Cough improvement - bronchiectasis

[MyMystery]

I have had a bad cough due to bronchiectisis for over 3 years. taking carbioisteine and azithromycin .In November this year I got chest infection and was hospitalised (first proper infection in 3 years)

I was treated with IV antibiotics for 7 days and then oral for another 5. Once the infection had completely cleared up, so did the cough - mostly anyway. That is now a couple of months ago. It seems to be a bit of a puzzle - did I have an underlying infection for 3 years - which the IV antibiotics hit on the head? My respiratory professional did not know the answer. Anyone come accross this before? As a result of the various scans done when in hospital it was discovered that I also have pulmonary fibrosis which is not good news. I am due my first consultation (by telephone) with a consultant for this diagnosis next week so will perhaps know more after that.

[Warrior4104]

Let me tell you my story. I get an infection every month. The first time when I had sputum in my blood, and i was being diagnosed, my doctor ordered a sputum culture. Pseudomonas was heavily grown in it. And before these diagnosis also I used to have frequent chest infections. So yes I had an infection which was just tapered down by antibiotics for some time until the culture gave the right antibiotic. It depends upon what type of bacteria you have in your culture. If its pseudomonas then its never gonna go like mine. If it is something else then maybe the right antibiotic has killed the bacteria. I’ve had IV, oral, inhaled but it only makes it step down a bit.

Did you have the symptoms of chest infection before diagnosis? Because bronchiectasis does not develop suddenly with exceptional cases aside. You probably have had it for some time that lead you towards the diagnosis

Wish you good luck

[MyMystery in reply to Warrior4104]

I have had bronchiectasis for over 3 years. I was tested for pseudomona in hospital which was negative, but to be on the safe side, until they got the results back from the lab I was given the relevant antibiotics for it. I think you have a point about the antibiotic given by IV must have been the right thing for the bacteria. The additional diagnosis as a result of the tests carried out is a new one, (pulmonary fibrosis) cause not known but frequently found in people with bronchiectasis.

[Izb1]

I do wonder if we ever get treated properly when we have a bronch cough and would agree that you could have had an underlying infection and the hospital iv ab's finally cleared this up. I feel like my cough has never fully cleared but have never had iv ab's. It will be interesting to see if your cough develops again x

[MyMystery in reply to Izb1]

Yes, it will be interesting, I had expected the cough to come back after a few weeks, but it is now 2 months. I do still cough a bit but nothing like I used to.

[Izb1 in reply to MyMystery]

Thats really good news as Im sure if the cough is left it damages your chest, fingers crossed you are on the better side of things x