Cough is back

Hello all. I now have a persistent cough with stuff coming up. As I reported back in June, I was taken off of antibiotics (I had been on them for 7 yrs). I had been doing well, but now the cough is back. I think I may have caught it from a six yr old neighbor. We usually walk our dogs together and try to socially distance, but being only 6, she would drift in close to me at times. She got very sick with a bad cough and very infected throat. Against my better judgement, I still walked with her. Anyway, my dr had prescribed me an antibiotic to keep on hand in case of an exacerbation. Not sure whether to start taking that or go back on my tobramycin in case it is mac or pseudo trying to come back. This cough could also be from my daughter's cat (she moved in with me at the end of June in may be allegic). What to do, what to do???

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@lorifilipek

@windwalker @nannette Terri, I’m so sorry to hear that your cough has returned. Terri and Nan, regarding cats, I have a suggestion to all who love them but are allergic. I used to be very allergic to them. However, about 25 years ago, I found 3 feral kittens outside our home in the Colorado foothills. I fell in love with one and adopted her. Fortunately, the vet who spayed her told me about ace promazine drops, which acted like allergy shots for me. At first, I lost my allergy to my cat only, but after a couple of years, I lost my allergy to all cats!! I introduced the drops to my relatives who were allergic to cats but loved them and the drops also worked for them. The drug is mixed into water. Here's info from the Jackson Galaxy website (https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/cat-allergies/): “Acepromazine can be given at ultra-low doses in the cat’s food and provides relief for a great many allergy sufferers. While a single small study on the use of Acepromazine did not find statistically significant results [in reducing a certain chemical shed by cats], in practice, about 50% of people report a complete cessation of symptoms, 25% report that symptoms are improved, and 25% report no change. It takes 2-4 weeks to see results.

To a one-ounce dropper bottle containing 30 ml water, add 5 mg Acepromazine (one 5 mg tablet crushed or half of a 10 mg tablet crushed). Instructions: Shake well before using. For an adult cat, add 5-6 drops of mixture to cat’s wet food daily. For smaller kittens, use 1-2 drops. Because there is no preservative, store the bottle in the refrigerator.” (I never stored mine in the fridge.)

Acepromazine at much higher doses is a tranquilizer for cats. For that reason, some vets will only sell the drops already prepared by them. That can be expensive. However, if you can show articles and convince your vet to give you a prescription of several pills, you can mix up the solution yourself very inexpensively. (I used to get 12 pills at a time, mix up one batch at a time, and save the remaining pills until I needed a new batch. The pills lasted a very long time!) BTW, the very dilute drops had no effect on the cat tranquilizerwise. It reacts with a chemical in the cat's saliva and changes it enough so that most people aren't allergic to the new chemical.

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Lori, is this medication for the cat 'by prescription only'?

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@windwalker

Lori, is this medication for the cat 'by prescription only'?

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@windwalker Yes, acepromazine is by prescription only for animals because it is used (at much higher doses) as a tranquilizer. That's why it's important to find a vet who is amenable to trying its use in an almost homeopathic way for allergies (kind of like finding a lung doctor who is willing to prescribe 7% saline…) According to my first vet in Colorado, its use for allergies was discovered by accident. A vet whom she knew in Denver (probably Dr Linda East) got comments from clients who had cat allergies that they were less allergic to their cats soon after the cats had their teeth cleaned. The vet had given the cats acepromazine as a tranquilizer during the teeth cleaning operation.

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@windwalker

Thanks Rita, I am working on getting rid of this cough. Bacterias can cause an increase in mucous as well as allergens, that is why nebbing w/saline is so important. We have to be diligent about getting that mess up and out of our lungs. Rita, what are you doing these days to keep busy during covid?

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In reply to Teri-I am experiencing daily significant allergy symptoms even though we have already experienced a few times of frost; along with the feeling of increased mucus that I can’t get out (I’ve always been a dry cough person-reason why I have a vest). I don’t seem to be feeling bad, but do I need to be concerned about bacteria build up? What do you think? Thx for listening and hope things improve quickly for you😊

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Hi Terry...is it time to get a sputum sample.... can this be allergies?..is soutum coloured or clear?.

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@windwalker

Rita, I have been cooking up new recipes in the kitchen. My daughter now lives with me and she loves to eat. I sold my boat this summer and turned the boat lot into a garden with both veggies and flowers. My daughter loves gardening and yardwork so we putz in the yard daily. I am teaching her how to propagate plants. She has been painting colorful flower pots for me, and we have created a colorful 'happy place' in our new garden space. I took in a puppy this past June and she takes up some time between playing with her and walking her. I am about to set up a spare room and turn it into an art studio. I am hoping that will inspire me to get back to my artistic roots. I am essentially trying to make my home an even better oasis since we must spend more time here due to covid. I stay busy.

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Even a pandemic can have a silver lining. Spending quality time with your daughter is a plus. The temperature here barely reaches 60 degrees all day so sadly my outdoor activity is limited to short dog walks.

I hope your cough is better. I have concluded that my excess mucus is a cold. How I caught a cold while staying a long distance from everyone and washing my hands every time I come in is a mystery.

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@megan123

Hi Terry...is it time to get a sputum sample.... can this be allergies?..is soutum coloured or clear?.

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Hi Jennifer. Pretty sure what I have going on is allergies to the animals in my house. I was doing very well until animals moved in. My nose runs constantly, my eyes itch, sneezing my head off, and coughing up stuff......The color of what I was coughing up had been clear, but as of today; it is starting to take on color. I am going to see about getting that med that Lori suggested to feed the cat to convert it's saliva protein to something less noxious. Plus, I think I need my own room to myself. My daughter and both animals pile into my bed every night and sleep. Although we all love the togetherness, I think I need to sleep alone. (although I know that is impossible as my dog will not separate from me.) But, I can at least eliminate the cat.

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@migizii

In reply to Teri-I am experiencing daily significant allergy symptoms even though we have already experienced a few times of frost; along with the feeling of increased mucus that I can’t get out (I’ve always been a dry cough person-reason why I have a vest). I don’t seem to be feeling bad, but do I need to be concerned about bacteria build up? What do you think? Thx for listening and hope things improve quickly for you😊

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migizii, Are you on antibiotics at the moment?

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@windwalker

Hi Jennifer. Pretty sure what I have going on is allergies to the animals in my house. I was doing very well until animals moved in. My nose runs constantly, my eyes itch, sneezing my head off, and coughing up stuff......The color of what I was coughing up had been clear, but as of today; it is starting to take on color. I am going to see about getting that med that Lori suggested to feed the cat to convert it's saliva protein to something less noxious. Plus, I think I need my own room to myself. My daughter and both animals pile into my bed every night and sleep. Although we all love the togetherness, I think I need to sleep alone. (although I know that is impossible as my dog will not separate from me.) But, I can at least eliminate the cat.

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Terri sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. Maybe an air purifier in your bedroom so you can all still sleep together😊

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@windwalker

migizii, Are you on antibiotics at the moment?

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No, I’m not on any antibiotics. I just got a covid test today as we were having a state wide event. I feel fine except for the symptoms mentioned, but thought it doesn’t hurt to check that out. My mucus is generally clear with little round hard pieces, occasionally (sorry to be graphic...yuck).....thanks for asking.....

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