I have COPD and frequent bouts of bronchitis. My pulmonologist has directed an antibiotic course when symptoms start as it always goes into severe exacerbation. My doctor was out on medical leave at last bout so I saw an internist for a prescription for antibiotic, but was also told that they no longer treat bronchitis with antibiotics. I continued to get worse, much worse, so went to another Dr. who prescribed antibiotics and said I should not have waited so long to start them. I believe the new anti antibiotic policy can be a dangerous one for people with serious and/or pre existing disease and I urge anyone who has serious symptoms and breathing distress to continue to seek treatment. I know the new policy is the result of concern about antibiotic overuse, but there are times when it is really needed to prevent lung damage and pneumonia. Be your own advocate and persevere when you know you are in trouble with this illness. Even with the antibiotic course that was eventually prescribed. I am now in my fifth week of bronchitis. It does last a long time, but antibiotic treatment, when needed, can save you from pneumonia or other worse complications. Seek medical care before this happens.

I am now into my second week of a bad bronchitis attack. Sleeping is very difficult, as the coughing keeps me up. The coughing also causes dizziness. My doctor did prescribe antibiotics. I also am now taking Robitussin. I also take Mucinex. I use Vicks VapoRub as it is soothing and will take the suggestion of inhaling the vapor. My doctor tells me I am not contagious.

My symptoms have lasted for three weeks. I cough constantly with little secretions. My doctor gave me prescriptions, which proved to be ineffective. It has been three weeks of utter hell with tea, honey, lemon, etc. but it just seems to take its course. I have had this for the past 20 winters and do wish someone would come up with a solution.

I was extremely sick for weeks thinking it was a severe sinus infection. Fever at 102, light headed, very tired, and actually thought I was dying. I had excessive cough with a lot of mucus (yellow, green, brown, and then blood). I waited at least 2 weeks to seek treatment. At my doctor's office, they said it was walking pneumonia. The more I thought about it I probably had actual pneumonia. I should of sought care sooner. It has been 11 weeks and just starting to feel better.

I have had Bronchitis for nine weeks so far and it doesn't seem to be getting much better. I have had 2 courses of antibiotics and have been given an inhaler. The cough is sudden and quite violent and I sometimes feel quite. I have seen three different doctors and only the last one said it was bronchitis. The first one said if I had left it just a couple of days longer I would have been in serious trouble.

I started with a cold. After 2 weeks I saw my doctor who prescribed antibiotics and inhalers, which only gave me a little relief. A week later, I went back to the doctor. My lungs were cracking all over, I was short of breath. I had a terrible cough, and I was generally unwell. The doctor gave me another antibiotic and more medications. This time, I got rapid relief. After a 10-day treatment, I am almost completely well. I'm still using inhalers and cough medicine, though. Now, three weeks after that whole ordeal, it's back. I hope this clears soon. I am exhausted.

I have been diagnosed with bronchitis. So far, it has been three weeks and I am still coughing. This is misery.

I have had bronchitis for about 10 days now. Coughing was really my only symptom; especially when it was keeping me awake all night. The coughing got that bad that it actually made me throw up at one stage. But I saw a proper doctor about 4 days ago and she prescribed me cough syrup as well as a turbuhaler. Whatever all these things are, they are working brilliantly. I can now get through the night with a good night's sleep. The coughing is still there and feeling a bit weaker today, but I'm feeling a lot better than at the beginning of the week!

I started out with H1N1 and now have had acute bronchitis for 12 weeks. I have been on two corses of levequin, I have taken breathing treatments, albuterol inhaler, coedine cough syryp. Now all I do is go to work then go home to sleep, I am so weak and tired I just want to get better.