Bronchiectasis and sputum (2)

[tubelloabril]

Hi you all. How many of you with bronchiectasis are not colonized with any bug, don't have any chronic bug that remains dormant and still have yellowish or pale yellow (not transparent) sputum as your normal? I mean out of any exacerbation, being Ok.

[Hidden]

Having bronchiectasis means that in many people the damaged parts of the lungs and the airways fill with mucus every day. If we are doing well and are very lucky there may be no bugs in there. There are however ‘flora’ which naturally live in the fluids of the body and can colour it. My consultant of twenty years told me this back in the 1980s. Apart from making sure that the mucus is expelled every day so that no bacteria have a party it doesn’t need treatment if you feel well. It is one of the things that some of us just have to live with.

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

Thanks littlepom. I had thick green sputum but felt perfectly well. Had a culture which showed staphilococcus aureus so went on Bactrim 18 days. Didnt work as the sputum cultured showed it again. Now on ciprofloxacin in my 15th day, sputum has changed from thick green to yellowish but hasnt dissapeared completely so I dont know if its normal or if it means that cipro hasnt work. Is the first time since diagnosed 4 years ago that i have to deal with this.

[Hidden in reply to tubelloabril]

It is a game. Even after 65 years. My sputum is always green and always shows pseudomonus. As long as I feel well and can manage the amount I don’t throw endless abs at it. They drain my body, interrupt my life and make me feel horrible. When I feel horrible and overwhelmed by it I take to the abs. Only you can decide when you need an ab and what is your norm. Bronch also changes over the years and we all feel it differently. That is why it is a beggar to treat. I hope that you figure out how you are right now

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

Yes I wonder what happens in my lungs having this bacteria without taking antibiotic, though it doesnt give me any other symptoms but thick green sputum... it is Active and worsening my bronchiectasis I guess...?! This is what worries me

[Hidden in reply to tubelloabril]

Well this is our balancing act. I think that somebody else also said that the sign of how active bronch is can better be judged by how you feel and the bugs which show up on the lab plate than by the colour. We cannot judge ourselves by normal people who only produce any mucus at all or with colour when they are ill or people with copd whose exacerbations are different to ours. My best advice to you is to empty your lungs religiously every day to get the bugs out of your lungs and to stop them breeding down there.

[tubelloabril in reply to Hidden]

But thats what worries... in my case staph aureus shows up at the lab and it only causes me thick green sputum. If i dont treat it as it doesnt cause any other symptoms than sputum, what happens in my lungs with the bug? Is it worsening my bronchiectasis? Same in your case with pseudomona...

[Hidden in reply to tubelloabril]

Well I have been pretty stable since I was colonised in 1986 but I do make sure that it doesn’t stay down there. I have had 3 lots of IV in total. Will probably have to have more now if all goes pear shaped because cipro doesn’t work too well now. If you are concerned about the staph aurus being there get in touch with your bronch consultant and see what they suggest. Worrying is only going to make it worse.

[Izb1]

Hi tubelloabril, I have asked the consultant why my nasal mucus is yellow but my chest is grey, he didnt know why, but is still trying to find out what my problem is, am now waiting to see the ent department to check my sinus's. Although my blood test didnt show any allergies I am now convinced this is what I am suffering with. I have read in previous posts that it is normal for some people to have this colour mucus. I think if you feel ok then it could be normal. Irene x

[tubelloabril in reply to Izb1]

Hi! Have you had your greish chest sputum cultured? Do you have a bug colonized in your lungs? A bug that remains dormant

[Izb1 in reply to tubelloabril]

I had a sputum sample tested but they just said it was ok. I never really get the details from my doctor so dont know.

[Bella395]

I have come to the conclusion that with bronchiectasis sputum colour is not helpful in diagnosing infection. Symptoms, and culture of sputum is the more useful.

[Hidden in reply to Bella395]

So true Bella

[tubelloabril in reply to Bella395]

Bello Bella. I had staph aureus cultured in my sputum but i dont have any other symptoms but Thick green sputum. I felt perfectly healthy but it was in the sputum. Taking lots of abs but sputum is still there though yellowish. I really dont know what to do

[Alfiebax2]

Hi I went into The Royal Brompton Hospital in Feb to see whether my lungs were suitable for an op ( they were and I have my op in September) Having the tests they found I have Klebsiella in my lungs .Before I have the op I have to take heavy antibiotics for two weeks .They aren't sure if it is not colonised in my lung .I don't have any symptoms to speak of other than stage 3 or maybe 4 emphysema.They just want to be sure before surgery .love Babs xxx

[tubelloabril in reply to Alfiebax2]

Good luck Babs!!

[carolg1 in reply to Alfiebax2]

Hi babs can I ask what tests they did at the Royal Brompton to see what bugs you had in your lungs please , I’m having trouble withe some mucus in particular bottom of one lung I know it has scarring there but why always the same side and spot where I feel it is accumulated, I feel like I’m chipping at a small boulder getting nowhere except worn out. Xx thanks

[Alfiebax2 in reply to carolg1]

Hi ,the test I had done were linked to a computer .The last was I had a bronchoscopy and they washed out my lungs and took a specimen to the lab and they came up with this Klebsiella .As I said I had no symptoms and wasn't aware til they told me .They did say it could be colonised in my lung and although it lives there and probably has for a number of years it doesn't seem to cause me any problems although saying that I have had pneumonia half a dozen times and I believe that is what the Klebsiella bug does it causes pneumonia.This is why I have to take the antibiotics for two weeks prior to my op which is invasive .Sorry I can't be of more help to you .

I have a constant pain Inthe back of my right lung near my shoulder blade but this isn't the lung being operated on as this one has a hole in it , I think that's why they are taking this precautionary attitude because of the hole .I hope you get someone that can really answer your question as I know from experience how frustrating that is .I wish you luck .

Love Babs ❤️❤️❤️ xxx

[carolg1 in reply to Alfiebax2]

Thanks babs x keep well and good luck with the op x

[Alfiebax2 in reply to carolg1]

Same to you my lovely .Keep well and thanks for your good wishes . September 10 th can't come soon enough .xxxx love Babs ❤️

[Alfiebax2]

Thank you xx

[Sjf129903]

I've been coughing up yellowish since last October when I got bronchitis nothing eles no fever or such just yellowish mucus

[tubelloabril in reply to Sjf129903]

Have you had it cultured? Im the same. No other symptoms but sputum yellow or green. Staph aureus cultured

[Sjf129903 in reply to tubelloabril]

Yes they sent it to the infectious disease center in a petry dish and it wouldn't grow they still think some radom form of non contagious tb

[tubelloabril in reply to Sjf129903]

Dont you have cough?

[Sjf129903 in reply to tubelloabril]

All the time

[Beth1949]

I don't have a bug, but as with you, I usually cough up light yellow mucus. I get a lot of post sinus drainage which doesn't help. For me, the light yellow is normal.

[tubelloabril in reply to Beth1949]

Hi Beth! Thanks, I do also have post nasal drainage... by the way, what colour is your drainage?

[Beth1949 in reply to tubelloabril]

It's usually light to medium yellow.

I heard or read along time ago, that sinus infections are very hard to clear up. That a lot of people have a low grade sinus infection but don't know or show very little signs of it. Some people thinks is just allergies.

I have drainage year around and sometimes it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, so I feel like I've had a low grade infection for years. It's trying to convince a doctor that's an issue.

I have noticed that over the years (I'm 69) that my sense of taste and smell have decreased as well.

Beth