Fighting The Enemy Within

Viral or Bacterial?
I needed all the arsenal I could lay my hands on to combat this attack from within!

Having a good immune system I rarely get sick. If I do, I shrug off nasty bugs in no time, usually two to three days and I'm back on track. Perhaps being exposed to viruses and bugs that arrive with the many guests in our Airbnb has kept my immune system strong.

Not this time - the bug was very nasty; clingy like a leech.
I was fighting a war against an unseen enemy.
I'd feel better for a day or so and think I'd won the war, but it would return, attacking another part of my respiratory system!

What started as a mild form of Sinusitis eventually turned into a severe bout of Bronchitis.
When I tried to cough, it felt like something was squeezing my diaphragm on the inside, sealing off the airwaves. Coughing made it worse as my chest went into a bronchial spasm, literally trapping the mucus.
It was frightening, to say the least, and I felt like I was drowning in my own fluids.
Nebulizing, Asthma pumps, Mycolytics (meds that break down mucus), and Cortizone did not help during those episodes. It would start early evening, through the night, and only ease after having chest physio first thing in the morning. I hardly slept as I'd wake up gasping!

^{Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash}

A week ago I spoke about the value of physio to loosen mucus and make it easier to get rid of it. I also said I was 99,9% healthy. That 0.01% showed up the day after!
My physio taught me how to do postural drainage, amazingly helpful especially when you live alone and can't get someone to perform chest percussion, which is done by beating you on the back with cupped hands. My hands could not get there 🙃 Also a valuable technique to learn if you want to help someone battling with chest congestion.

I believe nature offers a cure for many health issues, and I always start taking immune boosters when the seasons change - Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D (which we do get freely here in our sunny land), and Echinacea tincture. My immune system seemed to have gone into hiding this time around.
I also took Elderberry tincture and drank Thyme tea which eases bronchial spasms, alternating with Ginger, Cayenne Pepper & Turmeric Tea. The latter is soothing and quite delicious when sweetened with honey. One still has to be careful with herbs, as it could interfere/clash with chemical treatments.

I was steaming with Menthol crystals when nothing was helping. The steaming together with my essential oil diffuser, helped soothe the spasms. I initially used Tea Tree oil, then moved to Lavender oil which is calming.

My Arsenal of Natural Meds:

• Immune boosters - Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, & Echinacea
• Herbal teas - Thyme, Ginger, Cayenne & Turmeric

The Chemical Arsenal:

• 2 x Nebulizing meds
• Mycolytic
• Anti-viral Antibiotic (not bacterial antibiotics which did not help)
• Cortisone - short-term only

The Final Attack:

• Chest Physiotherapy
  The only difference is that my physio put a pillow under my hip to help with drainage.
• Autogenic Drainage
  An easy, relaxing breathing technique to clear mucus from the lungs.

Eventually ending with:

• Decongestant
• 2 x Nebulizing (which in turn led to Oral Thrush - winning the fight against that as we speak!)

It's been a long and scary haul, literally a fight with the enemy within!

I do not know how people live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as it is the most frightening experience I've had. You are brave fighters, and I salute you!

The sun is out, the skies are blue, and I am super thankful to have survived the ravages of this war within!

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^{Artwork by @artywink}