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new problem with bronchiectasis

Posted , 6 users are following.

ruthie2673
ruthie2673

I have been taking azithromycin three times a week for a year and I have been free from infections and free from any sputum.

However, a few weeks ago I started feeling breathless but still no cough, no sputum. So I increased my salbutamol as I had been advised, but then I began to feel unwell.

The problem is that I still have no sputum, so nothing to cough up and send away for antibiotic sensitivities, and after two different antibiotics I am still breathless and feeling tired and miserable.

Has anyone else had this problem?

I do have follow up in the chest clinic in 2 weeks time, but also have holidays planned in the very near future.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • lesley05714
    lesley05714 ruthie2673

    Posted

    Hi ruthie,

    That is most unusual, not to cough up any sputum; but great that there have been no infections!

    I find the best time to bring up any sputum is after a meal; I just have a lie down, (good excuse for a rest), arm myself with tissues and breathe fairly deeply, after a few minutes I do some 'huffing' and...gurgle gurgle...it starts to come up in small amounts. After this little incouragement, nothing too enthusiastic...it comes up on its own.  One thing I do think helps, is some imagining...I 'see a vacume cleaner in my mind, sucking up all the gunk, then I tell my lungs to send it up to get rid of it' I know it is only playing mind games, but it seems to work. A different picture may work for you.

    I am also juicing carrots and veg in the morning, and I have cut out dairy, tea and coffee; I feel better generally, and I have a little more energy.

    I think that when you see the specialist you could ask for a CT scan. do let us all know how you get on.

    Blessings,

    Lesley

  • george43384
    george43384 ruthie2673

    Posted

    get your GP to see what your O2 levels are. you may have an infection but nothing is showing this has happened to me a lot, azithromycin can block/disguise results. CT is a good Idea too. something is causing your breathlesness and I suspect an infection. Have they tested for anerobes.? they don't test for them routinely.

    you could try a rescue package of antibiotics, co- triamoxaclav or perhaps ciprofloxacin.

    Best of luck.

    George   

    • ruthie2673
      ruthie2673 george43384

      Posted

      thankyou george...I started co-amoxiclav but 4 days later i was worse so swopped to cipro and have just completed 2 weeks. It helped me to feel better in myself, but breathlessness still a problem.

      I will just have to wait 2 weeks until I see the specialist, unless it gets worse and then it's the GP.

    • 4jean
      4jean george43384

      Posted

      I was interested in the fact that Azithromycin may disguise or block results. Also I would be interested to know in more detail about anaerobes and oxygen levels if possible. Thank you.
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