Worried. Cough, fever out of the blue

[Peachy]

Good morning all - My husband has been having fevers, coughing, muscle/bone pain for the last 3-days. Went to Doctor yesterday for blood cultures and script for 7 day antibiotic. Fevers ranging from 101.5 to 103. No energy and I know he has to be dehydrated by now. I get as much liquid in him as possible. Food intake dropping daily. (Even I've lost 3 lbs in the last 24 hours.) Had his 10th Aranesp shot on Monday. Blood holding around 9.3. Whites shot up to 2.1. Any suggestions on soothing the cough? He hasn't slept much. Just wondering if any of you have experienced this and would maybe have a suggestion or 2. His inabillity to do anything, coughing all the time is making him crazy. Thanks for any suggestions....Peachy

PS Have another call into Dr. as I realized I didn't ask enough questions yesterday.

[sstewart09]

Delsym has always been my go to medicine for an ongoing cough. Hope your husband feels better soon!

[Peachy]

Thanks will be using that tonight to hopefully get some sleep. I appreciate your answer and am thinking I just needed to talk - seems silly now - but thanks for answering.

[Darice]

I've always liked just tea with lemon juice and honey . . . my sister throws in a shot of whiskey. Seriously, I read that that is as effective as any of the OTC stuff, and probably as good as most prescription meds for coughs. Add a little tylenol to get the temp down. I sure hope he is feeling better soon.

[sbk007]

Don't know where you live but Altoids has always worked well for me, and its good for stomach aches as well. Mucinex is a miracle drug for cough & congestion, always worked for me and fast. good luck.

[billyb]

Hello, what was your husbands rbc berore starting Aranesp?

[Peachy]

billyb Hello, what was your husbands rbc berore starting Aranesp?

Had been holding in the 10's then dropped to 8.3 and was 9.2 day of first shot.

Will try the Altoids. He has been on Musinex. Turned out to be allergic to Delsym (hives on second dose). Tried the tea as well. Cough will just not let go! Fever finally, gone we think, at least during the day. He is coughing up orangish phylum. Anyone ever have that? Having chest xray today.

Thanks for all your comments.....Peachy

[wilmasdaughter]

I am surprised they have not hospitalized him, especially in light of his low WBC and high fever. If he doesn't get better, I would head to the emergency room.

[Peachy]

Thanks. Finally diagnosed with pneumonia. Still at home and doing much better. We are just finishing our second round of antibiotics. Had his fever stayed high the emergency room my option. Finally got it down though. THanks again. Peachy

[revchris5802]

For a dry cough, I find tessalon pearls work great. For a productive cough, mucinex. I think he should be admited for IV antibiotics and fluids. That fever is too high and the weakness too pronounced to stay at home.

[Peachy]

Thank you so much. I will keep this in mind for the next bout. We weathered the incident at home and discovered he had pneumonia. That part is all good now. Too scary to do at home again!

[Matt44]

Peachy, I hope that best but I have one question. I too have hives from taking deslym. (Bronchitis,sinus infection that wouldn't go away, cough)My question is how long did it take for the deslym to leave his system and the hives clear up? I'm on day 5 now of hives and can't seem to shake them. No allergic reactions ever before in my life.

[DanL]

Mucinex is really good for clearing out the lungs and reducing the cough. It is relatively expensive, but pretty effective.

[sbk007]

Mucinex works great. Only used it a few times but it worked right away and didn't have to use it for more than a day or 2.
This thread is relatively old but..

[Peachy]

Hi all and thanks for all comments and caring ....

Matt44 - his reaction did not last long as we only used one dose. If your hives remain I would consult your doctor.

We are well beyond this bout of fever and have had a hospitalization for another bout of pneumonia that ended a couple of weeks ago - receiving intravenous antibiotics and levoquin to get all under control.

We now have a new diagnosis, thus I will start a new thread.

thanks again.