i have severe emphysema last lung function 18months ago was 36%. i had covid & flu jab 10days ago, after 2 days i started with a dry cough ,sore throat( probably through the coughing ).
my sats are ok up to 93 at times
had a chest x ray 3 months ago no real change from 18months ago
i use a mobility scooter whilst out ,struggle day to day with my breathing .
by the 5th day my breathing had worsened so started on rescue pack,hence to say i’ve been in bed now for 6 days .my chest is not as tight as it was but now bringing the c*** up off my chest but sob still the same .
rang the dr yesterday & he’s given me another pack of amoxicillin for 5days.
my question is should my sob be improving by now ? i’ve never had to stay in bed this length of time before & it’s exhausted me & i feel scared i’m not going to get back to where i was 2 weeks ago or am i expecting to much from myself ??????
is this gonna be me now on the down wood spiral. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
thanks for taking the time to read this & hopefully give me some hope .xx
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paco19613
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Hi paco, l really think your doctor needs to do a lot better. Antibiotics can be brilliant but not amoxicillin for only 5 days. You may well need something stronger. Get back in touch with your doctor and be very assertive or ring 111. If you’re really concerned or even more breathless then do ring 999.
i’m not sure if you misunderstood as i had my rescue pack for 5 days of prednisone & amoxycillin to start with ,this what he gave me yesterday is a further 5 days of antibiotics .
we’ve had a major nhs cyber attack up this neck of the woods this week which still is not sorted so they’re saying unless life or death donot attend hospital .
When I was 9 and had whooping cough I drank the children's amoxicillin by the bucket load!
When I worked in that pharmacy where they treated me badly they expected the unqualified pharmacy assistants to mix up the children's amoxicillin and on the back it said instructions for the pharmacist on how to make it up!
If it was a small pharmacy the trained pharmacist themself would make the formulations up!
When that job ended it felt like the world had ended as well but nowadays I feel that there was a reason why those things happened how they did but I'm not saying it's right to treat people badly though when they have done nothing wrong as they did!
After I had made a mess of the mixture I got sent away to that other quieter hospital to work as punishment but it backfired on them as I was fine there and enjoyed it there!
I don't stay in bed when lll as pottering about,getting drinks etc will help the mucous to move,also easier to get it up when upright.try drink extra fluids,move around,and read up on aluk website " lung clearance techniques". Also look at " controlled pursed lips breathing" - it's v helpful when struggling,calms u & breathing,helps ease spasms.yr mid exacerbation, u should pick up as infection+ inflammation ease.xxx
tbh i feel too out of breath to potter around atm….yea i’ve been trying the pursed breathing which is good but when i’m out of breath there’s no way i can manage that but thanks for other tips ..xx
i think my lung function must of dropped since the 36% last year maybe that’s why i’m generally struggling more anyway even before this infection started .
i’ve got a follow up appt with dr tuesday so will discuss with her a different AB maybe ,im hoping i’ll be feeling bit better by then tbh .
i will and thankyou ,i need to discuss my inhalers as well i think they need to try me on something stronger than trixeo now & ventolin which does nothing .i can’t understand why she won’t give me a nebuliser as my mum had one and her breathing was not as bad as mine by far .x
I think a call to 111 is in order. You have stoically braved it out so far and not a lot has happened. It time to call in the cavalry, as unfortunately its the squeaky wheels that get the oil in situations like yours. You at least should have a sputum test to see what antibiotics would suit. Its sad that you have to be so demanding and persistent, but it seems to be the way of the world that you have to be so proactive with your own care. Good luck
I recently had a similar issue, but after the amoxicillin didn’t work they gave me a stronger one, the first course didn’t work but a second course did the trick. Have you had an oxygen assessment, my normal O2 sats are 88-92 but drop much lower when I move about so I’m on ambulatory O2 now.
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so unwell and hope you soon feel better.
Meanwhile, speaking to 111 sounds like a good idea to me!
