sputum test

[jimmyw123]

my doctor took a sputum sample on friday, my resp nurse says she will see the result about wednesday, then phone me.

what can they tell from a sputum sample?

[nannyb]

Hi Jimmy, They can tell from the test if you have an infection. I had a sputum test over a week ago, because the antibiotics and steroids I had been taking, had not done a lot for me. The test came back, and I had influenza, so more antibiotics and steroids, I have got to take another sputum test in this week to make sure it was clear. Hope you are all clear Nannyb xx

[alanjudy]

The can tell what nasties are lurking there to try and use the best antibiotics. I have to take a sputum sample in tomorrow as well. They often want several samples to test for different things and some can take several weeks to come back.

Let us know how you get on.

Judith

[jimmyw123 in reply to alanjudy]

thanks alanjudy,, yes i will let you know how i get on, this is the first sputum sample i have been asked to give in a good while. jw x

[cofdrop-UK]

The microbiologists will culture your sputum sample to see what bug if any it grows. Once they have identified what type of bacteria you are growing, they will then treat it in a petri dish with a few different antibiotics and from this they can tell what antibiotic the bacteria you are growing is sensitive to and prescribe the appropriate abs for you.

love cx

[jimmyw123 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

hi cofdrop, thanks for your post,, yes i can now understand, i have been given amoxi. for best part of a year, with repeated infections, ill see what these results are, then if there is still signs of infection, it maybe that a different antibiotic might be better for me, ,, i will see what this nurse says tomorrow, or poss thurs. but i will let you know,,, hope things are well with you,,best regards jw x

[jimmyw123]

hi nannyb, thanks for your answer, i am just getting over an infection, finished steroids antibiotics week past last monday, on friday past got the flu jab and pnumonia jab,

i just wonder, as you say, has this infection completely cleared up, as my breathing has been dodgy, to say the least,, thanks nanny jw x

[123podmore]

yes

[frank65]

an awful lot

[jimmyw123]

result form sputum test not available yet.[said i would let you know]

breathing bad during last night,

my home help caught me outside 10.30am this morning gasping for air , ,she phoned resp nurse, who told her to phone doc. [said she would phone back in two hours] home help then phoned doc. the doctor [not my usual one] called about 12ish, was going to call ambulance right away,but it had settled by then slightly , doc heard "crackles", oxygen level 92 by then, [84 during night]

i asked her if i could get any treatment without going to hospital, she then agreed, put me back on steroids, back on antibiotics [doxycillan] took another sputum sample,,, then told me if it got any worse phone ambulance,....resp nurse phoned back , said the same

ill see how i get on tonight,, jw

[grandadbrian]

Take care Jimmy, I can understand your reluctance to go to hospital but sometimes its for the best mate, think about it eh. Best Regards: Brian

[jimmyw123 in reply to grandadbrian]

thanks very much for your understanding brian, i ha ve been on 8 steroids for the third day now, 2 doxy, first day one each day, i take in what you said, have my bag packed in case of emerengey, i wont hesitate to phone ambulance, but managed up to now, not really feeling a great deal better,[lousy really] bad breathing this morning, but better as the day goes on, resp nurse phoned me today, asked me oxygen levels etc, told me the same, phone up if any worse.no results of sputum samples yet, [i really dont know if i have did the right thing or not, but just hoping i improve a wee bitty more] its a horrible thing this copd, knocks the guts out you, i hope your feeling ok brian,,, best regards buddy,,, jimmy w

[grandadbrian]

I understand ok Jimmy its an awful feeling when gasping for breath. Do you have a Nebuliser? I bought myself one and found its a great help during bad spells. You can get them provided in some cases but even if you buy your own you need your GPs blessing in order to obtain the medication to use with it. Get well and take care - have a wee dram on me pal

!!! Regards: Brian

[jimmyw123 in reply to grandadbrian]

hi brian, i can see your a decent and very understanding lad, [like most on the forum]

yes i have a nebuliser, it was supplied by the hospital, it helps a lot, but im using it quite a bit now, i am just a wee bit on the low side yet ,,,but i think if i get another day over my belt,i think ill feel better, as im very slightly better now,,,, thanks for the we dram, bri. all the very best,, and a well meant thanks jw