How do I avoid getting chest infections
Posted , 7 users are following.
Diagnosed with Bronchiectasis last year because of regular blood in sputum. I am on regular antibiotics 3 times a week, but have chest infections needing a different antibiotic for 2 weeks. How can I stop getting so many chest infections when people in shops, buses, cinema, church etc. are coughing, sneezing, etc. I don't want to be a hermit. What do other people do? I cannot walk very far because of the breathlessness and back problem, so that is no option. Would appreciate any suggestions.
2 likes, 29 replies
david_25160 janet01076
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janet01076 david_25160
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Best wishes Janet
Bela1957 janet01076
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jackie14837 janet01076
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janet01076 jackie14837
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Thank you. Yes I try and get the mucus up daily, but it is a problem. The physio gave me a 'flutter' to try but have not had much success. Sometimes I can lie down for over 1 hour doing the physio and next to nothing comes up. I will get some antibacterial gel and carry it around with me. Thank you again.
HAYDON janet01076
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agree with Jackie. get to see a physio and learn how to do the exercises which will help you clear your lungs.
It makes a huge difference. Your lung function will improve and you wil get less infections.
Exercise trasnformed my life.
Good luck.
sam90709 janet01076
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Firstly, wash your hands ... a lot! To give you an example, I have four kids, three through eleven, and the consultant told me to wash my hands every time I touch the kids. Now obviously that's not entirely practical, but it gives you the drift. Jackie's idea of some antibacterial gel is a good idea.
Second, clear out the gunk in your lungs ruthlessly. That's where the bugs breed. That's where they can hide from the antibiotics - quite literally, inside the gunk. That's why it's so important. Have you been taken through the different methods of clearing your lungs? Active cycle of breathing / huffing/ various mechanical options etc? If not, here on the forum we can certainly help with that.
With regard to face masks, those anti pollution masks don't do much in terms of keeping out the bugs. Really you need proper, fitted, high filtration masks for that. Surgical masks are really for keeping phlegm, saliva, snot etc from surgeons off the patient, rather than protecting the surgeon from floating bacteria.
Luck!
Sam
janet01076 sam90709
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I get your drift about hand washing! Only a cat to be concerned over so will try and remember to wash my hands when I have handled him.
As I said to Jackie, the 'gunk' is a real issue. The most effective is the Active cycle of breathing with the huffing, but even that is not good. Just been given a 'flutter' but so far not effective. I have found robust cleaning does it best, but I have a back problem so cannot do this on a daily basis.
Face masks? That is one I will have to think about a lot. Alright in my home and with friends I know, but anywhere else .......
Thank you Sam wished I had come on the site months ago, as you are all telling me things it has taken me months to discover!
Best wishes Janet
sam90709 janet01076
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One more thing about active cycle- a tip that I got from a physio at the Brompton. Don't huff. Go really really slow. So when you do the big exhale, rather than a huff, open your mouth really wide and exhale as slowly as you can. As you do you will feel a good rattle. Leave it, keep doing big slow breaths unto you absolutely and completely have to cough. I think you'll find that changing too big and slow rather than huff really helps things come up. Certainly I really surprised myself!
If you combine this with a good wiggle of your torso / change your position (even lie down and do it on each side), you can get a lot of stuff up. You're finished when there's no more rattle.
Good luck!
S
janet01076 sam90709
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Janet
broadsword janet01076
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Additionally keep some antiseptic hand cleaning gel in your pocket or bag and use it regularly when hand washing is not easy. These days, these are so commonplace. Pharmacies, supermarkets, even by the check out at M&S, they are economical and pocketable. Find one that has a preferable smell. They are especially useful after travelling by public transport. Those hand holds can be germ laden and there will not be handy washing facilities. Avoid too, as far as possible, touching your own face and avoid people with obvious upper respiratory infections. The poster was true. Coughs and sneezes do spread diseases.
janet01076 broadsword
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I do wear gloves to keep my hands warm. Does this mean I have to wash my gloves every day or can I spray with disinfectant (have a good one) then wash once in a while? It is avoiding the people with obvious respiratory infections I find very difficult.