They can arranged for someone to come to your home to assess you - they have done this for me before when I was ill at the weekend. They notified my GP surgery of my condition. They said they didn't need to take me to hospital but I did need different help from my GP urgently. If I remember correctly, they put a time limit on the notification to the GP ie to see me within a certain time frame so I had an appointment without having to wait for it. They also told me that if there was any further deterioration I must phone 999.
It was good to be reassured that I had a back up plan but, if I made it through the night without a 999 call, a GP should be onto it first thing in the morning - which they were.
It also sounds as though a sputum sample would be helpful in identifying whatever bug is currently bothering you. Amoxycillin doesn't work for everything, but is the GPs usual port of call in the first instance. If it hasn't started working by now, I should think you might need something else.
If you're not able to get out of bed now, you really do need someone to check you over. Please do consider calling 111 and, while you're waiting, make sure you move your limbs a bit so that you don't have other problems to contend with.
You have been given some very good advice paco19613 . It seems ringing 111 is the best as you need help now. I do wonder if this is a reaction from your covid vaccine so please mention this when you ring. As for amoxicillin , in my opinion they are a waste of time for chest infections and sounds like you need something stronger. I do hope you get help and feel better soon x
Lots of good advice. You need a sputum test, a home visit and a more suitable antibiotic. I have had a couple of illnesses when I felt too ill to get out of bed, so I sympathise. Going to the loo was a major ordeal. This was before I was diagnosed- sounds to me that you have not been properly treated. I did recover, which I hope will encourage you a bit. I hope you will soon turn the corner and start to feel better. xxx
hi sorry to hear your so poorly. Have you taken a sputum sample to your Gp to see if you’re on the right abs? Also being immobile is the worse thing you can do even when you think you have no strength. Getting dressed and even just pottering with shorten the flare up and is much better for mental health I have found. Hope you’re feeling better soon . Cx
I agree totally with sassy59. Amoxicilin Is quite a general antibiotic but not specific for respiratory conditions. It seems that you certainly need something stronger so pester your doctor if you don't habe a respiratory nurse. I have severe COPD and have an emergency pack, not just steroids but Co-Amoxiclav specific for chest flare ups. I also need to use oxygen when moving about. This is not a downward spiral, paco,,, you simply need the RIGHT antibiotics, That said, with a lung condition like emphysema (which I have), recovery invarably takes longer particulary if you are older. I am 76. Stay positive but be prepared for a slow recovery. Hope that helps😐
Meant to say that I'm surprised you have not been asked for a sputum test by your doctor. It takes a few days but at least it gives an indication of the type of antibiotic that's needed,
My mum has Copd and needs at least 2 weeks amoxicillian and a week of steroids. She has had co-amoxiclav in the past, but it gave her terrible reflux and really irritated her stomach. She can only have it IV if in hospital now.
update : hubby called 999 last night coz as i had really bad sob attack after going toilet hence to say after 2hr wait and still no sign of them my breathing had calmed down again therefore i asked him to cancel it as i was exhausted and need to sleep ….. i’m not even sure if it could of been a panick attack which made it worse as soon as i start gasping to breath i panick incase it gets worse & then it does it’s happened before .
i’ll wait till i see my dr tomorrow now,hoping she can help .worried as i received this this morning from my surgery.
You may be aware that there has been a cyber attack at Arrowe Park Hospital. Currently 02/12/2034 there is still no access to systems there and we have not been informed when this is likely to be resolved. We are unable to do blood tests, scans and send samples of any kind and no results have been sent back that have been done. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We will inform you when it is back up and running.
Do work on the controlled pursed lips breathing - it is possible,with practise and helps reduce anxiety & panic, while maintaining airflow - walk v slowly to loo etc and concentrate on regular,slow breaths,, in through nose,out thro pursed lips, letting it out v slowly.practise and more practise and u will master it.hope gp appointment is useful
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