wife and I have had the phlegm / crud since Christmas. When it was really runny, the Doc gave me a Z pack. It knocked it down and I was able to get some sleep but it came back. I had what I'd call "sticky clingy" phlegm that was hard to cough up but still managed to tickle the back of my throat annoyingly.

Last Friday, we went back to the Doc and she gave me Loraflaxacin antibiotic. The prescription came with about 3 pages of warnings. Took 1 pill Friday, took 1 Saturday. Then I got horrible stuff that you normally take Imodium to help....yes, the #2 that starts with a d. Thinking it might have been just something I ate, I continued eating regular meals and taking my pills. The "d", persisted day and night, and day and night thru Monday when I finally called the Doc and she says "take Pro-biotics and Imodium". I bet I woke up at least 3 or 4 times a night to go to the restroom. Anyhow, talking to my neighbor, he said "you got to eat yogurt"! So, since Tuesday lunch, I've eaten nothing but yogurt. Feeling much better, but tired and no energy. Neighbor also said that the antibiotic is to try and rid of all types of pneumonia and it's really strong stuff. After 6 doses, my coughing and phlegm are finally going down. And the "d" has subsided because I haven't eaten anything for 2 1/2 days. 4 more doses left.

I told the doc that the cure was worse than the illness. Man, I could sure go for a double meat Whataburger.....I've lost almost 13 pounds unexplained since the previous antibiotics (January) .

 

[pacerron]

Yeah, it's been so long since I heard that information about garlic that I'd forgotten it.

Maybe you guys just need some fresh leaves from the Pokeweed picked in the early morning while covered with dew to put in your asphidity
bag.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Well I figured better start on dragging the pastures getting rid of the hog roots and gopher mounds. While I was at figured thin out the thick yellow flowers,maybe they won't be so bad next year. Got 50tons of LIME coming tomorrow for hay meadow.

 

[WM75Guy]

Most think the cough associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI) will go away in a week or so. The new studies show the cough lasts about 3 weeks (18.9 days) on average with this stuff. We get a lot of folks coming to the ED as they still have a cough after finishing antibiotics. Recent studies also show that the Z-Pak is not as effective as was when it first came out. It is overprescribed by providers and is causing resistance in certain strains of bugs. Antibiotics don't work on viruses but the patient wants an antibiotic so you prescribe a Z-Pak and by the time the patient finishes it their feeling better and happy.

It is the front itself that causes the problems many times, not what blew in. As we age the body loses the ability to adjust to changes in atmospheric pressure so the sinuses plug up causing your head to become a petri dish. Taking meds to keep your sinuses open before the front hits and keeping the sinuses rinsed out will help to avoid the infection.

(This information is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.)

 

[Wilky]

My wife and I have had the phlegm / crud since Christmas. When it was really runny, the Doc gave me a Z pack. It knocked it down and I was able to get some sleep but it came back. I had what I'd call "sticky clingy" phlegm that was hard to cough up but still managed to tickle the back of my throat annoyingly.

Last Friday, we went back to the Doc and she gave me Loraflaxacin antibiotic. The prescription came with about 3 pages of warnings. Took 1 pill Friday, took 1 Saturday. Then I got horrible stuff that you normally take Imodium to help....yes, the #2 that starts with a d. Thinking it might have been just something I ate, I continued eating regular meals and taking my pills. The "d", persisted day and night, and day and night thru Monday when I finally called the Doc and she says "take Pro-biotics and Imodium". I bet I woke up at least 3 or 4 times a night to go to the restroom. Anyhow, talking to my neighbor, he said "you got to eat yogurt"! So, since Tuesday lunch, I've eaten nothing but yogurt. Feeling much better, but tired and no energy. Neighbor also said that the antibiotic is to try and rid of all types of pneumonia and it's really strong stuff. After 6 doses, my coughing and phlegm are finally going down. And the "d" has subsided because I haven't eaten anything for 2 1/2 days. 4 more doses left.

I told the doc that the cure was worse than the illness. Man, I could sure go for a double meat Whataburger.....I've lost almost 13 pounds unexplained since the previous antibiotics (January) .

