Persistent Congestion and Asthma

[PAP48]

I have recently tested clear after several months of pseudomonas, in fact 2 clear tests but I'm really struggling with asthma and congestion, particularly when I lay down which is stopping me sleeping. I'm taking colomycin nebuliser twice a day, azithromycin 5 times a week at the moment, reducing to usual 3 times from the middle of February, saline nebuliser, Carbocisteine 2 tablets 3 times a day. Any suggestions would be welcome! Hope everyone is safe and well, take care!

[Hidden]

You need to talk to your consultant about this. You are obviously having excellent treatment. Colomycin to keep the pseudo numbers down ( they never actually go away, even if not showing up in the lab) azithromycin to help with inflammation and other bacteria, carbocysteine and saline to help thin the mucus so that you can empty your lungs. The problem could be due to your asthma or I suspect, that your lungs may be reacting to the colomycin. It happens to so many of us bronchs with nebulised antibiotics. Only your consultant can decide by going through it with you. You can always nebulise another ab and see if you do better on that. I hope that you get it sorted out. If you are not used to direct contact with your consultant ring their secretary explain and ask them to pass it on to the consultant. Their secretaries are usually lovely.

[PAP48 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Littlepom for your reply. Yes my consultant is excellent. I forgot to mention I am also taking prednisolone 4 tabs per day just started yesterday. I'm hoping my consultant will phone me tomorrow, if not I'll ask his secretary, I'm on very good terms with her and she's very helpful. Just going through a bad patch I suspect but the Colomycin reaction is a great idea and I will mention it when I speak to one of them. Take care and keep safe.

[Hidden in reply to PAP48]

Brilliant. Do let us know how you go on.

[PAP48 in reply to Hidden]

Will do.

[Hidden in reply to PAP48]

Just to add that I always ask to have saline to make up the nebulised antibiotic, even if it is usually done with water and I neb salbutamol before the antibiotic. Sometimes it helps. We are all so different.

[PAP48 in reply to Hidden]

Ah that's another thing I've left out! Brain moment! I do take a salbutamol neb before bed but not before Colomycin, I make up the Colomycin with saline as well. I'll try the salbutamol before the antibiotic, good idea, thank you. I've been on Colomycin for 8 months and numerous times before that and not had a reaction before but I guess there's always a first time. Also we have a lot of building work going on in front and behind us, new housing developments and I'm wondering if it could be dust related although we don't have the windows open. I have an air purifier in the bedroom too.

[Hidden in reply to PAP48]

Yes it is difficult trying to figure these things out. I nebulised ceftazidime for 15 year before I suddenly reacted badly. Your asthma makes it more complex also.

[CDPO16 in reply to PAP48]

I can't add to the good replies you have had, just wanted to say that I have COPD and asthma and building work has played havoc with my lungs in the past. Prednisolone helped then. Don't know if you prop yourself up in bed but it might help rather than lying flat.

[PAP48 in reply to CDPO16]

I have Bronchiectasis and asthma, I do have a v pillow and ordinary pillows on top. Hopefully the Prednisolone will kick in soon. Thank you for your reply, keep safe and take care.

[CDPO16 in reply to PAP48]

My dose was 6 x 5mg tablets for 7 days. I hope you soon feel better.

[PAP48 in reply to CDPO16]

Thank you very much. I'm sure I will.

[Sarahk1000 in reply to PAP48]

Please take salbutamol BEFORE colomycin. It’s very important

[Sarahk1000 in reply to PAP48]

Hi PapAre you making sure you take your ventolin 5-15 minutes before the colomycin?? I was told you have to and it states it in the information leaflet I’m pretty sure. That will stop any bronchs.

The other thing I’ve read about problems when you lay down is heart failure. I’m not saying you have this but it might be worth a bit of research or ask your resp team.

I can’t breathe when I’m laying down because of severe fluid retention but also having tests on my heart liver and kidneys to rule out if they are failing me.

[PAP48 in reply to Sarahk1000]

Thank you for your reply Sarahk1000 and I'm sorry you are having problems and hope the tests on your heart, liver and kidneys prove to be that all is good! I will try taking ventolin before colomycin. Hope things improve for you, take care and keep safe.

[PAP48]

Thank you so much for your support Littlepom - really helps.

[Hidden]

Your probably already doing it, but I would advise using q device like a flutter. Also nose breathing especially at night helps me. Take care

[PAP48 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I do use a flutter device Gsp and it helps a lot but as soon as I've cleared, it's back again! I'll give the nose breathing at night a go, thank you. Keep safe and take care.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Thank you so much MELNEL that was really very interesting, I love these flowers they always remind me of my mam, she loved them. I think I will plant some this spring it will be it will be a special m garden. Have a good day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌹

[PAP48 in reply to Damon1864]

Not sure this was for me Damon1864?

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to PAP48]

Sorry I sent it to the wrong person,do forgive me please do have a good night and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌹

[PAP48 in reply to Damon1864]

No problem at all. Have a good night too, keep safe Bernadette and Jack! 😊😴 xx

[Patk1]

Do u have inhalers? Is it congestion in chest?( I have sinus congestion too.). I sleep propped up on 3-4 pillows and do lung physio to empty mucous from lungs + use my puffers/ nebuliser x

[PAP48 in reply to Patk1]

Yes I have ventolin plus I take Spriva and Relvar Ellipta. It's congestion in my chest but I do have sinus problems too which I believe is common with Bronchiectasis. I have Mometasone spray for sinus. I do my lung physio but just at the moment it seems to make matters worse although I understand the importance of doing it. Also saline neb, salbutamol neb and colomycin twice a day. Just going through a bad patch I guess. Thank you for your reply, take care and keep safe.

[Patk1 in reply to PAP48]

U r having a tough time.do u think yr having a flare up/ infection? I was reading u take carbocysteine 3x a day.i started on that thn reduced to twice a day.sometimes I increase if struggling to get it up,for few day.sometimes it can thin it so much,it sort of 'floods the lungs.i wonder if u r having ths problem? I'd talk to respiratory team or gp about this as maay suggest reducing it. xx.

[PAP48 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you Patk1, I hadn't thought of that. I'm giving it a go just taking 2 x twice a day. I'm confused about infection as only 3 weeks ago I had a clear test and one clear a month before that but my consultant advised me to up Azithromycin to 5 days a week for a month and prednisolone for 10 days. I'll have to try and contact him as things are not improving as I would hope. My GP would just put me on another antibiotic and I have been advised by the Consultant not to take any other antibiotics unless directed by him so I'm sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. I do have a fantastic respiratory nurse so I think she will be my first port of call as she has direct contact with my Consultant. Thank you for replying, keep safe and take care. xx

[Patk1 in reply to PAP48]

Let us know how u get on with carbocysteine.if I feel " flooded" I reduce it or knock off for cpl days.I'm on azithromycin 250mg twice a day.

X

[PAP48 in reply to Patk1]

Interesting Azithromycin twice a day - is that 3 days a week? I usually take 1 250mg 3 times a week & increase to five times a week when having problems. X

[Patk1 in reply to PAP48]

Every day,continuously x