Which antibiotics?

[HerLadyship]

Just wondering what's the best thing to do... pretty sure there's an infection starting.... couldn't get to see a nurse today to check me out. I have both Amoxicillin and Doxycycline here in the house...Should I wait until tomorrow and try again to get a nurse to listen or start on antibiotics...if so which one? I'm scared that if I leave it...it might develop into something really nasty over the weekend

[pepparuby1]

we normally know when something’s not right - I develop a wheeze when breathless that’s my first sign but for me it’s the steroids that work but it depends what infection you have. They told me to take steroids first and take sputum test to drs or hospital which would indicate if I need antibiotics. Amoxicillin doesn’t do it for me so they changed me to doxycycline - I would call the health care tomorrow and ask as antibiotics doesn’t always treat what is needed. Good luck

[HerLadyship in reply to pepparuby1]

Thank you pepparuby1.. I know something is going on but don't want to take antibiotics unnecessarily. Just anxious in case this turns into situations like before when I couldn't breathe and ended up in hospital!

[B0xermad]

Hi same here ,I started on amoxicillin rescue pack and 1 day later gp advised doxycycline so had that for the next week, still hanging around but mainly upper respiratory not infection but on prednisolone 4 weeks in

[Lfcpremier]

How are you today? Hopefully advised by a dr or nurse. Think both antibiotics will treat a range of infections:doxycycline the better one. Good luck! X

[Lutontown]

I've recently had a bug which I passed on to my wife. We've both been coughing for 5 weeks now. Because I have COPD and Bronchiectasis, the bug made me quite short of breath. Comparing my symptoms, I wondered if I had Whooping cough, which I had when I was about 4 yo, nearly 70 years ago. At the beginning, I tried putting a sputum sample in to the surgery, but as they hadn't requested it, it was rejected. Eventually 4 weeks later, I saw a nurse practitioner who allowed a sputum sample. After 6 days, that came back with no bacteria or fungal infection. So, don't know what to think now; the only thing I can think of is hay fever. I know I am susceptible to tree pollen. I take Loratadine from February every year, but has limited help. If it is hayfever, I'll just have to wait 'til tree pollen subsides.

[Alberta56 in reply to Lutontown]

Bugs do not always show up first time in laboratory sputum tests. Some need a longer time to show themselves than they are normally given. The surgery ought to ask for a second test. I should go back to your surgery and insist that another sample is tested.

[HerLadyship]

Thanks everyone.... actually managed to get through to the surgery this morning and I'm currently waiting for a call back...as it's Friday I want to get checked ( the nurse who could see me at noon is not the respiratory nurse and I'd feel a bit happier if a doctor would see me).

[Alberta56]

I hope you get some constructive advice. Another time try the helpline (0300 222 5800). The nurses are very knowledgeable.

[HerLadyship]

Thank you Alberta 56 ...just back from doctor ... steroids and antibiotics.(Prednisolone and amoxicillin) Hopefully, feeling a bit better soon.

[spiriva1127]

Just nicely recovered from an exacerbation. I was prescribed Prednisone and Zithromycin, Although of note, the provider advised me to use my Albuterol every 4 hours while awake for at least a week to give my lungs a rest from the inflamation. I think it has made quite a difference. I had never heard or been advised to do this before. Hope you are soon on the mend!

[HerLadyship in reply to spiriva1127]

Thank you spirive1127! Glad to hear that you've recovered! ...I've never been advised to use the reliever like that either ..but I'll certainly give it a try .... ...this condition can be sooo miserable!

[Batman1313]

Good day.

I do not use this site much anymore but I had an email to nudge me.

Seeing your dilemma I logged in but clearly too late.

Nevertheless, I am pleased you are sorted out but I will say is that I was on the wrong antibiotics for probably ten years .

Life was miserable but then during Covid I became really ill with constant infections and as I was completely isolating the penny dropped that the infection was me.

That is whatever was attacking me was only suppressed for a while with the meds I was on.

I demanded sample tests which confirmed my suspicions.

Once the right antibiotic dealt with it I have not had to use an emergency pack for years.

[HerLadyship in reply to Batman1313]

My goodness! I'm really glad that you've finally got the right antibiotic and that you've not needed the rescue pack for a long time. It's hard to know when to accept doctors assessment and when to push further ...glad it worked out for you!

[jackwok]

Have you done pulmonary rehab course ?

They do a health plan which shows when you need to take antibiotics/ steroids.

[HerLadyship in reply to jackwok]

Thanks for replying jackwok....I've been on a waiting list since December 2023(I think I might have been lost somewhere on the never ending lists...it all came to light last week) bingo... I'm enrolled for pulmonary rehab this incoming week... amazing that a place could be found so quickly when we unearthed human error!!! However I am grateful to get on the course and really hope that it will be beneficial

[jackwok in reply to HerLadyship]

Sure it will help. Enjoy