Hi all

[Elpojohn]

I,m Ken, 61 year old and have COPD ,gave up smoking 10 years ago.

Recently I,ve been feeling worse, got a chest infection , taken antibiotics for 4 weeks now.

still not cured .

[HungryHufflepuff]

Hello Ken and welcome. I hope you start to feel better soon 🤞

[UHelga]

Hi elpojohn and welcome. It might be worth asking your doctor to test your sputum. Sometimes these bugs hang around and unless we’re on the right antibiotic we don’t get better. I had back to back infections in the summer and it took a long time to clear things. Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden]

Welcome Ken. You usually have to cough-up all the dead phlegm out before you start feeling much better. There's lots of advice on how to do that on here.

[Elpojohn]

Thank you all so much for your comments and advice , I was not expecting any.

I was desperate , I felt unwell and now feel I,m not alone , and I can get better too.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Elpojohn]

This community is so supportive. Before I found it by chance a few months ago I too felt alone and afraid and had no idea what was going on. There's just so much friendship here and practical advice too, as well as lots of laughs, so I hope you'll find plenty to help you too 👍

[Hidden]

I’ve noticed with my last two chest infections it’s taken two rounds of antibiotics.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

In my experience if the phlegm turns grey or white then the antibiotics have done their job and taking more can create a problem for yourself. Especially if you are comparatively young and likely to be relying on them for some time in the future.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I’m 57 and hava alpha one antitrypsin genotype ZZ. I can tell I’m going downhill much more rapidly the past year. I was diagnosed ten yrs ago. Not knowing I’d had this genetic disease from birth I was around smokers from day one. Then I smoked for awhile. I drank drugged etc. not very wise on my part. My father was an alcoholic and it’s just the environment I grew up in. I have emphysema, R.A., osteoporosis due to arthritis and steroids. No spleen and a severely destroyed leg from motorcycle accidents. Blew a disk in my lower back not long ago and had surgery. I’m on ten different meds. One is a chemo drug. So while the antibiotics may have adverse effects I’m not going to come through this. So I’m just trying to keep chest infections at bay. And stay as comfortable as I can.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I didn’t say the antibiotics had any adverse effects, quite the reverse. They become less effective in time. Sorry, I thought I was replying to the original poster, Elpojohn , who is asking for advice.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My way of writing is often taken wrong. Not intended to be. Just giving some background on my condition and how I handle it. I’m brutally real about my disease is all.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The mistake was mine, I was reading one posting whilst answering another. I forget to check the 'reply to *****' bit. I'm glad I did though now because you have told the group more about yourself which is what this group is all about. We can't help each other if we know nowt about them. You've had a rough time of it, I wish you well.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

A lot brought on by myself. My wife straightened me up shortly after our marriage many years ago. She wasn’t going to put up with it. Hahaha

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

What is it they say? "Behind every good man, there's an even better woman"? 😅

[Dilly2]

Hi some infections with COPD take along time to clear you probably need more antibiotics. Hope you start feeling better soon

[Elpojohn]

I am so glad and grateful that I found you guys here, I was so afraid , especially at nights.

I feel better standing than lying in bed.

Phlegm is white now.

I feel that I can now cope better thanks to you here.