CT result.

[Sherlock11]

Hi all ,just an update . I had my CT result on Tuesday via phone call from my consultant. It showed an infection in my right lung and a small patch of bronchiectasis. As my FeNo is 88, I have to have a sinus CT and a repeat chest CT in a couple of months to see if the infection has resolved. I informed my respiratory nurse and she is convinced with my history and family history I have asthma and she is starting me on inhalers as I told her I am still coughing and breathless whenever I do anything. I already have a reliever inhaler which helps but she feels I need the steroid one to bring down the inflammation. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Patk1]

Hopefully it will help you.what are they doing about yr lung infection

[Sherlock11 in reply to Patk1]

Since the scan in Feb I'd had another infection and cipro as it was pseudomonas again so I'm hoping it's gone. I will see if I have another infection, or failing that after the repeat CT in a couple of months. The infection didn't show on the x ray I had .

[Patk1 in reply to Sherlock11]

It's maybe worth putting specimen in if you've finished antibiotics. How're u feeling x

[Sherlock11 in reply to Patk1]

I was asked to do this by my Gp but at the moment I'm only bringing up very small amounts of clear/ white sputum so I'm holding off at the moment. I did find the last course of cipro caused me tendon pain so I have mentioned it to the respiratory nurse and I don't think I should have it again.

[Sherlock11 in reply to Patk1]

Been to see my practice nurse, FeNo redone, Caroline couldn't believe that it's gone up again , from 43 in Jan, 88 a couple of weeks ago and today 117. I've been told I have asthma, I think it's the eosinophilic type. I have been given a Qvar 100, a puff morning and evening. I have to go back in 6 weeks for a review.

[Stewiecat in reply to Sherlock11]

Hi, I have eosinophilic, struggled/suffered breathlessness and constant sticky mucus (like a constant chest infection) for 18 months, when I eventually saw a consultant at addenbrookes first thing he did was add 2 puffs of Qvar (am & pm) to the fostair 100/6 (same dose) I already use, it made a big difference to my ability to get through the day without needing constant extra puffs of fostair, daily clearance of your mucus/sticky casts are a must, I paid to see a good physio for two initial sessions, if it is eosinophilic your bloods will have the clues with raised eosinophils, I think anything about 0.50 is high, mine hovers around 1 🤦‍♀️ you'll probably need a respiratory consultant to diagnose it, gp's and asthma nurses don't generally know anything about it in my experience, I hope you get some help soon i know how hard it is xx N

[Patk1 in reply to Stewiecat]

I've severe eosinophilliac asthma too.biggest help has been biologics

[Stewiecat in reply to Patk1]

Hi Patk1, that's so good to hear x i have my first appointment with Thoracic on Monday next week, so 🤞🤞🤞 as I'm close to living on prednisolone ☹️ and finding it more difficult to manage despite all my efforts, my consultant has referred me for tezspire. I hope the biologics have helped make a good difference for you, I can't wait for the possibility of being less overwhelmed by it x N

[Stewiecat in reply to Stewiecat]

I meant it to read, good to hear the biologics are helping you, not that you have eosinophilic too 🤦‍♀️🤣

[Patk1 in reply to Stewiecat]

They've helped me a lot for 5wks of 8 wk cycle.im on fasenra( benrazilumab). I'd not be without biologics now sp hope u soon get approved.im hoping to change to tezpire as its 4wkly.all the best x

[Stewiecat in reply to Patk1]

I'm glad you are doing well on the biologics 😊 Good luck to us both for tezspire 🤞 keep well x Nicola

[Patk1 in reply to Stewiecat]

Thanku.anything that helps is worth it.if I could have it ea 6wks,it would be better.it has added benefits on my severe airway collapses,bronchiectasis etc too.do keep pushing for it,it's yr life x

[Sherlock11 in reply to Patk1]

I'm already on a biologic for a different illness, I'm not sure they would want to give me another. Does anyone else have FeNo done, and what are your results, so I can compare if mine is high or not in the grand scheme of things. Thanks.

[Mooka in reply to Sherlock11]

Yours are high. My respiratory doctor wasn’t happy when mine were over 50. He wanted me to take steroids but I didn’t want to having just weaned off them for my vasculitis. We compromised on budesnide, a steroid, in my nebuliser. I nebulise colomycin daily to keep the pseudomonas numbers down and budesnide was added into this. I haven’t had mine tested for years.

