Hi just wondering if anyone has any experience of lung abscess’ please. My son is 13, had pneumonia and lung abscess February his 4th X-ray a few days ago has revealed no change/improvement and he is being referred to a consultant. I’m so worried about him.
Thank you
I’ve had a read up on this and they can be difficult to treat. I’m so sorry for your son but let’s hope the consultant can help. Thinking of you both. Xxxxx
Thank you, I think they are quite rare as well so difficult finding out a lot about it. Thank you for replying xxx
Hi Hun, So Sorry to read this, I do think The consultant will be able to establish more Information. I, and many others here have had Lung Nodules, Mine didn't grow, so no action was taken. Please keep us updated. I wish your Son a Speedy recovery & You, Peace of Mind. Stay safe. Love n Hugs. XXX C.
Thank you, keeping everything crossed xxx
Hi Goatgirl, I am so sorry to hear of your son’s struggles. You find it helpful to speak to one of the nurses at BLF. They are very knowledgeable not only with adult lung issues but with paediatric lungs too.
Hope you both don’t have to wait too long for the consultation. Please let us know how you get on.
Love CX
Thank you I’m going to contact them i wasn’t sure if that kind of help would be available so that’s great xxx
You, it’s awful when your children are ill.i don’t kno about it. Have you condidered really Nhs website or the BLFhelpline? Perhaps they could give you an idea of what questions to ask? When you get to see the consultant Take an A4 pad write your questions concerns on it. As things are discussed, you can make brief notes’whats outstanding, you can ask at the end. I know I sounds silly but it’s hard to concentrate with nappointments.you wait for the appointment . You need to make the most of every minute. Stay safe?
Yes it’s such a worry when your children are unwell, thank you for your advice I will do that xxx
Thank you, yes I think I will see if I can speak to one of the BLF nurses, I should have heard today (from the consultant) what the plan is. Normally he would have had IV antibiotics but because of covid they felt going into hospital would be to risky so he has had a month of oral antibiotics and watch and wait, GP said that he needs a bronchoscopy but again due to covid not sure if this will be offered, it just leaves him very vulnerable at the moment. From what I can gather when they don’t heal it could be due to an underlying condition or something a bit more sinister. Has anyone else had treatment with held/postponed due to the current covid situation? Thank you xxx
Yes, kind of. My 6 year old g'daughter has spent 3 separate days in observation sent from A&E in the last 3 weeks, each time they've sent her home as they can't work out what's wrong except 'possible complications from a virus'. They say she's safer at home - not surprising. My daughter tells me that not even masks and gloves are worn and the nurses, doctors and staff dont practic any safe distancing in any part of the hospital they've been in. The corvid ward was next to the x-ray department where of course ppe was worn (little one saw everything though through open doors). Anyway, if you hospital is similar then hes probably better off being treated away from hospital. Did he have a CT scan? I was wondering how an abscess was diagnosed and how ethyl know if the antibiotics worked, I've never heard of it before, sounds quite scary . xx P
PS a very warm welcome to the BLF forum 😀
Morning, thank you. I agree, hospital is a scary place at the moment, especially frightening for little ones, I hope you’re granddaughter gets better soon. He has only had chest X-rays so far, first one diagnosed pneumonia, second one showed an abscess as well third and fourth showed no change/improvement which means the antibiotics haven’t worked 😕 we have been shielding as a family all this time, I don’t want to take him to hospital but this needs sorting out, I’m hoping for a CT scan at least xxx
Yes,my Spirometry n April was cancelled,also rheumarologist and ILD specialist cancelled. I left a message on tha Nurse helpline.wa surprised to get a call from a dr.
We discussed my symptoms.including breathlessness.
She then said she would arrange a telephone call from the rheumatologist.was rung an hour later to make an appointment on Wednesday evening,so it’s thumbs up for Wythenshawe hospital,so things are starting to catch up a bit
Yes. I have a midline in because of frequent need for IVs, which if they are licensed for home administration I am lucky enough to do them myself. It was supposed to be removed and a port put in in April but of course that is on hold.
I wonder if your son has had a ct scan. As this is not invasive, they may still be able to do it if they feel it beneficial.
Good luck
Cx
That’s interesting, thank you, hope you don’t have to wait to long, it’s all a bit up in the air isn’t it. I was thinking a CT scan would be helpful and not so invasive, he hasn’t seen a consultant yet, the GP and consultant have been liaising through out but the GP says he needs to be seen by him now thanks again xxx
I do hope that's very soon Goatgirl2 x
Hi Goatgirl, my husband has had a lung abscess. He fell off a stepladder and sustained a traumatic brain injury. He was on a ventilator for 3 weeks. He then went to a rehabilitation hospital where 2 months later he deteriorated, he lost a lot of weight and was hallucinating. The scan showed a lung abscess larger than a large grapefruit. He was given a PICC line to deliver iv antibiotics. He was given meropenam. Unfortunately in his delirious state he pulled out his line on 4 occasions and had an allergic reaction to the meropenam. It was decided the only way to treat this huge abscess was with oral antibiotics. He was given metronidazole twice a day and 3grams of amoxicillin twice a day. He took these huge doses for 8 months together with food supplements to build up his body. He had gone down to 5stone 8lbs and had been close to dying. He has made a full recovery! The vast majority of lung abscesses are treatable so don’t worry, he may need to try different antibiotics. My husband tried several until they decided on the regime that cured him. I know exactly how worried and anxious you must be feeling and my heart goes out to you but I’m sure your son will soon be on the mend. Very best wishes.xxx
Oh my goodness what an ordeal, thank you for sharing that with me, it’s good to hear other people experiences, especially when there is a positive outcome,there doesn’t seem to be much out there about lung abscesses. Yes I will see what the consultant suggests treatment wise, maybe more antibiotics is the way forward, best wishes to you both xxx
hopefully your son will be seen soon, good luck with it.xxx
I did have an abscess but 3 0 years ago . Due to inhaling dust particles from a building being demolished next to my work place. Was ill with temp intermittently for a week or so , went to doctors had rigors indicating UTI or chest infection. So
had x ray which wasnt seen until 5 days after. Meantime had really bad pain in back, this didnt persist and wheñ GP eventually looked at xray she panicked and sent me to hospital.(the one where i worked actually ) immediately.
Then has intravenous antibiotic but cannot remember which now . (I would have asked as I was a microbiologist) I think it must have been for about 10 days then had orally because i was in for over 2 weeks and sent home with a scrip for more antibiotic for 6 weeks. This was to reduce the chance of it tracking up to my brain and causing an abscess there. I was delìrious part of the time with very high temp . Lost a lot of weight . Would not tell me weight but it was a considerable amount as lost inches and clothes were very loose. Took a long time to recuperate enough to return to work and for months after was really weak . This did heal but, affected my lung permanentlyand was eventually diagnosed with bronchiectasis. I was very fit, but the lung was permanently affecteď , causing some problems and a weakness i think.
I have had P.E. twice since in that lung.
This is probably not much help to you but i would have thought that intravenous antibiotic would be chosen in this case.
Good luck, at least time is on your side that there has been so much prog ress in knowledge medically since then.
I’m really grateful to you for sharing your story, any bit of insight is really helpful. I’m sorry though that you have been through it and still are affected 😕 I agree, iv antibiotics might have made a difference, he also has lost nearly a stone and there was nothing to him anyway. Thanks again, best wishes xxx
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