Doxycycline emergency pack

[Seagullcity]

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.

[Patk1]

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

[Seagullcity in reply to Patk1]

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 in reply to Seagullcity]

You'd probably be advised to use it if wheezy

[Seagullcity in reply to Patk1]

Thank you, that makes sense, S

[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 in reply to Swizzy]

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 in reply to Seagullcity]

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 in reply to Swizzy]

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 in reply to Seagullcity]

Send me a pm and I will help if I can

[Xlizixx in reply to Swizzy]

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 in reply to Xlizixx]

That’s good

[Xlizixx in reply to Swizzy]

Love your little dog

[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 in reply to Alberta56]

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]

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 in reply to Tinker26]

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]

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 in reply to gingermusic]

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

[gingermusic in reply to Seagullcity]

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

[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 in reply to PaulineHM]

Thank you

[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 in reply to Lutontown]

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 in reply to Lutontown]

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