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Doxycycline emergency pack

Seagullcity profile image
24 Replies

I’m wondering how often people with bronchiectasis tend to use their emergency antibiotics, and what symptoms they look for before committing to starting the course. I’m aware that I had a couple of flare ups before I was diagnosed and these went untreated as I was struggling to get doctors to recognise there was anything wrong with me. I have now caught a cold, with wheezy chest after working Sunday morning and tickly throat and coughing when I was trying to sleep last night. So I’ve started the doxycycline and hope I’m doing the right thing, but no previous experience with this. Any advice would be helpful, thank you.

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Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity
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24 Replies
Patk1 profile image
Patk1

With bronchiectasis, it's a minimum 14 day course.do u have inhalers

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toPatk1

I have a salamol inhaler, which I don’t generally use much, except before energetic activities. Tbh I’m not at all sure how beneficial it is at the moment

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply toSeagullcity

You'd probably be advised to use it if wheezy

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toPatk1

Thank you, that makes sense, S

Swizzy profile image
Swizzy

I have had bronch since I was 3 and am now 74. In all of those years the question is 'when to start the abs?' Your symptoms sound very much a virus atm but I find that the nasty bugs use the virus as a vehicle to ride in and cause a full blown exacerbation. So I tend to take the abs at the start of something and stop it grtting a grip. It is always down to our instinct and I think that your instinct to take them was right.

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toSwizzy

That’s very helpful thanks, and I also think it’s probably better to nip something in the bud than allow it to flourish and cause further damage. I’ve been trying so hard to avoid germy people, but there seems to be too much going around this time of year.

Swizzy profile image
Swizzy in reply toSeagullcity

Yes other people's germs are our worst enemy. I faithfully take 1800 vit D each day and put cold and flu blocker around my nose and mouth when going where there are people.

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toSwizzy

Thanks for the tips. Actually, Swizzy, I wouldn’t mind picking your brains sometime, if I can see how to message you privately, as you appear to be very knowledgeable re bronc, and I’m having a long wait for a referral to a professional. Please let me know if this would be ok, cheers, S

Swizzy profile image
Swizzy in reply toSeagullcity

Send me a pm and I will help if I can

Xlizixx profile image
Xlizixx in reply toSwizzy

Agree Swizzy - I was taking 2 week course of doxy when I caught my sons cough and cold. I felt ill for a few days and struggled with a cough but it didn't go onto my chest for the first time ever!

Swizzy profile image
Swizzy in reply toXlizixx

That’s good

Xlizixx profile image
Xlizixx in reply toSwizzy

Love your little dog

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

I've only used my rescue once in the last 4 years, but that's really the luck of the draw. I phoned both my pharmacy and the Health Unlocked helpline before starting it and they both said to do so.

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toAlberta56

Sounds like you’ve done really well keeping away from anything infectious. Glad I got the doxy out yesterday as I’m actually feeling a bit rough and having to take things really easy.

Tinker26 profile image
Tinker26

I always start my rescue pack as a simple cold never is simple ,just remember to take an alternate pack when going in the sun as I have just had a reaction when visiting Kos whereby I burnt more easily 🙃 the tablets of doxycycline are photosensitive

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toTinker26

Yes, I have to put everything into perspective now against a backdrop of unhealthy lungs. I noted the warning re sunshine on the pack, no danger of that today….

gingermusic profile image
gingermusic

I also have Bronchiectasis and use Doxycycline as my rescue pack. Over a year ago I was also prescribed Azithromycin antibiotic which I take 3 times a week and since being on those have not had a flare up. I think generally the rule is that any change from the norm can be a flare up but if coughing up a darker shade of phlegm you can be pretty certain it is a chest infection. Hope this is of some help

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply togingermusic

It is thanks. Why did you need the azithromycin, did you get lots of infections?

gingermusic profile image
gingermusic in reply toSeagullcity

Yes I think I had two hospital admissions within one year and was put on it but it has certainly been very good

PaulineHM profile image
PaulineHM

Hello, thank you for your question, it was helpful.

I was recently diagnosed with bronchiectasis on top of COPD ( which showed in the CT scan 2017 - eye roll ) and have been given a 14 day rescue pack of Doxycycline so that is in line with what others have said too.

Hope you feel better very soon.

Go well,

Pauline

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toPaulineHM

Thank you

Lutontown profile image
Lutontown

Doxycycline is a general purpose antibiotic, as is Amoxicillin. They will sort some bugs but not all. I believe a tested sputum sample is the only way to ensure you get the right antibiotic to kill the bacteria you have. Some times certain bugs require an intravenous AB to sort them. So, I suggest you put a sputum sample in to your surgery for testing. You may find some resistance to that, as I think they like to have a doctor to order it. Good luck with seeing or even a telecon with a doctor!

I believe that the bi-basal bronchiectasis that I have, is the result of a long run with a bug, Staphylococcus Aureus, which didn't respond to oral antibiotics, but was sorted with an intravenous one.

I also think that using antibiotics blind, weakens their effectiveness.

Seagullcity profile image
Seagullcity in reply toLutontown

Hi Lutontown, if I find any colour changes, I will try and get a sputum sample tested. I handed over several samples during my 10 month battle with the gp’s to try and get diagnosed, but results all came back ‘normal’ despite containing spots of blood and fragments of lung tissue!😱

Ilovedogs12 profile image
Ilovedogs12 in reply toLutontown

Mine began with covid and staphylococcus aureus. I had staph for months straight after covid.

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