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Extreme seasonal allergies and cough that wont quit

Posted By Ellen (Charlotte, Nc) on 04/12/2011

I have been suffering from extreme seasonal allergies for 3-4 weeks. After the first week, my sinuses closed up completely, I tried sea salt irrigation and organic unfiltered ACV and nothing seemed to work. I finally went to the doctor and was prescribed azithromycin for a sinus infection.

While I hate antibiotics and try to never take them, I was desperate and needed to go back to work so gave them a try. Since finishing the antibiotics, I have had a horrible cough I can't get rid of as well as low grade fever and aches and pains. Every night, I wake up in the middle of the night for 1-2 hours in order to cough up white mucus. When I get home and try to nap, I sleep for ~45 minutes before waking up with a cough again. I also cough intermittently during the day, but not as badly. When I have a coughing fit, I start wheezing and feel as if I can't breathe.

It started as allergies but now is so much worse. If you can give me any advice, it would mean the world to me.

Many Thanks for Any Help

Replied by Sandy (Lancs, Uk) on 04/13/2011

Ellen, I am having the exact same thing happen to me. I have put it down to an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was taking - Erythromycin. I took it for 3 days a couple of weeks ago and started with the same horrendous cough, aching and waking up in the night, just as you decribe. Then I realised I had reacted like this once before after taking the same antibiotic and made the connection as being the cause of the cough, so I stopped taking it. For the first day or two, I felt like I was coughing up pure salt and that the antibiotic was drying out my system. I drank copious amounts of water for the first couple of days.

I have been using acupressure points on "yinyanghouse.com" which have helped me greatly. If you type in "white sputum" in the search engine, it tells you the cause in traditional chinese medicine terms and which points to press. There are diagrams etc and it may be a bit baffling at first but using these points are very beneficial. Failing that you could go to an Acupuncturist. I have also been taking a bronchial balm and a teaspoon of turmeric and half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in half a cup of water, twice a day. This has also helped a lot. On top of that I am inhaling eucalyptus oil and taking vitamin C. I am still wheezing but am getting better every day. I hope you get well soon.

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