Why is my phlegm still yellow/green?!

[asthmaticclimber]

Hi,

Had loads of chest infections in the past 2 years. Particularly over Christmas I had a nasty one meaning I needed amoxicillin and a couple courses of Clarithromycin.

Seemed to be a bit better for a few weeks still pretty phlegmy but a better colour. In the last few days my phlegm is thick, sticky and yellow. I don’t think I’m running a fever, maybe a little on and off, I’m really exhausted though and coughing.

Not sure whether it’s another infection or just something else. Will try get an appointment with my GP or maybe an asthma nurse at the surgery, but getting hold of appointments is pretty hard at my university GP surgery.

Any advice on the eternal chest infection that seems to want to live in my lungs 😂

[AsthmaSufferer]

You may have "walking Pneumonia," and so it's definitely important to see your GP/Nurse as soon as possible. I suffered all last winter with constant coughing up of phlegm and the doctor prescribed a stronger 5-day antibiotic for me - amoxicillin may not have been strong enough for walking pneumonia. Plus, I was then placed on an inhaler (Breo) and also the generic brand of Singulair.

However, your asthma may not be as bad as mine, and you might only need to be placed on a non-steroid inhaler. Breo works well for my condition, but it is a stronger-type steroid inhaler. If I use my inhaler faithfully each day, take Singulair at night, and cover my mouth in cold weather, I seem to be able to maintain an okay lifestyle. Note: I can also use a albuterol inhaler every 4 hours if breathing becomes tight, if necessary. It seems like I'm breathing through a thin cloth diaper, and the air is going in but not being absorbed into my body. A strange feeling. Needless, to say, I now have empathy for all asthma sufferers, as I know what it's like now.

Also, I must keep the heat in my home at 69 or 70 degrees - something about breathing in cooler air sets off an allergic reaction which then causes the coughing and phlegm (can't even use a fan in winter (if breathing is tight), as it stirs up cooler air in house).

In addition, my niece, who also suffers from weather-related asthma, advised to use an over-the-counter allergy medication during the spring and fall, which will minimize any outdoors allergic reactions. Best of luck to you and hope you can get into your doctor right away.

[AsthmaSufferer in reply to AsthmaSufferer]

Just wanted to add a note to the above - it took around 6 months for me to find a doctor who diagnosed me with asthma. I did not have a regular doctor (as had recently moved) and so it took a long time (scheduling appointments, etc.). I finally saw a second Pulmonary Doctor who told me that I had asthma. Before that, I was nearly dead - coughing all the time, on the couch, could not even sweep the floor without my heart beating too fast and gasping for breath. Not to mention choking on phlegm all night long for 6 months. Note: I had to seek a second doctor as the first lung doctor I went to was not a good one. I always recommend to get second opinions (if possible) where your health is concerned.

[asthmaticclimber in reply to AsthmaSufferer]

That’s for the above advice. I have had Clarithromycin aswell as amoxicillin which is much stronger for 7 days. Also already have fostair on a MART regime as spiriva respimat which is similar to the Breo I believe. Keeping heating higher is a good idea however I am in a student house and so money spent on heating is a big topic.

[twinkly29]

Not all coloured mucous means there's an infection. Yellow is often thought to be viral anyway rather than bacterial and while green can indicate infection, it can also be totally normal in asthma. So by all means get checked out, perhaps ask if it would be useful to provide samples to send off, but it may be nothing to worry about.

[Poobah]

Hi apink. I had a similar run of chest infections leaving my lungs clogged with phlegm on a permanent basis. Eventually my asthma consultant prescribed azithromycin for 4 months. That was almost two years ago and I've been clear ever since.

If you can, do a bullet point list of chest infections with approx dates and associated antibiotic courses taken. If you can visually demonstrate to your Dr that these short term antibiotic interventions aren't working then the obvious option will be long term antibiotics. It's a growing method for tackling asthma with persistent phlegm.

NB that the tests I had didn't show any infection but apparently this is often the case. Other poor results from respiratory tests clinched the deal.

I believe this treatment was successfully developed in Japan and Australia picked it up and now Europe is catching up.

Good luck.

[Philgn]

Did you smoke, are you elderly, if so you could have transitioned to COPD,

[asthmaticclimber in reply to Philgn]

I’m only 20 so unlikely COPD and I don’t smoke