Sputum Samples
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi all, I used to have regular sputum samples years ago and the Dr then would prescribe the correct antibiotic. Which was fine. I absolutely thought after years I could tell whether there was infection there or not. How wrong. I now have pseudomonas. Been on neb colomycin for 3 weeks and my sputum looks fine, but still harbours pseudomonas. Please please, if you have bronchiectisis have the sputum checked regularly. It is actually stated in NHS guidelines that patients like us should have this routinely and GPs dont do it. You wouldn't know if pseudomonas is present and it appears that the earlier you find it and start treating it then the better the outcome. Also GPs should give you 750mg for 14 days initially before waiting to see a specialist
3 likes, 29 replies
Operalyn cc17
Posted
However, touch wood, I am going through a really good patch at the moment and although the dear old pseudomonas is still there, it isn't giving me any grief - well not all the time anyway.
I go to the Brompton because I used to live in the south east and was referred there by my GP. I live in the Midlands now but I take the long train journey south twice a year because they are so good and I don't want to lose touch with them if I can help it. When it all becomes too much I guess I will have to do that but not before. I am lucky too in that we have a fabulous nurse practitioner at our practice who is up to date with anything to do with lungs and has helped me enormously in practical ways.
poemsgalore55 cc17
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jazzy80 cc17
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I too have had bronchiectasis since about 1952.. so used to living with it all my life..and have developed pseudomonas in my lungs.. I generally keep well..
I often find it hard to get information on this.. hence the reason I have joined this forum...
Can you also develop asthma as well?.
cc17 jazzy80
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supercough jazzy80
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supercough cc17
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I am told that in terms of PA, sputum cultures are not very helpful because usually the infection is located well down inside the lung and it's not easy to get sputum up from that depth. However, it is safe to say that once you have PA, it will NOT go away.
If you feel reasonably well and are up to attending the functions you mention, you should attend and postpone or review having the I/V treatment. Doctors, even specialists are panicking over PA and using what in my opinion is a hammer to crack a peanut. Sure having PA with bronch in awful but then so is languishing in some hospital away from your family and friends. These I/V treatments are done simply to keep the infection down, not cure it and if you are not profoundly ill I don;t really see the point of them.
Now this is simply my opinion and doubtless some of you will disagree with me but I really don't see the point of risking severe side-effects and further drug resistence when you can still get around and are functioning more or less normally. In my view, missing your son's wedding is a step too far for very little long term benefit
cc17
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ohara cc17
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So glad you didnt miss your sons wedding CC17, that would have been awful for you,,glad it all went well
supercough cc17
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Rodders12 cc17
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i go to the Brompton now but in all this time including the last bronchiatasís attack, coughing up phlegm, tired, red raw lungs etc for 4 months no sputum test has ever shown any thing but the occasional thrush? Has anyone else had a series of negative tests?
does pseudomonas always show up?
rod