Concerned but not worried

[Jollj]

Evening all new member here, I was upgraded to moderate cop d last week, I am 59 yrs and never smoked but worked in some fairly dusty/Smokey places, cotton mills and rubber industry. I have used 3 lots of rescue meds since beginning of December and have started with same symptoms again, is it usual to take several lots of rescue meds before things clear up, I am also planning a visit to my doctors for advice. I have seen lots of useful advice on here already so thought I would give it a try.

Thanks for any help

[Caspiana]

Hello Jollj .

A very warm welcome to you. 😊 I notice many people need to take several lots of antibiotics before getting better. I suppose it depends on the individual and the severity of the infection. However, I think seeing your doctor just to check in and make sure all is well may be a good idea. Please do take it easy and I hope it clears up very soon.

Best wishes.

Cas xx 🌻

[Jollj in reply to Caspiana]

Thanks for the reply look forward to hearing more from you

[mauschen]

Welcome Jollj , sorry to hear that your lung disease is progressing and that you have had a bit of a rough time recently.

. Although I have moderate obstructive and restrictive lung disease, I do not have COPD. Someone with COPD will be along soon to give you more specific information.

However as a non-smoker, I have been misdiagnosed several times including being given the diagnosis of COPD which a high resolution lung scan subsequently ruled out. Therefore, I wanted to ask whether or not you are being treated by a respiratory consultant/specialist or by your local doctor? With your work history, I don’t doubt your diagnosis, I am just curious.

[Jollj in reply to mauschen]

Hi maiden your comments are very intetesting, I was diagnosed by the practice nurse and then had to see a locom doctor who disputed the diagnosis,however 2 further practice GPS have backed the nurse and quoted my spirometry results.

[Hidden in reply to Jollj]

Hi Jollj. I have Bronchiectasis, but my practice nurse insisted I had COPD. My consultant soon told her straight, I definitely DO NOT have COPD, but most practice nurses don't know anything about Bronchiectasis although they are very well trained in COPD. You should try and get a referral to a chest consultant and get a CT-scan to be absolutely certain you get the correct diagnosis.

[Jollj in reply to Hidden]

Hi poems,thanks for your reply,I am due back at my nurse for further cytometry test in 6 weeks after she prescribed a spirits respima t inhaler so I will ask the question,the nurse seems to take on an awful lot of tasks the doctors used to carry out,thanks again for your advice

[barbs47]

Hi jollj and welcome to our forum. I was wondering when you say you have used 3 lots of Rescue meds. Does this mean you have had 3 lots of the same antibiotics.? If my Rescue meds don’t work first time then my doctor will change my antibiotics. During one severe exacerbation I had 3 different antibiotics before we could get it cleared up. I would definitely get your doctors advice. Barbs x

[Jollj in reply to barbs47]

Sorry replied to you in the wrong post lol.

[Shancock]

Yes a I think sometimes you need longer course of abs and also sometimes different ones, I think it's quite complicated. What you tend to find is if things don't clear up the dr should carry out a sputum test to see what's in there and try match you with the right antibiotic. That usually helps a great deal. Get to your dr ask about that and rest drink tons of fluids and take vitamin C

[Jollj in reply to Shancock]

Shancock,thanks too for your comments on all the time I have been diagnosed COPD and taken ANd I have never had a sputum test that's with 3 different GPS and 2 practise nurses, is it usual for this test.

[Shancock in reply to Jollj]

Sputum tests are good to detect what abs will help with the infection, some Drs seem to be very proactive then some don't. But if things don't clear up ask them to do it, lots of people on this site have them done when things get bad. It's a good point to remember if you have problems in the future.

[Jollj in reply to Shancock]

Thanks again for the advice, I have just returned from my GP, again no sputum test but changed my ABs to doxycycline,if they don't work he wants me to go for a chest X-Ray so maybe I will ask about the sputum test then, thanks again

[Jollj]

Hi barbs thanks for your advice,just got back from open docs surgery and yes he have me different ABs,thanks again

Holly xx

[megshafer]

Welcome Jollj....you will enjoy the very kind and helpful people here.

Meg

[Jollj in reply to megshafer]

Morning meg,thank you for your reply,th are absolutely correct, I have already received and acted on some of the advice already given, I know where to come with any further queries,thanks again