Hello, I am currently taking amoxicillin for an exacerbation but as I am not improving I need to go back to my doctor. As I am on antibiotics is a sputum sample too late to be of use now?
Thank you for helping, the unpredictable nature of Bronchiectasis makes it so hard to manage.
Best wishes
Yes you can get it tested. If the bug is one that doesn’t react to amoxyll it will show up. Word of caution. Samples often come back clear when there is obviously something in there. Labs are not infallible. Maybe it is time to see your bronch treatment for an update on going treatment.
Thank you I am with asthma specialist but perhaps I would benefit from a bronchiectasis specialist instead.
I would say a bronchiectasis specialist as well. At my hospital there are a bronch and an asthma specialist who cooperate with each other and this really helps the patients and the specialists. They are such different specialisms.
Thank you for sharing your experience which is so helpful, I am seeing them soon so will ask about bronchiectasis specialist.
Meant to say see your bronch specialist.
I would say having a respiratory consultant with a special interest in cf/bronchiectasis is imperative.
Yes I would put in another sample. If the bugs are not sensitive to Amox then they should still be there. Make sure though that if you fill in your own MC&S for you put in the abs section that you are on day whatever of what dosage of Amox, or make sure the nurse who sends it off to mincrobiology puts it on.
cx
Can't add to the great advice above, exactly what I'd do. It often seems pointless putting these specs in, but if there's an unusual bug there you need to know & get on the right abs. I agree, bronch is a minefield, I hate the unpredictability, we just never know what's round the corner waiting to leap into damaged lungs. We're largely left to manage exacerbations ourselves anyway! I regularly find myself playing a guessing game, lying awake wondering what next to do. Getting speedy advice in a crisis is almost impossible, as most GPs know less than we do about it, respiratory nurses are only interested in copd & asthma, and consultants can't be contacted easily, so we're left to either medicate ourselves or risk a trip to A&E where we're exposed to other horrible bugs. That's where this forum is so valuable, at least we can ask each other! Sorry, didn't mean to rant.
I thought I was going bonkers trying to make some kind of plan without much help so it is very reassuring to hear you all have a similar experience. Seems like I will have to get better at being more forceful about what I need!
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