Hi, I caught some kind of infection I when staying in a tiny floating boat house with dirty air-conditioning in Spain.I've tried Co-Amoxy for 10 days and Cefalexin 10 days. It's still not shifted.
I'm worried about the cardiac risks associated with Cipro and Azithro.
It says the risk continues for a few years after even one course. I have Tachycardia, Dysautomnia and have had cancer 4x so my body is very reactive.
Has anyone been fine on these or had issues?
Doxycycline is very effective but causes me increased intra-cranial pressure and subsequently daily migraines.
I'm desperate for an antibiotic that works. Despite my not being able to cough productively I feel like I'm drowning a bit in what won't shift.
I can't use Ventolin as that causes palpitations and migraine.
Really would appreciate your experiences and thoughts/suggestions.
Thanks so much!
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Yess1e
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A friend on holiday used a hot tub, he came home with a similar story (he has moderate to severe asthma, not tge other health issuesyou have). Henry had several courses of antibiotics but remained quite poorly. Someone finally suggested Legionnaires Disease so tested and yes, it was legionnaires. I think a sputum test is in order to check which antibiotics your bugs will respond to. If I were you I'd call the helpline in the morning 0300 222 5800 9.15-5pm. Good luck
Thank you for replying Peege, I really appreciate it. I've been trying to provide a sample to no avail...apart from.the weekend of course when I couldn't mail it.Hopefully that'll give me some answers.
I wonder if there's a spray or something one can use to spray into and de-contaminate air conditioning units?
They should be cleaned out thoroughly on a regular basis, sadly some places don't do this and the dirty water is what starts off the legionnaires disease. I Hope you manage to get a test soon it could help in your recovery x
In 2013 after 3 years of incessant infections, 2 or 3 bouts of painful pleurisy, 5 bouts of pneumonia and endless courses of different antibiotics a GP in my Wimbledon surgery did something about it. He put me on a course of Azithromycin 500mgs for 3 months, the regime was one per day for 3 days then 4 days off (or the other way round I cant remember). I always took them with or just after food which is always essential for my tum and I also took probiotis daily and for 3 months afterwards. This finally got rid of the infections and I could live a normal life. Ever since I've taken copious vitamins and minerals to rebuild and maintain the immune system. No problems from the long course (and only one pneumonia since having the pneumonia vaccination many years ago).
About 2019 I began taking Azithromycin 250mgs on Mon, Wed & Fridays between November and April which helps stop and bugs developing into infection. This has worked brilliantly - it's the standard prophylactic antibiotic in UK for people with lungs like mine &/or Bronchiectasis. Doxycycline is also used as a prophylactic . I've read of more severe people taking Azith or if Azith isn't advisable Doxy daily or other abs.
I must emphasise that I'm not a medic, this is my experience only and 11+ years of being on this forum so actually cannot advise you .
My tendons are fine and so far no known heart issues bar high blood pressure. If I had heart issues I probably wouldn't be prescribed Azithromycin
Coincidentally I was treated for migraine for many years, my awful headaches began in 1998 & would last 10 days. It turned out not the be migraine at all but chronically congested sinus cavities.
You could use the search bar to check out others experiences of Azithromycin, Doxycycline and Ciprofloxacin (I've never taken Ciprofloxacin so can't comment on that).
Hooray for that Wimbledon GP. I've had a consultant 'relent' and say I could try Azithro' 3x per week. The specialist nurses said it's anti-inflammatory and helps in lots of ways. I just hope I tolerate it. Most importantly I hope I can get a sputum sample. I find it so hard. I had mastectomies and they used my Latissimus Dorsi for reconstruction, so my coughing is a bit pathetic.
I'm speaking to a consultant this Wed' so trying to hold out until then. I hope it's not the miserable chauvinist one and the lovely doctor I spoke to once before. It makes so much difference.
I'm trying to learn lots about all this so I can self advocate efficiently. I didn't realise for example it's 14 days of antibiotics not 10.
I've also been told so often I can't have an infection as I've no high fever or loud wheeze. But my infections feel low down and often don't cause audible signs, only when things shift.
Two things I learnt, that Azith helps dry up mucus (a consultant, his actual words "your gp writes a good letter but GPs know nothing, Azithromycin does nothing but dry up mucus". He was vile) and from lovely gp "Azithromycin stays in the system for the 'off' days.