Best wishes Janet
broadsword janet01076
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Bugs survive on all surfaces for varying times and that will include gloves. The warmth of gloves might give a longer lifespan. Disinfection will work but I suggest both sides unless they have an impermeable surface eg leather. The gels might make leather less supple but will do no real harm. Remember though to gel between the fingers. On hand washing many people may not wash hands thoroughly enough. I almost never see anyone in a public toilet washing thoroughly enough. A quick rinse does not suffice. If you google NHS hand washing you should find authoritative sources and diagrams.
Keeping reasonably fit and avoiding infection is one of the best measures in managing Bx
janet01076 broadsword
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Now I know what Bx is thanks also for that.
Janet
charles60050 janet01076
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I wouldnt go over the top with alcohlic jels which will probably dry your hands out.Any bacteria on your skin will not normally do you any harm because your defences will know that it is yours.Washing your hands as suggested on nhs website is mainly to stop nurses passing bacteria to patients. Be sensible when meeting other people but if you try to prevent getting infections too much your immunne system will not be challenged and as soon as you drop your guard you will become susceptable to everything. These are some of my thoughts but I am just giving some advice as to how Ihave coped with this uncurable chronic condition and you will find your own balance from all the wonderful advice on this forum.. By the way I work as a registered nurse and was full time for 45 years.I add those bits because I have been exposed to thousands of pathogenic bacteria in lots of very differing places.(I worked as a district nurse).
Good luck and just try to keep well.
janet01076 charles60050
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Janet
charles60050 janet01076
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Would you mean "saliva" or sputum when you cough? Mine isnt frothy but normally should be white .I tend to have grey but occasionally it has been slightly green which unfortunatally heralds an infection.If there is an infection it would be copious and probably different taste(sorry doesnt sound pleasant but then when discussing these things it never is)
The pneumonia vaccination is specific to a pneumonia or infection caused by the pneumacocus bacteria so will not cover against viruses.The flu vaccine helps against 3 types (strains) of influenza which the World Health Organisation reccomend are prevalent in our part of the world.Luckily I have only had flu about 4-5 times in 40 years but it is more severe than a cold. Colds cause a lot of runny noses and cattarrh for deveral days but flu causes fever which if you take paracetamol is good for 2-3 hours and then the shivering comes back.The best thing with flu is go to bed with the shivering and keep warm until the paracetamol has worked.
sam90709 janet01076
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The colour and consistency of your sputum will change depending on what's going on in your lungs. It should be nice and clear. If you're generating too much / it's thickening up then you get frothy. This we call mucoid. You then may see flecks of green stuff - that's basically pus and the dead bacterial cells - moving on to a creamy then creamy green consistency (muco-purulent). Then it becomes straight green and sludgy (purulent) then more browny green (which probably shows some bleeding as well) and finally really quite dark brown.
If you Google "bronchiectasis chss " (chest heart stroke Scotland) then there is a pdf listed (fourth Google entry for me) by chss about Bx. It's very good and has a colour chart (yup, just like a Dulux colour chart) that shows the different stages. Effectively the colour shows the profession of infection.
If you are white with froth, you are enviably healthy. Flecks of green, got a bit of an infection, not too much to worry about but you should keep an eye on it.
Hope that helps!
S
janet01076 charles60050
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Thank you for clearing up that the frothy stuff is sputum.
I have had a pnemonia vaccination and have the flu one every year. Flu I have had about 4 times in my life. 'Walking pneumonia' quite a number of times, never one that has put me into bed!! Although last year I was told it was a chest infection (coughing up blood, and the rest) I had to go to bed with this. In fact I thought at times this was the end.
Janet
janet01076 sam90709
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Thanks to you and Charles I now know the white froth is sputum. I have looked at the site you suggested and it will be very useful.
The stages of infection you and the site describe I am getting at the moment, but in various colours of green/brown with pink/red which I know is blood from the past. I have an infection yes, but even when I have not got one I never cough up just white sputum when doing my breathing/coughing it always is light green at the best of times. This is even when taking the regular antibiotic (3 times a week). With me i think the only time i really know about a 'serious infection' is when I cough up blood - red, pink, brown or rusty coloured.
Thank you though for being so helpful and clear about everything I am very grateful.
Janet
charles60050 janet01076
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janet01076 charles60050
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Janet
Bela1957 charles60050
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