[Sherlock11 in reply to Mooka]

I already take 5mgs pred for another illness and I don't want more. It seems whenever I have the FeNo tested it goes up. I had my ESR checked last week as I do every 3 months and that has gone up for me. It is usually 2, but this time it's 15, so somethings going on. I don't feel like I have asthma as I don't wheeze, I just get out of breath easily and cough for no reason. I'm having my sinus CT this evening as I had a phone call at lunchtime asking if I could go.

[Patk1 in reply to Sherlock11]

Although wheeze is associated with asthma,not all asthmatics wheeze, Sherlock.take a look on aluk website

[Stewiecat in reply to Sherlock11]

My last tests were mid January, FeNo was 69 which is where it tends to hover, along with high eosinophils 🤦‍♀️ it's why I spend so much time on prednisolone 🤷‍♀️ I've decided not to worry myself with the numbers, it doesn't help day to day, I have to listen to myself and how I feel, so I'd say try not to get too into numbers, take care x N

[peege]

Many of us with different lung issues couldn't cope without our reliever. Yesterday (because I'm wiped out at the moment) I forgot to take my morning dose as well as the mucolytic Carbocysteine. By 12pm I was non stop coughing. The reliever is a great improvement in quality of life. (Mine is Fostair) I hope you'll try it, they do take up to 3 weeks to fully take effect so be patient - and thoroughly read the leaflet for correct method of use. Good luck

[Izb1 in reply to peege]

My chemist won't issue Fostair and said that new patients to this are given Luforbec as its cheaper. Luforbec gave me a terrible cough and have just come of it. I hope they don't change yours if Fostair is working for you x

[islande in reply to Izb1]

if your dr prescribes you fostair do the chemists have the right to give a cheaper non branded version.if your not happy I'd change chemists and ask before you go with them if they will give you fostair best wishes

[Izb1 in reply to islande]

When I spoke with the Consultant she said this had the same ingredients so wouldnt make any difference a bit like Ventolin I suppose. I think we will see alot of this cost cutting going on now x

[peege in reply to Izb1]

There was a post about it (one of many re change to Luforbec from Fostair) with information that the medication is the same but the 'fillers' are different - like Salamol to ventolin. Over the few years I've been on it. I've managed to stockpile a few Fostair because it's my biggest dread that they'll change it - particularly in the winter when my asthma is worst.

It seems the pharmacists within gp surgeries or medical centres are the worst at changing patients medication/prescription willy nilly. I suppose they're instructed to cut costs? Or perhaps they want to lord it over patients or GPs. Luckiky my pharmacist is independent however I keep everything crossed every time I pick up the prescription

[Izb1 in reply to peege]

I really don't blame you peege, it's becoming a blinking nightmare. Having an independent pharmacist maybe beneficial to you x

[PaulineHM]

Hello,

Read all your post and it does sound so very complex for you.

I hope the repeat CTs show some healthy progress in your lungs and that the consultant continues to offer you good care.

Go well

Pauline

[Petetriplet]

Sherlock,

I gave recently had a High Resolution CT on my lungs that revealed Bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe. Hence the repeated exacerbations of my asthma. So I am prescribed fostair (top dose ) which I have been taking for my asthma for sometime . I saw my doc just before Xmas with a chest infection she detected the infection so put me on amoxiclav . ( strong antibiotic and Predisilone steroid ). There is a protocol for those with bronchiectasis. Basically a longer course of stronger antibiotic for a rescue pack

Hope you feel better soon

Pedro

[Oregonbasinman]

Ever since I had Covid, I have lung nodules. Respiratory physician put me on a low dose steroid inhaler twice a day, in addition to my rescue inhaler. Respiratory is nothing to play around with. Be sure to follow Drs orders to be comfortable. Given any antibiotics for a 7 day regiment?

[Sherlock11 in reply to Oregonbasinman]

I'm not on antibiotics at the moment. I've mentioned to the Dr's that I had tendon pain on my last course of cipro so I'm not having them again. I usually have a pseudomonas infection co always cipro.