Corticosteroids and suppressed immunity

[Elizabethk]

Hi all,

I have to admit that once diagnosed with asthma and bronchiectasis there was only so much that I could take in before wanting to bury my head in the sand. Both conditions are life-changing and threatening and guaranteed to ruin my day if I encounter someone smoking, wearing anything scented, infectious or confrontational amongst other triggers.

I’m currently in review with a consultant who missed the “how to listen and talk to patients in a positive way” tutorial. I got up the courage to ask her if the corticosteroids in the inhaled steroids that I take might be suppressing my immunity (wonder why I’ve had lung infections for 10 months!). Her response was “What choice do you have?” I was stunned by her lack of tact and support. Consequently I felt like burying my head in the sand again but then thought that I would ask you lovely people if you have any advise for supporting your immunity whilst “having no choice” to take corticosteroids.

I eat a fresh and varied diet, lacks meat but full of plant protein. Supplements include Vit B complex, Zinc, Magnesium, Vit D, Vit C and Calcium (lactose intolerance). I also use a good probiotic whilst on antibiotics but should I be taking them all the time?

Have a lovely weekend. I shall be joining my samba band today in a carnival and exorcising my stresses of the week! E x

[2greys]

Yet my inhaled corticoteroids were doubled 9 months ago and I have had no increased detrimental health problems.

[Hidden in reply to 2greys]

I'm very pleased to hear it! (My problems are probably unrelated- correlation not causation).

[Hidden]

Just to let you know that I have lifelong (66 years) extensive bronch and have led a normal life. I don’t have asthma but do use fostair inhaler which has steroids. It has had no delitory effect on my immune system. In fact, my immune system is always ‘going like a steam train’ as one con put it and that can give its own problems.

There is a growing misconception that all bronch exacerbations are due to a failure in the immune system. Bronch develops from many causes, which resulted in infections and the relevant damage to the lungs. Long term asthma is one of these, previous childhood infections ( whooping cough or pneumonia) and rarely, infections caused by a compromised immune system. One third of people, like me, have no discernable cause for the original infections which resulted in bronchiectasis. The growing interest in and knowledge of immunology is hopefully going to be a great help to those bronchs whose condition developed because of a weak immune system. I hope that helped.

You seem to be doing everything possible to avoid other people’s germs and environmental factors which affect you. Personally I hate the virus donators who should have kept them at home.

[Elizabethk]

Hi Artichokes,

Thank you for your reply, I’m sorry that you’ve had some rough months with infection- you must be exhausted. Glad I’m not the only who doesn’t have the best relationship with their consultant, guess I need to toughen up and become as assertive as she is!

Meanwhile I think that I will try long-term probiotics as my gut bacteria have had a proper bashing with antibiotics over the last year.

Otherwise I can recommend joining a drumming group as it’s fun and cathartic.

Take care E x

[Hidden in reply to Elizabethk]

Thanks Elizabeth. Good luck with the probiotics. x

[jackdup in reply to Elizabethk]

Just remember to not take the probiotics with two hours of the antibiotics.

[Izb1]

Hi Elizabeth, it sounds like you have got your head on regarding your health and seem to be doing all the right things to look after yourself. I must agree to the use of steroids in inhalers and did wonder myself if this does reduce the immune system as you say. I only use mine when I need it so probably dont have the same issues. Could you ask if there is an inhaler for your asthma that doesnt contain steroids, think they probably all contain some form of steroid to reduce inflammation. Best of luck x

[Ortho10]

I'm a lifelong asthmatic, and my Consultant identified mild Bronch via CT.

After having frequent infections, I'm now taking Azithromycin daily at a low dose.

This has really helped, reducing my caughing to a great extent, might be worth mentioning it to your Consultant.

[Elizabethk in reply to Ortho10]

Hi Ortho 10,

Thanks for your reply. My consultant has told me that Azithromycin would be ineffective against the particular strain of bacteria that I’ve been hosting so far. I’m glad that it works for you, isn’t it wonderful to have some reprieve from the worst effects of our conditions! E x