Hi Guys
Since this spell of warm weather started my mucus has been yellowish instead of white. Is this likely to be because of the pollution and or pollen or more likely to be the start of an exacerbation. I usually have greenish with an exacerbation so not really sure.
Should I just wait and see cos I really don't want to take my emergency pack if I don't need it?
Patsy 😏
Hi Patsyann I'm not sure about that one, maybe you could get in contact with your GP or Nurse. Let us know how you are doing and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx
Hi Patsy 
It does sound like the start of an exasberation, usually goes from white to yellow to green to brown, I don't know as you have not said but maybe you feel a bit breathless or tighter in chest with increased wheeze?.But do contact your resp nurse or doc to confirm, and do so asap dont let this get hold, hope you feel better soon x
Mines yellow sometimes goes a bit green but nothing to worry about mines been like this for years.
Speaking as a bronchiectasis sufferer, if I reached for the antibiotics every time my sputum discoloured a little bit on the cream/buff/light yellow side I would be classified as having had infections at least monthly. As it is I have had the real thing only once in the last 12 months.
I have two rules of thumb:
Don't react to one day's sputum sample. Wait and see what tomorrow brings
Don't react on the basis of sputum colour alone. I believe you have to have other 'flags of infection' before reacting with antibiotics and handing in a sputum sample
Maybe just one flag together with a colour change would flip that switch if it were a serious flag, such as high fever or significant chest pain that persists, but I'd require more than just a colour change plus one of say feeling off-colour, cold sweats or night sweats that dont come with fever, tiredness or more sputum volume than normal.
There is some support for this view in BTS guidelines for bronchiectasis sufferers, which counsels against overeacting to sputum colour. Trouble is it's difficult to lay down rules that will work for everyone everytime. You get to know yourself and how you react over time. Until you've acquired that self-confidence in reading your own body it's probably best to consult if you get a sputum colour change that does not revert to normal(ish) next day and you have another flag of infection that has also just emeged that worrys you.
Would be interested to hear what other suferers think of such an approach. I'm ok to receive brickbats if others with experience think this is too risky.
Santisuk.
Sound advice. I also have Bronchiectasis. I take Azithromycine three times a week to help stave off exacerbations, but if I get a colour change in my sputum I wait for something else to show itself, like tiredness or shortness of breath. It usually changes back within a couple of days so I try not to panic myself into going to the docs for ABs.
Just like me then, Wotnoair. I'm also on prophylactic azithromycin Mon/Wed/Fridays and as I outlined I don't jump straight for the rescue antibis without being sure it's an infection that's going to take off.
Even though I have secondary immunodeficiency I'm pretty sue I have some bodily capability of seeing off some stuff!
Could be infection but not necessarily so, could be just s build up of bacteria , get a sputum pot from your docs and send a sample off
Thanks everyone for the replies. New day and almost back to white and no where near as much so looks like it w just one of days. Chest is tight and am very breathless but always like that when it's warm. There were no other signs which was what made me wonder. Out of interest is it standard practice to have sputum tests as in the 15 years since my diagnosis I have never had one. Thanks again all for your help and support
Patsy
PS Happy Easter 🐰💐🐇🐣😊
Hi Patsyyann. It may be caused by a virus you are getting when white starts colour change to yellow/green, probably bronchitis. Keep a steady temp on your body, plenty liquide and good warm protein soup. Use a face Mask going out.
Hi! I am CLL patient since 2001, and did FC in 2003 and had completely free CLL free period till June 2012 when visit to a Swiss glacier cold triggered it. Thereafter been on BR and then on R but no improvement. Finally since 2017 am on Ibnutrib and doing fine with —God grace — WBC , Hb and Platelets Inder control.
Only major issue has been fatigue and frequent attack of Bronchitis and had twice Pneumonia plus once Fungal pneumonia in 2017 . Since then am fine with an experienced Resp Dr who has put me on regular nebulisers and on Sergio Puff . Plus asked me to avoid crowded places due low immunity. I have taken pneumonia and Flu shots.
Main issue is I am very careful on color of mucous, ie asa it turns yellow or greenish , I go for a Gran Stin Sputum Culture test to know if any bacteria growth is seen. Generally it’s negative but on one occasion I was given antibiotic and steroid also to nip in bud of any later complication and later hospitalisation where we are prone to other infection also.
Feel , be alert asa your mucous colour changes before it flares up.
Good luck
Finished the antibiotic course 15 days ago for pseudomonas colonization in lungs. Now fever has come up again
Yet another exacerbation of COPD. Within a month.
Advice needed
Mucus
