Chest infection with orange phlem?

[MissNyxiie]

Hi, bit of a long post. I rang my asthma team on 17th December as I was coughing up thick green, temp, coughing etc. Had infections consistently for about 3 years now, definitely know what they feel like. They said see my gp because they cant see me, and even delayed all my appointments for the year. Saw my gp and they gave me amoxicillin. I currently take Doxycycline daily. On the 18th I ended up at a&e as I felt very rough, clear xray and had a nebuliser and steroids for 5 days. By the 24th I felt better and wasnt coughing up green anymore just a slightly tight chest on and off.

Roll on the 28th, I woke up feeling very rough, migraine, saw throat, earache and coughing. I was also coughing up very thick orange phlem. I spoke to a nurse at my surgery who always passes me off. She told me to go to a&e to get checked. So I did, I waited 7 and a half hours, just had bloods and 2 ekg's as I was bit tachycardic. When I eventually saw a doctor she ignored everything I said and told me my infection markers were up, but my chest sounds clear and refused to do anything else. She said I should only come back if my lips turn blue or I cant talk in full sentences. But I was sat down for the best part of 7 and half hours! It was a short walk to the room and I couldnt talk for a few minutes as I couldn't breathe, which she ignored. I told her about the tightness, using my blue inhaler well over 10 to 15 puffs a day and the orange phlem and she totally ignored everything I said and said Ive had antibiotics and they will have cleared it all. Yet Ive had infections before that have needed different antibiotics.

I feel so down, I am going to ring my asthma clinic Tuesday when they open but dont expect much from them. Am I right to be worried that I still feel quite ill, using my inhaler alot and the orange phlem?

[MMBJI]

I am sorry that you are having such a tough time.

I have no experience of orange phlegm, but it doesn't sound healthy, I would be concerned if I had it.

I can only empathise. Medical professionals seem hard to please, some tell me off for leaving it so late to ask for help, others tell me there is nothing much wrong (that they can measure, regardless of how I feel.)

I have had very variable experiences with the same symptoms. Some Dr's understand, some don't. It is so hard to fight your own corner when you feel so poorly.

I let 111 make the decisions for me now. If I am not sure what to do, I call 111. A and E seem less likely to tell me off for going in if 111 advise me to attend.

I know it's hard but sometimes we have to persevere in seeking help, better a negative response from a grumpy Dr than leaving it too late.

I really hope you get the help that you need and improve soon.

[Poobah]

Sometimes we need more than a short course of antibiotics and Prednisolone. The magic words, "come back to me if you still have symptoms" isn't too difficult for doctors to say when prescribing treatment but often not said, leaving the patient adrift once the course of meds finish. I know they don't want to drum up unnecessary custom, but they should give clear advice to patients, and never assume that a patient with a long term condition knows what to do for the best.

When I do get a GP say, "don't hesitate to come back to me if..." it always reinforces my confidence in them (doesn't happen enough).

Definitely go back to your GP and seek further assesment and treatment, using the 111 service if necessary. If you're still unsure, give Asthma UK a call when they open after the holidays tomorrow.

[peege]

Gosh this is awful. Has anyone at any point suggested your giving a sputum test to be tested for the correct antibiotic to treat your particular bugs? Did they use stethoscope? There are different bugs, some can colonise the lungs and treated with intravenous abs when they flare up, others treated with at least two weeks of the correct oral ab - amoxicillin in my experience just won't do it.

You need proper GP support. Thank goodness you already take daily doxycycline.

Recently I did the E-Consult form on my surgery's website, the very mention of excessive use of ventolin flagged up & I received a call from a young thorough GP within two hours. I had to go in, he listened to my chest & arranged several blood tests. I do admit I slightly exaggerated my symptoms on the form to get help becauseI wasn't even gettingthroughtothepractice, was amazed to get a call back. My surgery seems to be using young locums who imo are kess jaded than regular GPs.

I sincerely hope you get help soon, pneumonia is always a risk with untreated lung infections.

[MissNyxiie in reply to peege]

Unfortunately my gp never gives much help when I say Im using a lot more blue inhaler. I do an econsult and lucky to get a doctor, mine actual gp doesnt think im even asthmatic even though im on the highest inhalers just because a few courses of steroids didnt help last year because it wad actually infections, but they are now. The nurse I got always palms you off to someone else and never actually helps, she denied issues I had through childhood that let to a lot of hospital visits to get things sorted. My infection markers always seem to be up but Ive had non stop infections for almost 3 years and they never seem to sort it. Sputum samples dont show infections and I dont wheeze so they act like im making up. Yet they can see my sputum sample and see proof im not lying. What do they think, I like taking steroids that make me feel very ill from side effects? Or all the side effects you get from different antibiotics which always upset my ibs? I just dont know what to do anymore.

[Tugun]

Hi,

Definitely go back to the doctor. It also may pay to have the orange phlegm sent to pathology. I know I always need Augmentin Duo now ( combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate or clavulanic acid, which may make it more effective against some types of infection). I also find that if I haven't fully overcome an infection, then doing too much or going out in the cold can bring it all back again.

If you are still coughing up mucus and your asthma is exacerbated, then you may still require further antibiotics. Can the asthma clinic give you further antibiotics? If not, definitely see a GP. The hospital doctor said your infection markers were up. That, and the fact you are coughing up phlegm, should have been enough to look further into giving you antibiotics - particularly if they helped in the first place.

[Hidden]

I had orange phlegm when I had pneumonia a few years ago, as a complication of having swine flu, followed by an asthma exacerbation. When I was admitted to hospital, the doctor told me orange phlegm was one of the signs of pneumonia.

I would ring 111 if you’re not getting anywhere with your asthma nurse or doctor. If you catch it early you can be treated with antibiotics at home. I tried ignoring it and ended up in hospital for a week and was really poorly. It took me quite a while to get over it, so please don’t ignore it.

I’m not a medical professional, so there may be other causes of orange phlegm. I hope you get some treatment and start to feel better soon.