Posted , 10 users are following.
i am really really sick with bronchitis--havent slept in 3 days, both ears draining, slight fever, miserable. going to prompt shortly. im on back end of dsns going to 5. should i increase the pred for a few days? the reason i ask is when i went to er last summer with a bladder infection, both docs said do not increase pred because it lowers your ability to fight infection. thanks.
0 likes, 16 replies
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missmagwumps Twopies
Posted
Yes - Pred does suppress your immune system....I have no end of infections, coughs, bronchitis etc this last year...though pharmacist did say taking even a low dose of Pred will also help fight chest infection - so figure that one out....lol x
This winters cough virus is a very virulent one in the UK...don't want to alarm you but I still have slight cough since....... November Hope you feel better soon....x
Harrie4 Twopies
Posted
If this is not the first time a cold has resulted in bronchitis and/or if you have a history of asthma -- even the allergic kind -- you might want to use a puffer for a few days. I had 2 bronchial infections that started as colds in 2 years. I also had mild allergies with a touch of asthma. My ear-nose-throat doc suggested that I use my puffer 2x / da at the start of the cold and I havent had bronchitis since -- that was more than 5 years ago. Just a thought.....
Wishing you a speedy recovery and some rest, soon!
EileenH Twopies
Posted
It does seem to depend - pred doesn't make me have any more or worse infections than without as far as I can tell. I'd have thought it might be a good idea to up it a bit - just because infection puts stress on the body and it would normally produce more cortisol. But if severe infections develop and don't clear, then checking with the GP should be a priority.
celia14153 Twopies
Posted
I had a recent visit to the hospital and the consultant put up my dose from 11mg to 15mg for three days. She said that the adrenals produce more cortisone to fight off infection and as the Pred suppresses that activity you need to top up it to help - then go back to your normal doasage.
Twopies celia14153
Posted
thanks, helps a lot. got to prompt care 2 1/2 hours ago, still waiting. entire room is coughing.
missmagwumps celia14153
Posted
Very useful to know - thanks you Celia...x
Twopies celia14153
Posted
nurse practitioner wanted me to go up to 20 for 5 days snd then 10 for next 5 days--i will just go to 10 for a few days and see if i feel a little better. thanks for sharing.
lynda62707 Twopies
Posted
hi Twopies.....my daughter had bronchitis a couple months ago, and they actually put her on 20mg.....she'd never taken it before!
just make sure it's not pneumonia which is what happened to me!
good luck
Twopies lynda62707
Posted
thank you! nope, not pneumonia (they checked) but i feel rotten. they have me 20 mg too! said to take it for 5 days, then cut in half for 5 days. but im just gonna do 10 mg for 5 days--dont want to go back to my starting dose. also i have a burst ear drum, feel pretty rough. got antibiotics, ear drops, and prednisone scripts.
lynda62707 Twopies
Posted
I'm so sorry Twopies that you feel so crappy! if it's any consolation, my daughter felt just as bad. she did take the whole 20mg (for I think, 10da?)
it helped tremendously. btw.....her's never turned into pneumonia😁
feel better soon!
EileenH Twopies
Posted
Don't look at it as your starting dose - it is a separate thing, being used for the bronchitis to reduce the inflammation quickly while the abx do their job. They would do just the same for someone not on pred - and you DO need that higher dose for a few days at least.
Twopies EileenH
Posted
Yes, thanks. but...at 20 mg pred, i didnt sleep at all, i was constipated beyond belief, the blood in my urine was at 25-30 level, i ended up in ER because i couldnt breathe, etc., thats why i dont want to do 20 again--i figured that for me, 10 will do the trick. maybe if im not better in a couple days, i will do the 20?
EileenH Twopies
Posted
Fair enough.
celia14153 Twopies
Posted
You could split the difference and go for 15mgs..
Twopies celia14153
Posted
Hey, thanks! If i dont feel better by in a couple days, i just might. im not coughing quite as much today although my draining ear is still a mess. cant see ear doc till late next week at the earliest. will take 3rd antibiotic tonight so hoping to feel better soon.