Pleurisy and Chest Infection Clarithromycin

hello xantal, you really need the ambulance, if you've been coughing up blood, you cant carry on like that, they will be able to help you over the phone as they ask you questions while the paramedics come out to you. im a 36 year old female, had the flu like 10 times worse symptoms for just over 2 weeks now, I had to go to the docs yesterday, couldn't take anymore ( actually the doc coudnt get out to see me so he paid for a taxi for me there and back, as he didn't like the sound of my symptoms, he said be ready in half an hour) scared me a little with him saying that. he checked me over and said I am on the verge of pneumonia and e gave me amoxocilin 500g, I don't know whether my chest is getting worse or its the tablets but is quiet scary, my chest is so tight, hot, and have a job breathing, I am going to ring the pharmacy when they open, I thought I would see an improvement with tablets, not get worse. I feel so bad as ive got a 14 year old and an 11 year old and cant do a deal for them, feel terrible, my youngest started with it last week, but hes just got a cough now, hope he dosnt get worse. ive never had anything like this. its a new kind a thing im sure of it, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, keep warm everyone who has this, my thoughts are with you all. let us know how you get on xantal

It seems I have the same symptoms as you. I have also been I'll since before Christmas. Three lots of anti bionics and a chest X-ray. The cough is still horrendous and now the area under my ribs on the right side is very painful. The X-ray showed my lungs are now clear but my heart is enlarged. No idea what that means, ECG on Monday. To be honest it is a comfort to know that I am not the only one suffering from this 'virus' just wish it would go now, 7 weeks is just too long.

Finally I'm over it. The bad back turned out to be a partially slipped disc in the upper back from so much coughing - to be honest as painful as it is , a mechanical injury is way better than serious infection so I'm happy with that. So in all that was 3 months start to finish of the chest infection. Still exhausted, especially with jetlag on top but I'm smiling again. Hang in there. Steam and menthol inhalation. Double antibiotics and a steroid inhaler to clear. Forget the cough mixture - just makes you feel worse. Manuka +15 honey helped fight the infection too. Best of luck and wishing you well xx

I agree with Xantal that there is a superbug doing the rounds at the moment. The number of people I speak to who have had something like this for 4-6 weks plus is incredible, I've been struggling for about 5 weeks now, think I'm getting somewhere and it bites back. Started with a cold, then chest infection which floored me and knocked my peak flow form 560 to 300. Doc started me on a relief inhaler, then Prednisolone a week later, Amoxicillin followed and another course of prednisolone. It eased a bit after some nasty thick green spaghetti like mucus (apologies for anyone eating!) made an appearance then came back. Had an Xray that appears to be ok and just finished a weeks course of Clarithromycin and another short burst of Pred again. Think I am coming down with a bloody cold again now probably due to the steroids weakening my immune system. I am better than I was when it first started but just soooooo sick of coughing, breathlessness and feeling unwell. I'm rattling with all the vitamins I'm taking, feel partly related to bees as I've had that much money and feel like I should be declared an asset on the balance sheet to Kleenex!!

It helps to talk about this horrible stuff so thanks for the forum, hope you are all getting there in your recovery. Keep the faith ad fingers crossed. John.xx

*Honey.. lol.

There seems to be something going around I started out with a cold at the end of january and still have a

chest infection _ I have had a week of amoxicillin which worked a bit but have been back to GP and am on Clarithromycin so really hope this works - I am tired of coughing and waking up at night coughing or feeling hot and sweaty.

I know they are trying not to over use antibiotics here now, but when I have been abroad many countries sell them over the counter which I don't think is helping maintain their integrity as a medication.

Thankfully we have antibiotics still that work. And hope all of you and myself will be better soon! Jane

Hi, I am male 43, 6ft 1in, Triathlete. I became ill on Jan 9th 2014, It started with flu like symtoms, I worked until the Thursday and came home, By the weekend it had gone to my chest. I went to the docs, Confirmed chest infection, given amoxocylin and week off, Week of coughing and feeling sicker than I have ever felt in my life, Back to Docs at end of that week, Given two more anti biotics and a steroid, by the end of that week I was feeling a little better but still coughing. Went back to work Monday 10th Feb, 6am start, by 8.30am i could not breathe, colleagues started to arrive, their reaction said it all, " i will run you to the hospital right now, don't speak" Went to Docs at 10am, given an Inhaler sent to Hospital at 10.30am Chest xray ( should get results tomorrow 24/02/2014) Full bloods done aswell. 14th Feb phoned Docs hoping results would be back early! Told bloods showed up abnormal, they could hear me struggling to breathe over the phone and asked me to get there in 1 hour. Bloods turned out to be ok. Chest x ray not back. Pain in all around ribs back and front, told was pulled muscles from coughing.

Have been coughing up mucus casts ( friends have seen the pictures that I have taken to show the docs, they have said they will get Sigourney Weaver on standby) The mucus looks like I have been invaded by aliens. Now 23rd Feb, still feel ill and still coughing up casts. Docs tomorrow at 4pm!

P.S Oh the one doc I saw told me 3 weeks ago my chest is clear and I will feel fine by the Monday!!!!!

Have been using honey, lemon, ginger teas, steam, hot baths.

Hi,

I have exactly the same symptoms at Giuila, was starting to think I was the only one.

I was taken into hospital in Nov with pneumonia and tachycardia which was treated.

I have now had these symptoms back for the past 8 weeks but with an added pain under my right breast.

I am on my 3rd lot of different antibiotics and steroids but I am so fed up of feeling ill, breathless and constant coughing.

The doctors seem to be fobbing me off with antibiotics and make me feel like a hypercondriact.

It is comforting to know some of you are feeling better - hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel for me.

Xray results in, chest clear, sputum samples normal??!!? So why? I asked the doc. Am I coughing up mucus casts and feeling so ill, pain in the chest. He doesn't seem to know! Has now put me on Doxycycline and another inhaler. Signed me off work for 2 more weeks :-(

This is now week 7............

Afternoon All.

X ray results back from the docs (fri 21st) , all clear thankfully and after a quick examination he has put me on a preventer brown inhaler daily x 2 plus to use the blue one for relief when required.

This is the 5th day I've been using it and the breathlessness seems to be getting better albeit I've still got a really chesty cough which is so annoying as it feels like the mucus should come up but its hanging in there! Hopefully is the remnants of the cold and will ease soon.

I still feel a bit tight in the chest and a bot breathless after a heavy coughing fit (trying to get the afore mentioned mucus up!) but fingers crossed its starting to ease (it will probably bite me back on the ass now!!) and hopefully after 8 weeks there is a little light at the end of the tunnel. I'm aching to do some exercise but think its prudent to put that off for a little longer.

Hope you are all getting there in your recovery. Keep the faith and fingers crossed. John.

P.s I still think there is a superbug that's not being named yet!!