I have COPD and Bronchiectasis and am... - Lung Conditions C...
I have COPD and Bronchiectasis and am 'colonised' with pseudomonas. My breathing seems to be getting worse. Any advice?
I dont have COPD, but the rest of your post applies to me. I am coughing and bringing up muck after 2-3 weeks of two different
antibiotics. Not sure what you mean by"colonised", bellebea.
I was told twelve months ago that I had the same things, my consultant has treated me with colomlycin through a nebulizer, which has helped, but I am still on high dose steroids which means every bug has a go at me and I seem to live on various antibiotics and visits to the surgery.
His next move is to flush my lung with liquid and then test the samples they remove, I am of course really looking forward to that.
There seems to be no easy answer, but learning breathing technics and ways relaxing help. I used Hypnosis which stopped most of the panic attacks, I am learning how to live with it, hunt around this site you will find loads of helpful hints and advice from fellow suffers
sorry to hear all that you are coping with.
I thought they had sorted a special antibiotic for pseudomonas.
The website has changed & I dont know how to access previous information. I recall someone else with similar problems posting some months ago.
Try clicking on your own 'tag' of pseudomonas at the bottom of your post & see what comes up.
If it isnt much try contacting the BLF. I'm sure they will have the latest info on it and offer some advice on improving the breathing.
Hoping someone comes up soon to help out, wishing you well. peeg
I have COPD and also suffer with lots of phlegm and coughing, i was told about salt therapy, was a bit secptical but thought what have I got to lose and I must admit the phlegm is a lot better , so have now been given steri-nebs (sodium cloride ) nebules and use in nebuliser and after 3 weeks really seems to be helping.
hope you sart to feel a bit better soon take care
Thanks to everyone for their replies and advice. Jiffy - I, too, have been using nebulised saline and this seems to help. Ciprofloxacin has some effect though sputum tests say that my 'bug' is NOT sensitive to this anti-biotic! My consultant has suggested using nebulised Colomycin in the future but I am not likely to have contact with him for several months. Just feel that I am deteriorating every day. Will put up a post if I find out any more. Again thanks to all. Any further advice very welcome.
Hi BB
Cipro can be a very useful drug, however if the bugs you are growing are not sensitive then it needs to be changed. Bearing this in mind and the fact you feel you are deteriorating you might want to ask your gp to expedite your appointment with your consultant or 'phone cons secretary and do it yourself, especially as he/she already has a nebbed medication in mind. I know lots of bronchiectatics who are colonised with pseudo and most of them take a low dose drug, quite often Azithromycin, 3 times a week or 1 daily. This drug reduces inflammation and breaks down the biofilms around the pseudo and so a treatment drug can do it's job. Please don't wait around - 'phone soon - your lungs are precious.
love cx
Thanks Cofdrop, I will bear in mind what you said. I am on azythromycin daily when not on cipro so this, with the nebulised saline should be helping. I find that meds seem to take some time before one notices their effects! If I have another flare up soon I will definitely consider trying to bring my next appointment forward.
Thanks for your reply and very best wishes. B
After finally having a correct diagnosis of pseudomonas - I had Cipro prescribed - then a few months later, Levaquin. Both worked for a while then it came back. Tried Cipro again, and again it helped for a month or 2. After another re-occurrence in both my sinus's and lungs I have been put on a PIC line (home I.V. infusion 3xday) of Cefepime for 2 weeks now. Seems to be effective but waiting to see if it re-occurs. If this doesn't kill it I fear I have a friend for life.
As you car see my last post was 2 years ago. I do sympathise with your situation - are you on steroids as well? All the antibiotics and steroids may help short term but not long term. The solution for me was one a day of azythromycin, with carbocysteine (a mucous thinning drug) and nebulised salbutamol and saline solution when required, usually twice a day. I also do postural drainage exercises daily. This combination stopped the excacerbations and I have had no serious infections since 2013! However, the frequent use of steroids had a bad effect on my bones so I had a lot of nerve pain from trapped nerves in the spine. By 2014 this improved. Now I am stable - touch wood - though my breathing is very poor as a result of all the infections.
So, there is light at the end of the tunnel if you keep well informed about your conditions and try different solutions. My last sputum test was clear of all bugs!
Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Bellebea.
