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When the drugs don’t work

D0n49 profile image
12 Replies

Hi All,

Hope everyone is managing to keep well and warm.

My Dad has been diagnosed with COPD for some time now, but our GP Practice has never really managed his condition properly. This has been a particularly bad year for coughs/chest infections and after many courses and antibiotics and steroids, and much pleading, he was finally referred back to Respiratory Consultant.

The Respiratory Consultant prescribed my Dad yet another round of antibiotics, and he has just finished a two week course of Co-Amoxiclav and Prednisone, but they do not seem to have worked 🥺

Any advice on what to do next please? I am so worried, his body just isn’t getting the rest it needs when he is up all night coughing. Is there anything stronger, I thought these drugs were pretty hard core?

Thank you in advance.

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D0n49 profile image
D0n49
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12 Replies
garshe profile image
garshe

I always take 2weeks of Amoxicillin and Prednisolone when I have an infection. The emergency pack is usually for one week but my Respiratory Team always prescribe 2 weeks. I have a fantastic Respiritory Team who I can telephone any time and they will come to my home if needed. It's great having someone to chat to if concerned and for advice. Does your Dad have a team if not ask at his Surgery to be referred to them.

Good luck and hope your Dad feels better soon xxSheila 👍🤞💕

D0n49 profile image
D0n49 in reply to garshe

Thank you so much for taking the time to post Sheila 😊

He was under the care of the Respiratory Nurse Team at the start of the year, but they signed him off after changing his inhaler to Trimbow, and prescribing Carbocisteine during a couple of telephone calls.

I don’t feel like I have anyone to reach out to. I was going through his NHS App medical history the other week, and was frightened when I realised that he has had 10 different courses of antibiotics this year alone, plus the further one issued by the Respiratory Consultant over three weeks ago.

He has a CT scan booked for January, but I am just scared of his poor lungs constantly being infected 😔

Thanks again xx

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply to D0n49

Has he put sputum samples in for testing to see if he actually does have an infection. Does he have much mucous? X

TomTitTot profile image
TomTitTot

Patk1, has an excellent suggestion. Has your dad had a sputum test? It may well be that he is taking a medication resistant to, or not appropriate for his particular situation.

Hope you receive some good answers soon.

Best,

Anne

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

2 very sensible suggestions here. I'm afraid I can't add any more, but I wanted to send my best wishes to you, your dad and all your family. It might be worth trying the respiratory team again to tell them that you are extremely concerned.

Lfcpremier profile image
Lfcpremier

Definitely a sputum sample in. Co amoxiclav won't treat pseudomonas for sure.I have Bronchiectasis but initially suffered repeatedly with infections until I was put on azithromycin as a prophylactic antibiotic. (1 tablet 3x weekly). It helped enormously.

Good luck! Do push to get help off respiratory consultant. X

Karenanne61 profile image
Karenanne61

I'm so sorry your Dad is suffering like this. There are meds that can help. I was recently prescribed codeine linctus for my cough and it's helped, obviously not stopped but oh so much easier. Also, lots of us are on azithromycin three times a week to help ward off infection. I hope he, and you, get the help you deserve.

Lutontown profile image
Lutontown

Must have a sputum test done to get the right antibiotic for the bug he's got. I've had no chest infections (except pneumonia and pleurisy in Nov 2019) since eradicating black mould in our home in Apr 2018.

ghousrider profile image
ghousrider

Good day i am 58 had copd now since 2013 tracky in kneck bronical problems / asma had new moaner twice only thing i can say is your dad doing any execises through his gp do you have a shower after dad has shower let the warm water run over this back that help me have a good cough get flem of chest i get a lot of green of chest & does he smoke that the only advise i can give ghoust rider

Thepainterswife profile image
Thepainterswife

Hi Don , you’ve already had some good advice the only thing I would add is that there is an awful lot of trial and error involved in the treatment of copd so I wouldn’t worry too much about the amount of antibiotics your dads been prescribed . My husband was diagnosed 18 years ago and takes an array of medication , some to protect bones, some to keep the digestive system in good working order , some to open up the airways but he is still only prescribed the antibiotics and steroids offered to your dad for infection. Sputum tests do show which bacteria is present in the lungs but my husband once took a test in each day for five days and only two actually showed the bacteria so one test won’t necessarily help and even if it does the next infection is likely to be a different bug 🙄 Years ago our GP told us that it sometimes takes several courses of different AB’s to clear the problem . It must be distressing to see your father suffering but do try not to worry .

soulboy118 profile image
soulboy118

I myself have just been on a two week course of antibiotics and 3 weeks course of pred's , phlegm still green as the grass ( which isn't its usual colour) , two sputum samples come back negative !! , I'm on a tapering course of the steroids , my chest feels slightly better but I still have the green phlegm and a rattle when I breath so obviously something is going on , guess its the merry go round of more tests ( bloods,this time) and the usual antibiotics and more steroids, hope your dad's OK

pc49 profile image
pc49

hi,i have found that acid reflux is a big factor in getting cough and chest infections, the reflux causes sinus problems and nasil drip,which in turn causes chest infections and coughs ,treat the reflux for to much acid or not enough acid both cause similar symptoms ,its worth finding out if you have either of high or low acid in the stomach ,as it gives out the same symptoms,hope this helps ,it worked for me,good luck.

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