Lungs

[Sallyb29]

Morning folks. I don’t often write on this site but I do read all your posts. I get chest infections most months unless they give me 6-8 weeks worth of antibiotics I’m no sooner finished antibiotics and my chest infection is back. At night I will fall asleep to be woken with a kinda phlegm / vomit and makes me want to cough and when I start coughing I can’t stop it tastes as if it’s curdled it just horible. Has anybody experienced this. I’m on inhalers and a tablet at night for asthma which they think I might have. Thanks for listening

[Hidden]

I'm not a medical professional Sally but it sounds to me like you have more than asthma going on with repeated infections.

I think you need to make a telephone appointment with your GP to discuss things further. Meds like carbocistine to help keep the mucus thin, drinking plenty of water also helps. Your doctor can also prescribe a Flutter or Acapella device to help you clear the mucus each morning and before bed.

There is the huffing technique + active cycle of breathing which also helps clear the lungs of mucus, but do discuss these things with your doctor.

If we were'nt in the midst of a pandemic the GP can refer you to the physiotherapist to help, home visits if needed but I am not sure what this situation is with your surgery at this time.

Take good care and hope you get some results after discussing with your doctor.

Best wishes

[Sallyb29 in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks for your advice. I would say there is more going on than asthma but when I question about being given so many antibiotics I’m just told it’s my asthma. I have been shown the huffing technique which I do use. I find it hard to get the mucus us as it’s so thick. Like I said to Neville33 I’m getting fed up with it all. I’m thankful for all advice.

[Hidden in reply to Sallyb29]

Take good care Sally, do give the helpline a call as I mention in comment below.

[Hidden]

Bkin has given you great advice. Just like to add to keep your lungs clear as much as possible. This will prevent infections. I have to clear my chest morning and before bed, night time is when it clogs up the most as your not using your lungs so much. Good luck.

[Neville33]

Have u had a sputum sample done to make sure you haven’t picked up another bacteria... should be done at least twice a year... r u using aeribika and saline and doing proper airway clearance, twice a day to keep lungs clean.. you shouldn’t be getting infections this often

[Sallyb29 in reply to Neville33]

Hi there. I send in sputum test most times. It comes back usually with same 2-3 bugs. I can’t remember what they are. One doctor says that one of the bugs once you get it it’s very hard to get rid of. This all started about 2 years ago when I had a partially collapsed lung and since then I at least have 9 chest infections a year. I was sent to a lung doctor who suspected it was Bronchiectasis but now has diagnosed me with asthma. But I don’t think I should be on as many antibiotics. They put me on doxycycline but when sputum test comes back they phone up to say I need a different antibiotic which is co-amoxiclav. Just getting a little fed up with it all.

[Hidden in reply to Sallyb29]

oh dear, does pseudomonas bacteria ring a bell, this one is not good as it is inclined to cause infections. Some people that have it are on a maintenance dose of antibiotics, here is blf's page on it :

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

I would give the helpline a call tomorrow and chat with one of the nurses, the telephone you can find from the above page link.

Take good care

[carolgardner in reply to Sallyb29]

Hi Sally, I have Bronchiectasis and have lots of infections but can only take high doses of Doxycycline and Amoxicillin I also take Azithromycin 3 times a week, all the time we have been in lockdown I haven’t had a chest infection don’t know why but there must be a reason, I hope that you get sorted soon. Carol

[Neville33]

I myself have bronchiectasis, MAC and pseudomonas... each bacteria needs specific antibiotics... you should see your oulmonary dr and request a CT scan to see what’s going on...

[Daisy47]

Hello Sallyb29

I suggest you ask for an X-Ray or as Neville 33 suggested a CT scan.

Despite the Covid-19 Virus the Hospitals are still dealing with out patients if it’s urgent. Everyone is socially distancing and all staff have

Protective gear.

They are not near the Covid wards.

I have went for emergency eye treatment 3 weeks ago after 27 days of pain. I am glad I phoned the Hospital and they told me to come in. I am an outpatient of the eye Hospital anyway.

So phone in the Morning and go

Or make an appointment.

All the best to you I hope you are soon well.

[Daisy47]

I am surprised you haven’t been offered a current appointment to check your lungs at the Hospital.

[Sallyb29 in reply to Daisy47]

Hi daisy I see my consultant every 4months I had an appointment in July last year but it was his understudy as he was meaning to discharge me. But before seeing her I was in hospital I had got food stuck in my oesophagus which happens regular. But I always seem to manage to clear it myself but unfortunately not this time. I had to go to A&E and was admitted to have a tube down to get food out. Unfortunately for me when doctor was bringing out instrument he pierced my oesophagus and was in high dependency for 10days with a feeding tube down so when I went for appointment with consultant I wasnt well at all so was given more antibiotics as my chest infection was back and was to see consultant in December and it was consultant himself. I enquired why I was getting infections all the time and he said it was my asthma I was due to see him in April but was cancelled due to covid 19/ but he was meaning to make it the last time I see him as I was to be discharged I don't understand it I feel as if I'm not being listened too

Thanks for your advice

Love sally

[Daisy47]

Hello again Sally29.

I have had swallowing problems for a few years now. I learned that when eating I do the chin tuck and I can swallow the food down after chewing. By swallowing with your head up looking forward it can

Lodge in your throat.

It is a method used by Stroke Patients and other conditions involving swallowing problems.

Cut food small, chew it, lower your chin as in looking down and swallow,

Cut, Chew, Chin Dip, Swallow.

Good luck and I hope you will be well soon. 🙏

[Sallyb29 in reply to Daisy47]

Thanks Daisy 47. I cut my food up small sometimes the smallest of food gets stuck even the softest of food.

[Daisy47]

I am a slow eater so a nightmare when eating out. 😩

[Daisy47]

You are right Sally. I had some Amy’s Kitchen soup before and the veg is very small. I looked up as my son was talking and a bit of veg was stuck. I can normally cough it out.

I took a sip of water and it went down the wrong way and My Son did the usual Smack between my shoulder blades and I cleared my throat and was ok again. For bigger food like meat he has had to do the abdominal thrust in the past which works well. However I no longer eat meat apart from a rare bit of mince.

I am dairy free and gluten free and eat healthy.

Just shows I’m not perfect. What a miserable World it would be if we were all perfect.

I hope you and everyone else on here are ok and keeping safe.

This Covid-19 is everyone’s enemy.