Hospital acquired Infection?!
Question: I have some kind of nonproductive cough about 24 hours a day from an infection I caught while in the hospital for something else. I am more or less self employed and am currently out of state and what little insurance I have is no good here so I already owe almost $20,000 for the first visit and can't afford to go back to the hospital a second time.
I had already started coughing while I was in the hospital on the last visit and they did do a chest x-ray on the day I was discharged and said it was normal and didn't treat me with antibiotics or anything and never said anything else about it. I've been coughing 24-hour a day for the past two weeks since then nonstop and am in the process of going back home 1400 miles away some time in the next two weeks where I will eventually have access to my insurance but by that point, this may be going into a four or five-week span. Thanks!!
Answers: I have some kind of nonproductive cough about 24 hours a day from an infection I caught while in the hospital for something else. I am more or less self employed and am currently out of state and what little insurance I have is no good here so I already owe almost $20,000 for the first visit and can't afford to go back to the hospital a second time.
I had already started coughing while I was in the hospital on the last visit and they did do a chest x-ray on the day I was discharged and said it was normal and didn't treat me with antibiotics or anything and never said anything else about it. I've been coughing 24-hour a day for the past two weeks since then nonstop and am in the process of going back home 1400 miles away some time in the next two weeks where I will eventually have access to my insurance but by that point, this may be going into a four or five-week span. Thanks!!
Sounds to me like a good case of Bronchitis.... which if left go will turn into Pneumonia and you'll end up the in hospital which is what you dont want right??
My advice... go to an urgent care clinic whereever you are... the doc will probably put you on a Z-pack ( antibiotic ) and in the mean time... increase you fluids... make sure to drink 64 ounces per day... helps to thin the mucous and make it more mobile... just cuz you aren't coughing any up doesnt mean it's not in there.... you just cant move it cuz it's too thick... thick mucus is a hiding place for bacteria and viruses that cause Pneumonia.
P.S. if you are a smoker... STOP smoking.