If the "d" keeps you might want to have the doc check you for antiboitic colitis then again it might just be a side effect

 

[bindian]

If the "d" keeps you might want to have the doc check you for antiboitic colitis then again it might just be a side effect

After my Mom (who had alzheimers) stayed with me 6 weeks, then joined Dad in the nursing home, I got D bad. Stress does it. I now take Imodiaum about once a week. Eating more roughage helps. Salads really help my system. Yogart not as much.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Western]

Most think the cough associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI) will go away in a week or so. The new studies show the cough lasts about 3 weeks (18.9 days) on average with this stuff. We get a lot of folks coming to the ED as they still have a cough after finishing antibiotics. Recent studies also show that the Z-Pak is not as effective as was when it first came out. It is overprescribed by providers and is causing resistance in certain strains of bugs. Antibiotics don't work on viruses but the patient wants an antibiotic so you prescribe a Z-Pak and by the time the patient finishes it their feeling better and happy.

It is the front itself that causes the problems many times, not what blew in. As we age the body loses the ability to adjust to changes in atmospheric pressure so the sinuses plug up causing your head to become a petri dish. Taking meds to keep your sinuses open before the front hits and keeping the sinuses rinsed out will help to avoid the infection.

(This information is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. This is general information for educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.)

What I highlighted in Red, has been a problem for years, Doctors let the patent dictate treatment. Then on the other hand I think patients should be more involved in their own care. Over prescribing meds has caused allot more problems and as you mentioned, not much good on a virus. Hear about CRE? (Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae)? Just say'in

CRE article for those interested
Carbapenem-Resistant <em>Enterobacteriaceae</em> (CRE)

 

[jinman]

I have made it a practice to always ask why when a doctor prescribes antibiotics. In my case, they always tell me that it is the bacteria in the mucus and drainage from the sinuses that they are giving me the antibiotics for. Essentially, they tell me that my problem is not viral, but due to drainage of bacteria contaminated fluids into my upper respiratory system. It's not a viral problem. Prednisone is very good at stopping immune system reactions due to allergies, however because it suppresses the immune system, you are left open to bacterial infectons. So, my doctor does not give the steroids without also an antibiotic to protect the reduced action of the immune system. It seems that our bodies react to stuff in a way that makes us miserable. In order to make us better, we suppress the body's reaction and have to protect ourselves by some other method. That method is antibiotics. Nuthin' is simple. . . :confused2:

 

[Bird]

I have made it a practice to always ask why when a doctor prescribes antibiotics. In my case, they always tell me that it is the bacteria in the mucus and drainage from the sinuses that they are giving me the antibiotics for. Essentially, they tell me that my problem is not viral, but due to drainage of bacteria contaminated fluids into my upper respiratory system. It's not a viral problem. Prednisone is very good at stopping immune system reactions due to allergies, however because it suppresses the immune system, you are left open to bacterial infectons. So, my doctor does not give the steroids without also an antibiotic to protect the reduced action of the immune system. It seems that our bodies react to stuff in a way that makes us miserable. In order to make us better, we suppress the body's reaction and have to protect ourselves by some other method. That method is antibiotics. Nuthin' is simple. . . :confused2:

Yep, same here.

 

[Western]

Garlic is simple but it does take "cahon'es":laughing:

 

[Lou66]

I add garlic and onion powder along with some thyme to all my soups, stews, gumbos or bbq,, I started this about three years ago.. I haven’t been sick once in the last three years, with a cold or flu,, I also get a couple of pints of local honey in the fall and take it along with some toast in the morning with my coffee,, I don’t smoke or chew anymore,, I do drink and think,, mostly beer in the afternoon,, of course it could be the beer,, I just don’t know that I am sick.:confused3:. Lou

 

[bindian]

I know that some seeds you buy just don't germinate. I also know there are tons of altered seeds that are made just to make more profits for the seed companies. With this said, and with all the planting going on, I am looking for ideas to help my family survive a drawn out crisis. I found these seed vaults More Valuable Than Gold | Free Doodle Video Presentation and wondered if this is just another "buy me" gimmick or a good buy. Seeds in foil that suppose to last five years. What do Y'all think?
Oh yeah........my Dogwood trees are blooming!
hugs, Brandi

 

[mikim]

brandi --- I have heirlooms I want to put in my garden.....I just don't have the garden yet. But I'm thinking you can find them cheaper if you look around. Packing them so they're good for 5 yrs might be ok....but what's the point? Plant 'em, harvest, and save seeds for the next year...Unless it's going to be 5 years before you have a garden....

 

[bindian]

brandi --- I have heirlooms I want to put in my garden.....I just don't have the garden yet. But I'm thinking you can find them cheaper if you look around. Packing them so they're good for 5 yrs might be ok....but what's the point? Plant 'em, harvest, and save seeds for the next year...Unless it's going to be 5 years before you have a garden....

Mike,
So the seeds need to be heirlooms to plant and then save their seeds for the next year? I remember trying to save seeds and they didn't germinate the next year.
hugs, Brandi