*2 tony 15641

Hi Tony. I don't suffer with diabetes but I definitely feel

Very tired when taking antibiotics for chest infection

Hope you feel better soon

Hi Tony, I dont have Diabetes but I do take Carbocisteine, my colsultant explained to me that it is good for helping with secretion as it would help clear the chest. this does work for me, I take it long terms (been a fews years now) but I dont experience any symptoms with it. it may be the antibotic you are on, if so go back to the doctor let him/her know that its not working for you, they should be able to change your antibiotic. 

Hi tony ,I tried carbocisteine and had really bad headaches so I stopped taking it,I also feel very sleepy I think that part of the bronchiestis ,I had a infection for 4 weeks and had three lots of antibiotics I'm am on clarthromycin for two weeks ,all this week it's taken me all my time to stay awake at work it's very difficult sometimes ,I don't have diabetes but it must be hard having both illness ,also my doctor is the same it sometimes is very frustrating trying cope with a illness the doctors struggle copping with ,take care Jokeys

First the tiredness. From my own perspective and having read the bronchx threads for some time, all/most bronchX sufferers get periods of tiredness and sometimes exhaustion.

I don't think it's a side effect of antibiotics but linked with the disease itself. There are times when we do not get enough oxygen into our lungs (due to narrowing of airways and mucus detritus blocking paths) and it is that impact on our blood that causes the tiredness. I have found that when I feel the onset of tiredness it's usually when I have been sedentary and if I get up and walk around briskly I can get more oxygen into the lungs. It seems to help the majority of the time. I must admit that sometimes I just let it wash over me and sleep, largely when it has impacted my motivation, but I think the gentle exercise solution is probably healthier in the long run.

People with real problems of repeated exhaustion that goes beyond tiredness really do need to discuss this with a specialist, so that oxygen levels can be assessed. There is something called oxygen therapy which I assume means that you keep a bottle handy at home/office and have a session of inhalations when the exhaustion washes over you. Again, something to be discussed with a pulmonologist.

Which brings me to the second point. BronchX is a chronic disease and it is vital IMO to get professional experienced analysis and subsequent monitoring (which might only be annual if you are under control). Only pulmonologists - and preferably one who specialises in bronchX (usually as one of several lung issues they deal with) can give proper advice and monitoring. In state health systems that means pestering your general practitioner to refer you. Only if we push will the state system respond with putting increased resources behind the disease.

Easy for me to say with my UK private medical health cover (which I pay for of course), to deal with regular monitoring, and access to cheap pulmonologist advice in a low cost country (Thailand) at other times. Worth considering paying for some limited advice and monitoring if your household budget has any flexibility and your 'free' system is refusing to give you proper medical attention? I recognise that will get some howls of derision from some of you who are less fortunate than me. Clearly retirees on a state pension and with no other resources have to make the most of what can be levered out of the system (though I had parents who we children discovered were not being honest with us about their needs in the face of other chronic diseases and were stashing money away only to pass it on to us - fer heaven's sake!; if only I had known I would have bought them the advice or bought their house with a lifetime lease back so they could have had a more comfortable eighties)