You have a great deal to contend with and you're very wise to check it all out. Very best wishes. Penelope
One thing I have learnt is that doctors cannot always hear infections on their stethoscopes. I have been misdiagnosed so many times and I think that's what caused my asthma. For 6 months doctors have told me there was nothing wrong with me despite being virtually bedridden for the last 2 or 3 months. Short courses of antibiotics which as you say does not work. In the end had to pay privately to get diagnosis I was told that if they do a chest x ray and it's OK, no fever, they assume there's nothing wrong. You have to fight to get treatment or pay and its not right. I feel for you.
I can’t take penicillin so am prescribed azithro for chest infections 3 or 4 times a year and have been fine on it. Cipro I will never take again. Made me feel dizzy, dry mouth and generally nauseous. Speak to your GP about your concerns. There are other options too
Have to agree with peege. My wife, bronchiectasis has just been diagnosed with a fungal infection. Similar symptoms to yours so usual anti bios no good whatsoever. take care, Chris.
Hi LissacFrance, thank you for replying, that's interesting as I have something odd going on with my tongue. Possibly fungal (I do use a steroid inhaler 2x p/d) it started after Covid in Dec. But I reckon it could be fungal I wonder if that can move to the lungs from there. I hope your wife is much improved now.
That's my worry Jack70 I already have severe muscle wasting and weight loss. It's why I don't want to even start it. I've read the cardiac risks go on for years even after one course. My body is so sensitive/reactive to things I haven't tried it. Though my medical teams are not happy with me and feel I'm awkward.
Oh my! My gut feeling has always been not to take it for months now and they kept acting like I was just being 'difficult', I said to them I already have heart disease, tachycardia, Autonomic dysfunction and moderate heart valve issues, and I was deeply worried about taking it. I definitely don't want to now. That should only be used in dire situations it's sounds horrendous. Thank you for the link. I feel I have back up now.
Just to add to your other good replies. I took azithromycin for 5 years but after I developed AF and dilated cardiomyopathy both my cardiologist and my respiratory consultant agreed that I should not take it. I have taken cipro since 1986. Occasionally had a ligament problem whilst taking it but this resolved after I finished the course. For me there is no.reason not to take cipro because of my heart conditions.I hope this helps Another thought about the infection that you caught. It could be a fungus which lurk in damp dirty places and need treating with antifungals rather than abs. You will need a blood test and mucus test to determine this.
Thank you Swizzy. Did you develop AF and dilated cardiomyopathy from the Azithromycin?
I'm starting to think it might well be a fungal infection too. I'll ask my consultant what to do next. Trying to get a mucus/sputum sample is SO tricky.
I'm still anxious about Cipro, I seem to be one of those people that reacts to things. I'm really glad you've found it work s so well for you. I need something like that.
I can't say if azith caused the AF and dilated cardiomyopathy but it did start whilst I was taking it and it shouldn't be taken by those with AF. The studies do say that it can cause AF. Cipro isn't so effective for me now. I had a course of it a couple of months ago but have just had to have 2 wks home IV meropenem to knock things on the head.
Hi Yess1e, have you taken a sample to your doctor? it could be the antibiotics you have taken are not killing off the bug. This happened to me 3 months again. My emergency meds are Clarithromycin and steroids. I hade taken them for 10 days before the lab sent their findings to the doc, she changed my AB immediately and I had to take them for a further 10 days, Thankfully they worked. Hope this helps. Maximonkey
Hi, not yet no. Thanks for checking I've not been able to get the mucus up to into my mouth. I also have to post it as the local GP's to where I am staying (trying to care for my Mother) don't know what they're doing and tested the last lot I gave them within a day and said nothing came up. So I don't think they cultured it properly. I'm very much hoping to be able to send a sample asap.
Hi Keen59, no, I've not been able to produce a sample yet, I really struggle to spit out mucus, I can get it up and then not out. I'm speaking to a consultant tomorrow (it was booked months ago) but I'm praying it's the lovely Dr and not a bloke who couldn't care less. Last time I spoke to him I was actively coughing up bloody mucus when were speaking and I had to keep asking him to hold on. I asked what do I do...he said he hadn't finished speaking. He coldly said if you're concerned send a sample to your GP...
I can never cough anything up either so no antibiotics, they just let you suffer. Tried everything but still can't, just stuck in my throat. Hope you get some luck
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I've not been able to get the mucus up to into my mouth. I also have to post it as the local GP's to where I am staying (trying to care for my Mother) don't know what they're doing and tested the last lot I gave them within a day and said nothing came up. So I don't think they cultured it properly. I'm very much hoping to be able to send a sample asap.
Very unpleasant infection
CIPROFLOXACIN
Yet another pseudomonas infection
Azithromycin 
