Short Changing By Your GP. Do You Kno... - Lung Conditions C...

Lung Conditions Community Forum

57,108 members•67,650 posts

Short Changing By Your GP. Do You Know That If You Suffer From Bronchiatasis, A 5 Day Course Of AntiBiotics Does You No Good.

12 years ago•14 Replies

Ghandi.

Hi Everybody, I Have COPD, Bronchiatasis. Had An Episode Over The Weekend, So Monday Morning I Rang My GP, He Prescribed Amoxy, 5 Day Course, 15 Pills.

Had An Appointment At My Consulatant Today, Told Him How I Was Shaping Up On A New Tablet That Slowly Releases Some Antibiotic Into My System Daily To Combat The Onslaught

Of An Infection, ( Have To Be Taken For The Rest Of My Life.). I Told Him That I Was Managing, Fine But When I Do Get A Full On Infection, The Antibiotics Dont Seem To Help.

I Told Him That I Had Started A Course Of Amoxy, He Asked Me The Length Of The Course

And I Told Him 5 Days, He Nearly Had An Episode Himself. It Seems That When You Have

Bronchiatasis, A Course Of Amoxy Should Be For At Least 10-15 Days To Have Any Effect.

He Then Asked If I Had An Emergency Course Of Amoxy At Home. I Told Him That It Was

Hard Enough Getting An Asprin Of Them Never Mind An Emergency Pack Of Amoxy.

He Is Writing To My GP, So When The S--T Hits The Fan I May Need To Find A New GP.

My Consultant Agree's With Me That It Is Now All About Money, But If I had Not Had An Episode, And Not Had An Appointment With My Consultant, Then I Would Still Be Fighting

Chest Infections And Taking Tablets That Were Never Going To Help Me. So If You Need Antibiotics Make Sure You Are Getting The Right Amount, Check Up, Be Safe And Take Care.

GHANDI.

Written by

ghandi

To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .

Empower your health journey

Learn from others' experiences, meet people who understand & feel empowered to take control of your health.

Create free account

Featured by HealthUnlocked

14 Replies

•

sillywitch12 years ago

Thanks for putting this up Ghandi, I,m having a CT scan & tests to see if I have Bronchiectasis so it,s helpful to know what I,d need if it,s what they find Karen

ghandi12 years ago

hi sillywitch, glad to be of help. Good Luck Tomorrow. Take Care. Ghandi.

y_not12 years ago

When the GP makes a fuss just remind him/her that they are a Jack of all trades and master of none - not a comment that can be leveled at the consultants. Last time one got annoyed with me I suggested that I forward his comments about the consultant and see if the GMC thought his comments were reasonable - he backed down!

Trust those with knowledge and question those without!

12 years ago

Ghandi, if you have bronchiectasis then any infections should be treated robustly, ie same dosage & length of course as cystic fibrosis. The two are similar, in lung terms. So that often means twice the "standard" dose, for twice the length of time, as non-bronchiectatics.

Tbh, those of us who have anything other than very mild bronchiectasis don't find amoxicyllin very effective after a while, and a 5-day course is useless, as it means that the strongest bugs don't get zapped, leaving them to multiply.

Your gp's help in managing your condition properly is crucial, and if he's not prepared to do that I strongly urge you to find one who's more interested in helping you stay well. I presume you've been referred to a chest physio who can teach you a daily regime to keep your lungs as free of mucus as possible? That's essential, to keep bacteria at bay and avoid becoming colonised with any nasty ones like pseudomonas.

May I ask what the slow-release antibiotic you mention is?

ff x

ghandi• in reply to12 years ago

hi,ffx Its As It Says On The Box, ZITHROMAX, Azithromycin 250mg.

These Do Help, But Not If I am Not Getting The Amoxy.

Take Care. Ghandi.

richardcrossroads12 years ago

hello you are not the only one who has this problem with their GP. I do, mine now has taken everything else accept doxycycline, I think it is a control thing, I also feel that they do not understand how resistant bacteria are created, by this sort of prescribing too short a course,

my latest sputum test came back as normal lung flora no treatment, so they didn't ring me, they only ring if there is a problem, so first thing I do is get the sample and then take antibiotic and wait for the call,

not a perfect system

even though it was normal, the steroids and antibiotics seemed to work and I am now feeling better than I have done in months? who knows, the GP's don't

have fun

Richard

alanjudy12 years ago

I have bronchiectasis and the only thing that keeps me healthy is nebulised colomycin but still sometimes need extra antibiotics. Used to use azythromycin but can't as mixed with other drugs inc anti depressants can cause heart problems. Luckily my GP picked up on that.

Judith

• in reply toalanjudy12 years ago

hi judith, may I ask you something? Do you know what heart problems were implicated, was it a "long QT interval" and did you have an ECG? I know a long QT interval can be a problem with azithromycin+citalopram (I'm also on both those, but azith only 250mg 3 x week and citalopram 20mg per day). Tbh I don't really understand what a long QT interval is but I know it's not ideal.

ff x

12 years ago

I am in the middle of yet another chest infection. It came in the middle of s severe tummy bug, so wasn't picked up as soon as it should, being masked by other symptoms. I am so fed up iwith these infections. I am seeing the doctor today and hope he can refer me.

peege• in reply to12 years ago

Good luck with referral Annie. P xx

• in reply to12 years ago

Came home after a very thorough examination three week's of augmentin and one of doxycyclin and the promise of pulmonary rehabiliation. The doctor said he would go through my notes thoroughly with a mug of horlicks. And to see him in two week's time (after he had recovered.)

Maximonkey12 years ago

Hi Gandhi, sadly all GP's do not understand Bronchiectasis, last Christmas I had flu which caused a lung infection I saw a different doc. She wanted to put me on Doxycycline (which does nothing for me) I remembered what my consultant had told me and I very firmly said "No, sorry doc but I need a second course of Clarithromycin" she wasn't pleased, so I told her to read my consultants letter stating my meds and dosage. She didn't read them, but gave me the second course of antibiotics and asked me to return to see my own GP in 3 days, who agreed with me and put me on steroids too. I didn't like telling the doc what to do but it is my health and I knew what I needed. When I next saw my consultant I told him and he told me I had acted correctly and judging from my xrays if I hadn't had the second course I would definitely have landed in hospital. So stand up for yourself. It is your right. Take care Maximonkey

puffed12 years ago

Hi Ghandi. Like you I have had several infections and was treated with amoxicillin, with no success. Asked for a referral to the respitory clinic and now have two new inhalers and a follow up appointment at the clinic in three months. Lets hope we both continue to get good treatment

ghandi12 years ago

hi maximonkey, the problem with our practice, is that there are too many chiefs, and not enough indians. the people on the desk, have too much to say for themselves, they make decisions which they have no right or experience to make. over the years they have learned that i do not take idiots lightly, before copd, i have mental health problems, so when i needed to see somebody, i would just walk into the surgery and ask politely to see the doctor, they used to tell me that i needed an appointment. usually in a week or two.

not recommended. it is suprising how fast they get you in when they want to go home.

i am 59yrs old, i worked all my life, so i think i have a right to see a gp when need be, and that what ever my consultant tells him, needs to be acted upon. we will see what he has to say,

i will keep you all posted. take care, look after yourselves, and live life to the full. GHANDI