antibiotics and Bronchiectasis.

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hi all

I have a bad chest infection in Jan-Feb and after a scan was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis.I began to fill unwell again last week (Monday) and the doctor said I had another chest infection. I was given Doxycycline ( 1 tablet a day) but my synonyms do not seem any better. I was given a three week course.  My health providers seem little informed about this condition and seem to regard it as a rather insignificant matter but for me its very debilitating. Best Wishes to all. Peter

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  • Posted

    Peter, takes awhile to get a hand on this ilness. Starrt with educating yourself. This is one article: http://www.sppneumologia.pt/uploads/files/spp/PDF75.pdf  are do a google search. I began to put a team of specialist together staritng with a pulmonolist , a ENT surgeon (I had surgery on my nasal passages which seems to be connected to the Bronchiectasis (BRX) in my case. (Some on this site use (BX) I think.)

    The last doctor I have added is an Infectious Disease specialist, becasue my pulmonolgist had no experieince in the use of Azithromyin (AZ) for BRX, He has been great becasue his whole prcatice is about infectious bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.

    And like several people on this site I have had good results with AZ, that has reduced the number of exacerbations that I was having, which at the time was about every six weeks to maybe twice a year.

    Hope thishelps and good luck.

    Russ

      

    • Posted

      Thanks Russ. I read the PDF and many other things onl this disease. I would not in my current financia situation be able to put together a team of experts, I have yet to see one specialist!. Being British I use the NHS like most other people here except those you can afford to go private. Best Wishes Peter.
    • Posted

      Hi peter &andr i my self ave ad chest infection after chest infection just put me on 10day course of moxifloxacin only one day left not working still feel breathless coughing nasty stuff up i know ow u both feel ive been like this for 2 yrs now been to chest clinic said it bronchiestis i know u cant get rid of it but what causes a bug to grow i dont think they will ever know but ope u both get sorted

    • Posted

      Hi Tony

      Sorry to hear of your trouble, it seems that a recurrent chest infection is often what some people with this disease have to live with, I hope you will feel best soon. Best Wishes Peter.

  • Posted

    Hi Peter,

    Bronchiectasis is no small matter and if your GP is treating it as such due his/her lack of understanding, put in a request for a referral to see a respiratory specialist. This needs to be managed properly. If the Doxycycline has not had an effect after a week go back to the doctor and tell him/her its not working. There are a few drugs that can be used, or it maybe that you need to be put on a higher dose. For myself in order for it to be effective oral antibiotics are at 500mg. If it isnt I do request the doctors to put me on this dose, you are within your rights to do so. Dont be afraid to ask them questions; They have a duty of care to provide you with answers and give more information. If you feel its not enough seek a second opinion. Again, I will reiterate, seeing a respiratory specialist may help you, dont be afraid to ask for a referral. 

    Hope this helps

    Tanz

    • Posted

      Hi Tanz. Many thanks for your suggestions and help.

      Best Wishes Peter,

    • Posted

      Hi Peter

      Bronchiectasis is really serious, as is getting the gunk out of your lungs. I've had COPD for awhile and just accepted increased coughing & sputum as part of that. Was I dumb! I also assumed on my own that I was okay after one treatment for smoke inhalation a year ago. So pneumonia in August, coughing blood endlessly twice in November, hospitalized in December ... Bronchiectasis! I was given an A Cappella in hospital. You need guidance from somebody pulmonary, if not a doc then a respiratory therapist or special nurse for 2 points First, they have to set the tension, for lack of a better word, for you specifically. I doubt that this can be trusted to a YouTube video. Secondly, someone needs to make sure that you are using it properly.

      My pulmonologist has me on 1200 mg of plain guafenisin twice daily. The safe & ultra cheap brand here is called "Mucus Relief." Drink 8 oz of water with each round, even if you only take 400mg. Many folks in the UK with COPD use MucoMyst, which is also known by its chemical signature NAC. I tried that but it affected my personality in a bad way. Others have no problem.

      It helps to drink a lot of clear non-caffeine fluids. This helps both in loosening the gunk and in clearing infections.

    • Posted

      Hi Peter

      Bronchiectasis is really serious, as is getting the gunk out of your lungs. I've had COPD for awhile and just accepted increased coughing & sputum as part of that. Was I dumb! I also assumed on my own that I was okay after one treatment for smoke inhalation a year ago. So pneumonia in August, coughing blood endlessly twice in November, hospitalized in December ... Bronchiectasis! I was given an A Cappella in hospital. You need guidance from somebody pulmonary, if not a doc then a respiratory therapist or special nurse for 2 points First, they have to set the tension, for lack of a better word, for you specifically. I doubt that this can be trusted to a YouTube video. Secondly, someone needs to make sure that you are using it properly.

      My pulmonologist has me on 1200 mg of plain guafenisin twice daily. The safe & ultra cheap brand here is called "Mucus Relief." Drink 8 oz of water with each round, even if you only take 400mg. Many folks in the UK with COPD use MucoMyst, which is also known by its chemical signature NAC. I tried that but it affected my personality in a bad way. Others have no problem.

      It helps to drink a lot of clear non-caffeine fluids. This helps both in loosening the gunk and in clearing infections.

    • Posted

      I hope that you are not as bad as I am. Pulmo said this week that I am never going to be walking 2.5 miles in an hour again with my dog. He doesn't think I'll be walking a mile again. I sincerely hope he's wrong, but he only said that after I pushed him relentlessly with the question of whether I would ever be better. 2 days later, what did I do? Took a short but very slow sunset walk with my dog ,,, and tonight I'm back on doxycycline yet again (7th round of ABs since August) for a sinus infection from whatever was in the air, shortness of breath etc.

      Did I mention that I suffer extreme hardheadedness in addition to my lungs & AI diseases?

      Do everything you can to protect & save the lung health you still have. If that means avoiding the grandkids & all their respiratory problems, so be it.

    • Posted

      Hi aitatg it rite wat u saying we all try push ourself then end up with chest infections its rite wat lot people say on ere GP dont understand wat bronchiectasis is when i went to doctors they said chest specalist exsplained wat is up with u said keep taking tabs if they dont work said something about putting me on one day not that i take enough tabs for other things but thanks for advice

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