Texas crud in Canada or is it a form of bronchitis?

TomG2 wrote:
Self doctoring is about as foolish as it gets. Many Winter Texans put themselves at risk by taking the readily available antibiotics from across the border. Often times, they take antibiotics for allergies and virus's, both of which are not helped by antibiotics. "If" I was going to try a home cure, I would try something like Claritin to see if it responds to anti-allergy drugs. I would take antibiotics only if ordered by a real doctor. Not an Internet buddy.

Well said. It's no surprise to me that more and more things are becoming immune to antibiotics today because of overuse/misuse in the past.

Maybe it's a side affect from the floods in Gatineau?

TomG2 wrote:
Self doctoring is about as foolish as it gets. Many Winter Texans put themselves at risk by taking the readily available antibiotics from across the border. Often times, they take antibiotics for allergies and virus's, both of which are not helped by antibiotics. "If" I was going to try a home cure, I would try something like Claritin to see if it responds to anti-allergy drugs. I would take antibiotics only if ordered by a real doctor. Not an Internet buddy.

^^X2^^

DW got it when we spent a week in Harlingen. She went to the clinic an was given 10 full days of antibiotic, not 3 or 5 days worth.

IMO, the TX crud is from the burning of the sugar cane fields. I always feel better when I'm on SPI and away from that black ash. My northern upper respiratory just isn't use to that stuff is my opinion. Now add in ageing, and even maybe a comprised immune system and you're really stepping into it.

The "Crud" is often an allergy. The RGV has lots of pollen and other stuff blowing in from Mexico.

DH suffered badly from Texas crud one winter while in the RGV. When at his doctor after coming home, doctor suggested taking plain Claritin (NOT Claritin D) daily and start it about 2 weeks before leaving for Texas. DH did this the following year and no problems. Maybe the Claritin worked, maybe it was just luck, but he did not have any of the bad coughing/hacking spells.

TomG2 wrote:
Self doctoring is about as foolish as it gets. Many Winter Texans put themselves at risk by taking the readily available antibiotics from across the border. Often times, they take antibiotics for allergies and virus's, both of which are not helped by antibiotics. "If" I was going to try a home cure, I would try something like Claritin to see if it responds to anti-allergy drugs. I would take antibiotics only if ordered by a real doctor. Not an Internet buddy.

And the antibiotic should be prescribed in response to the results of a culture of throat/nasal mucous to see which particular bacteria is the problem. They now have strep tests that take less than 30 min, and this is important because while strep is fairly easy to cure, it is necessary to identify and properly prescribe antibiotic that will work against the infection.

Colds take about 2 weeks to cure on their own, or 14 days with the intervention of chicken soup. ;)

Self doctoring is about as foolish as it gets. Many Winter Texans put themselves at risk by taking the readily available antibiotics from across the border. Often times, they take antibiotics for allergies and virus's, both of which are not helped by antibiotics. "If" I was going to try a home cure, I would try something like Claritin to see if it responds to anti-allergy drugs. I would take antibiotics only if ordered by a real doctor. Not an Internet buddy.

Tripalot wrote:


Have you considered allergies?

Like you, I am not used to being home during the main part of the heating season and there are some simple household maintenance items I tend to overlook sometimes, like when was the last time you cleaned and/or replaced your furnace filter and the pad on your humidifier?

We have had good luck with Z-PAC.

Your health is too important to be messing with it on the internet. Get to a Physician ASAP. The best way to "see your lungs" is with a chest x-ray. There are also some blood tests that are important. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.