Newbie

[Snazzy03]

Hi everyone I'm new on here I live in the Lake District and I suffer from COPD I'm on my 5th chest infection just can't seem to get shot of them my breathing is rubbish at the moment just can't seem to get out lately any tips on how I can get going please snazzy xx

[Nottobad]

Hi Snazzy welcome to the group. You are from my fav place in England. I was dx in 2006. Sorry you are having so many chest in fections. Have you handed in a sputum sample. Do you see a consultant at the hospital. The people in this group are very helpful. Take care. X

[Snazzy03 in reply to Nottobad]

Hi Nottobad yes I've given in my sample it's come back I need to take my emergency antibiotics doxycycline and yes I'm under a consultant at the hospital he's very good.....I've read a few posts and everyone seems very friendly,I've been trying to put a photo on like other people have but can't figure it out lol xx

[Nottobad in reply to Snazzy03]

Hi sorry I can't help you with putting photos up. I am sure someone else will be able to help you with that. I am glad that you see a consultant a few on this site never see one. Have you been to pulmanory rehab. Take care x

[Snazzy03 in reply to Nottobad]

I was supposed to go to it in March but haven't really been well enough to attend yet,thanks again piggi xx

[diesel12]

have you been given steroids to help with your breathing? I have to taken them when I get short of breath (wheezing) If not, have a word with your doctor as they may help

[Snazzy03 in reply to diesel12]

Hi diesel12 yes I have taken my prednisone I have emergency ones nothing at the moment seems to be working unless I get that gunk off my chest then I can breathe a little better....lately I've just been walking hardly 10 metres and I'm gasping I'm on my 3rd day of 7 days of doxycycline so hopefully fingers crossed xx

[pab51 in reply to Snazzy03]

Hope you feel better soon xx

[etch45]

Hi Snazzy03

You really have had a rough ride, five chest infections !!! Have they been quite close together?

I think I would be getting back to the Doctors and ask for different medication,have you had a recent chest X-ray?

Are you due to see anyone at the hospital soon? Do you see the respiratory nurses? Gosh I seem to be asking more questions than enough....lol😀

I have just come through a bad time and the nurses were and still are brilliant. If you can try and do a little excercise each day, hard at first but it is beneficial for our lungs.i know I haven't been as much of a help as you would want, but food for thought.😀

Take great care of your self and keep in touch.

Sheila. aka etch45 Xxx

[Snazzy03 in reply to etch45]

Hi etch45 yes they only seem to clear for a few days and then it's back again I've tried other antibiotics but to no avail yet when then take me into hospital they put you on intravenous ones and its cleared in a few days but no more hospital for me I've had enough of it last year,just had a chest X-Ray and a scan chest clear as well as it can be apart from lots of scarring my consultant said......I see a lovely respiratory nurse from Carlisle but she's discharged me from her rounds now as I got much better but maybe should give her a ring to be put back on her list for visiting.i go back to see my consultant in October it's just once every 6 months now as there's nothing more they can do,last time I saw him he said with the pneumonia giving me heart failure I wouldn't be recommended for a lung transplant as I wouldn't manage the operation.i so much would just like to walk slowly to the park with the grandchildren it's only 200 yards away but it's all uphill coming back and I just wouldn't make it I'd have to crawl back lol xx

[Caspiana]

Hello Snazzy. Welcome. So glad you're here but not the reason you are. I'm just getting over a dreadful infection so I quite understand. Please do come here often. This place is an amazing place to share and get support and give it. Take care. xx 🌷

[Snazzy03]

Hi Caspiana thank you so much for welcoming me I do read the posts and everyone seems so friendly on here....yes I understand what you mean it will be lovely to be able to come here often as at the moment I'm housebound with my breathing being lousy because I panic so much when I'm really gasping for breath hope to talk soon xx🌹🌹

[velvet55]

Hello Snazzy

Welcome and nice to meet you.

You are going to be very weak after 5 chest infections, so you have to work on gently getting your strength back up, and this will take time.

Don't be to hard on yourself...do what you can, when you can, then rest....Eat a healthy diet, see you GP about help clearing your gunk...l take a mucus thinning drug every day which helps me, it works for some but not others.

Good luck

xx

[katieoxo60]

Hi Snazzy, welcome to the site. Sorry to hear you are not so well, sounds like your resistance is low. Steroids are good as already suggested if you can't clear up infections. A short concentrated course might help. Glad you have a Consultant many of us don't. You could try talking to the BLF help line, there may be a breathe easy group near you, to help you get out. Hope to chat some more soon best wishes for a speedy recovery from your infections.xx

[Nottobad]

Hi snazzy this happend to me two years ago I was getting a infection. Every time I stopped taking steroids and antibiotics. I have been seeing the consultant for a While now and they found out after having a ct scan that I have a small showing of bronchiectasis and also the part of my immune system that fights infections is low so I am being referred to a immunologist to find out why. But it seams to have rectified it self as I have not had to take steroids or antibiotics for at least three months although I am still get breathless when walking. They also changed my inhalers. To Bertasis Genuair and relvar Ellipta. And my breathing is the best it has been in years.

[Coggy16]

Hi

I had a really bad run of chest infections. This always comes from colds with having twins they bring a lot home. I know Anti Biotics kill all the good flora in your stomach and your immune system takes a kicking.

I started using a probiotic to improve my gut flora. I also started adjusting my diet and dropping out sugar. The probiotics did this I did not realise how much candida was there and sugar feeds it. The sugar cravings started to fade. A lot of anti Biotics builds candida in your gut which is not good have a read on that it will help you

I also take vitamins now. Vitamin C. Vitamin B Complex. A multi vitamin of magnesium, calcium and Vitamin D I have also added omega 3 caps. This is a lot of change but I had enough of the chest infections. There is also a supplement I have started called N--Acetylcysteine which seems to be working well I don't have as much mucus.

I am starting to feel better. Even if I have to take anti Biotics I continue on the above.

Hope this may help.

[Nottobad in reply to Coggy16]

Hi I couldn't take all those suplaments. Due to the medication I have to take. I am waiting to see a immunologist to see why my immune system is so low. I also have psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. Which are autoimmune disorders. And they are caused by an overactive immune system. Which I don't understand. I also eat plenty of fruit, veg and fish. So I don't need to take suplaments. I am happy that they work for you.

[Polly63]

Hi I know I had similar problem. The consultant prescribed a preventative anti biotic I take one on a Monday Wednesday and Friday. It does seem to help me the name is Azithrocymen I think. Good luck. Also a high pollen count affects my breathing try a non drowsy cheap anti histamine it helps me

[onamission]

Hi Snazzy welcome to the site.

I had a year where I had infection after infection like other members have said its worth taking in a sputum sample I found in the past sometimes you take you emergency pack but often you need more than one course of ab abs to clear the infection