Please say someone feels like I do....

Hi everyone, I'm asthmatic and always have been I seemed to grow out of it as a teen and since having my little boy two years ago it has come back.

I was admitted to hospital in Feb 2013 for an exacerbation of asthma and to be honest never been 100% well since. In June I was re admitted for hospital but my blood results and x-ray had completely new results and I was diagnosed with ''eosinphilic pneumonia'' I was very poorly and on a very high dose of prednisolone and antibiotics and I am still on prednisolone now and have been since 1st June 13.

I suffer from regular chest infections and I get put on number of antibiotics and they never seem to do anything. My main symptoms are coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. I feel like it is controlling my life I have a little boy and some days I'm just not well enough to look after him and it breaks my heart.

Surely it shouldn't be like this... I have recently started a new med called azathioprine and I'm slowly weaning off my steroids. Been on the azathioprine only a 5 weeks and I'm on my second chest infection as the new drug is an immunosuppressant.

Just feel really fed up. I'm on fostair inhaler and just a blue reliever inhaler.

Please really looking for someone to talk too......

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Hi there, I understand your frustration and remember being in a similar situation after getting recurrent pneumonia over several months. It's upsetting and frustrating when you feel your health is out of your control.

Do they think the EP is chronic, or a one off, acute episode? EP usually responds really well to steroids, so if you are still really struggling, perhaps you need to ask them to review you. Did they check you for other things which can mimic EP like aspergillosis?

Have they considered a high resolution CT scan? This can find out reasons for your infections - other lung conditions can cause problems with repeated infection, for example bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis occurs due to scarring from infection, which leads to an ideal situation for more infection and then more scarring. Have they sent off sputum samples for a culture and sensitivity, to ensure they are treating the infection with the correct antibiotic? Have you had oral or IV antibiotics? Do you see a respiratory consultant? I'm assuming so if they have started you on Imuran.

When are you being reviewed again... Have you been clear with them about how pants you are feeling?

Sorry you're having such a horrid time of it, I hope that they can improve things for you.

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Thank you for getting back in touch with me,

Yes I'm under Dr Baugh, I see him roughly every 4-5 weeks, not due to see him for another 3 weeks but rung hospital today and hopefully seeing him friday,no I don't think I'm been clear enough on how I am feeling so on friday my husband is going to come with me and no doubt I'll just burst into tears cos I feel at breaking point as been like this for sooo long...

I have no idea if the thinks the EP is chronic or not, my eosinphil levels have been normal since September time. Yes I have had a CT scan but showing normal with little shadowing. Compared to the x-ray and CT scan I had in June when I first when into hospital the change is huge as in how much it has improved which is good but I don't feel right and my health isn't normal but my consultant seems to think I've come a long way. I've had lots of diff types of antibiotics, I had IV when I was in hosp. Nebulisers make a difference I have had to go into casualty on few occasions for them.

Just feel like ruling my life.