Another chest infection

[Lyn1955]

Hi everyone hope you are all well and keeping warm. I have yet another chest infection 7th one this year. Only this one does not want to leave me have had it for 4 weeks now antis and steroids not working . I feel as if I have a elephant on my chest and pain in upper back between shoulder blades .. Of to see doc in morning is there anything I should be asking him or is there anything I can do myself please . Getting desp now and very down with it all . I have stage 3 emphysema by the way . Thanks in advance

[hopetorun]

Have a nice relaxing bath to try and relax all your muscles. Are you proped up in bed at night. I hope the gp can help and you feel better soon.

[Maureenclayton]

You sound the same as me 7th chest infection this year plus six lots of steroids, sick of it all too, I'm just taking my medication through nebuliser which is the same as in my blue inhaler it gets to the parts quicker that's all, but I sleep with at least six pillows behind me on a night. I've had two consultants, one said bronchiectasis and the other chronic bronchitis, but also something else has just showed up on the CT scan that the second consultant wants to keep an eye on for yet a third CT scan in another three month, I've had two in the last two months already, I thought it wasn't good to keep having these scans anyway. It's getting to the point now I'm dreading bed time, this weight on my chest is just a horrible feeling all the time, and they just keep saying to try to get the mucus up, I'm at physio twice a week at one hospital now, and I'm also going to go to another hospital for to be shown how to get the mucus up. I would just love to lie down and have a good nights sleep, but the doctor won't give me any sleeping tablets either. The aerosure I bought has been a total waste of money as that does not work at all, I think maybe the breathing exercises works sometimes but not always. I really hope your doctor does something to help you cos it's just horrible every day, it really does get you down. Good luck and best wishes. Maureen x

[y_not in reply to Maureenclayton]

Hi Maureen, was going to suggest a flutter device but then saw your comment on aerosure ... no point then. What might help (does for me) is a is a vibrating massage tool used around the chest (usually back) cavity - makes me cough like mad after a few minutes but clears the gunk amazon.co.uk/Naipo-Handheld... - but I'm sure I didn't pay this much.

Also talk to the GP about Carbocisteine - since using this (2 x twice a day) I've seen quite an improvement ... worth asking the question.

Good luck & best wishes

[Maureenclayton in reply to y_not]

Thanks so much for your advise, I will try anything that seams to help others, you never know something might work for me. I had another terrible night last night sitting up wheezing in bed. By four o clock I was feeling so sick with using my inhaler so much I actually vomited and I did get about a couple of hours just dozing after that but I feel so bad this morning I don't think I'm going to make my physio appointment, hopefully I'll make Thursdays. Can't even manage to move on to my side without feeling I have an obstruction. Best wishes Maureen x

[Maureenclayton in reply to y_not]

Also I was going to ask you if you have tried this hypertonic solution a lot of people have mentioned about helping with getting mucus up? Or can we not get that here in England, cos I have noticed that certain meds are different from ours in America.

[Hidden in reply to Maureenclayton]

I use 7% hypertonic saline, prescribed by consultant. Your physio might be able to arrange it. Without it mucus clearance is impossible for me, it’s just too sticky & thick, a solid mass in my chest. You have to try it first under supervision of the physio at the hospital as it makes some people too wheezy, but most are ok with it. Carbocisteine did nothing for me but this helps a lot.