Advice please on sputum colour

[Lina-61]

Hi All

Hope you having a lovely morning.

Just need advice of sputum colour I know if you cough up green phlegm you have an infection I seem to cough up lots of yellow phlegm and sometimes clear I have lost a lot of weight lung physiotherapist won't see me I'm also getting rib pain but I have put that down to loss of weight no core muscles also everyone is saying its anxiety.

Hubby won't listen to me suffering from alot of dry skin also been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Any advice would be helpful

Thanks

Lina61

[Hidden]

I found that checking the colour of my phlegm means nothing, it's mainly green, rarely white. I judge the need for antibiotics by how I feel. There again, you can feel rotten through worrying about minor things which may never happen. That's when a laugh may help or reading a good book, anything to occupy your mind away from unpleasant thoughts. Being rather ancient my skin is very dry and I use a lot of E45. and other moisturising things.

This is not advice, just what works for me. 🤗

[Lina-61 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Don

just wish I could see a gp but they won't they say it's all anxiety I last saw gp 2 weeks ago for my flu jab he asked how I was I said a bit dizzy but just got on with the jab he didn't look concern will try e45 again

[Hidden in reply to Lina-61]

Having a ‘funny turn’ as people used to call it is very common and a GP would probably have no idea what the cause is without sending you for all sorts of tests involving endless inconvenience and discomfort. For that reason I try to think of some reason for the way I feel and find out what I can do about it. Often the complaint goes away without me doing anything. If your breathing gets really bad then visit A&E that will trigger things off

[Lina-61 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Don hubby will not take me to hospital had paramedics out last week oxygen levels 100% ecg fine blood pressure a little high blood sugars fine they advised to speak to my gp

[Hidden in reply to Lina-61]

To be honest I can’t see what you are worrying about, I envy you your test results. I just get told to go and get another one in a number of weeks time. Why not concentrate on some other aspect of your life other than your health. What do you like doing best?

[Lina-61 in reply to Hidden]

I do alot of reading love knitting but can't at the moment due to being able to sit right with losing lots of my core muscles try to go for a walk when it's not cold

Thanks

Don

[Spacecat1]

I have had what is called a wet cough for several months.i do have copd. Health good appetite. Occupational therapy nurse gave me a sort of acappela flutter which I use not that it does anything.

Nurse has me doing exercises for breathing to try and cough up sputum to send off but dont cough enough up. Nurse not to worried as it's very pale yellow. Coughing not as bad as it used to be. But touchwood not felt the need for antibiotics take care x

[Lina-61 in reply to Spacecat1]

Thank you Spacecat1

I have a dry cough I haven't got the strength to cough anything up I only cough sputum up in the shower and is yellow

[Hidden]

You don't mention your diagnosis? ~COPD rescue pack - do you have one? If so refer to action plan that should have been issued with any rescue pack. you could also check this pdf download:

psnc.org.uk/halton-st-helen...

You may have a different rescue pack anti biotic than the one mentioned in the pdf leaflet but the procedures apply whichever.

If you have a chest infection there are other symptoms than just sputum colour.

I would be making a telephone appointment with your GP, mentioning the loss of weight and other symptoms you have communicated here.

Take extra good care, hope things improve for you soon.

[Lina-61 in reply to Hidden]

No I haven't been diagnosed with copd no rescue pack given as I had pneumonia in my lungs for 6 months saw a consultant he was quite happy it was pneumonia and not bronchiectasis which they thought it was at first consultant discharged me as it cleared he suggested having a rescue pack but gp wouldn't give me one at the time not on any steroids was give IV infusion of steroids in 2014 for weaken left arm due to ms.

Thank you

[Lina-61 in reply to Hidden]

Oh forgot to mention I'm seeing a dietician but again its telephone consultation spoke to her last week as lung respiratory physio said it's all anxiety just wanted her to check me over don't think I will ever speak to Gps never ring me to review my meds

Thanks again time to let the cat in no rest for me

[2greys]

If your sputum is not it's usual colour then that is indicative of an infection.

The dry skin (body dandruff) can be caused by steroids, if you take them. Steroids can also cause Osteoporosis as well.

[Lina-61 in reply to 2greys]

Not on any steroids was given some for ms in 2014 I can't get an appointment with gp face to face only telephone consultation and if they think I have a chest infection got to speak to them first if they want me to drop a sputum sample I have to put it through their letterbox can't even drop it off at reception normally its yellow colour always come back clear

Thank

[Biofreak]

It's very difficult getting the care we need at the moment and I feel for you. You are probably anxious because you don't feel well. Your husband doesn't sound very sympathetic. Anxiety can do terrible things to the body. There are a lot of preparations for dry skin. I use Aveeno with the blue top. I think at this time of the year we all tend to have more cattarh, I know I do. Pamper yourself a bit. My GP is only doing phone consultations which isn't ideal. But if you are are worried you should write it all down, symptoms and how you feel and make a phone appointment and tell him/ her how you are feeling based on what you've written. If you feel you are not being taken seriously, say so. Unfortunately, these days, we are having to fight for the care we need. It's very easy to be fobbed off but if you really feel unwell keep a diary of everything that happens so that you are prepared when you talk to the GP.

[Lina-61 in reply to Biofreak]

Thank you Biofreak

I just feel when I breath deeply my ribs hurt as though I can't inflate them properly I'm also full of a cold so that doesn't helping may try and ring my lung respiratory physio again to see if she can check me out also just been diagnosed with osteoporosis after lots of tests that came back normal I requested a bone destiny scan.

Lina61