Signs of exacerbation on Christmas Eve! Emergency antibiotics...what should I do? I have bronchiectasis.

[stillmovin]

Hi there and Happy Christmas to you all!Well, I'm in a pickle! 3 weeks ago, I turned over on my ankle. I have learned that it is a severe ankle sprain and a couple of hairline fractures near the ball of my foot. So, hospital orders are to be totally immobile until it all heals, which is a long wait. I live alone, and being immobile indoors all day is impossible...cooking, looking after myself, etc. Not to mention depressing! Anyway, I think I've finally managed to pick up the nasty bug that most of the people I am meeting now have and on Thurs night, my throat was very dry, sore and more phlegm was coming up. This morning, it's the same.I don't have any cold or flu symptoms, just the sore throat and very dry cough. So...I have an emergency week's supply of Doxycycline here, do I take it? If I call 111 for advice, they will usually have me go along to the local Urgent Care Centre (where I May picked something up over the past week) and I cannot do that now anyway, as I can't get about. I am not sure when my doc surgery is open again after Christmas Day and there are none of my usual helpful neighbours here for the whole Christmas period! Is this the time to use the antibiotics or should I wait to see if I get worse? This would have been the fifth time I will have resorted to antibiotics this year...not emergency ones, but ones that I went to see the GP for when I was having any signs of exacerbations but sometimes I wonder if some of them may not have been necessary. I am really concerned about having to be put onto permanent antibiotics as I have a few other non-Respiratory health issues being investigated and which may require long term medication too.

Any thoughts anyone?

Much appreciated. Stillmovin x

[sassy59]

Morning to you Stillmovin, sorry to hear about your ankle causing you to be housebound. Ask yourself a few questions, how do you feel in yourself? Are you aching or shivery? You have a sore throat so maybe try a gargle. Can you take paracetamol? See how things go and if concerned take your emergency meds.

Hope you will be better very soon but always ring 111 if concerned.

Take care xxxx

[stillmovin in reply to sassy59]

Thanks Sassy. I think a sort of anxiety sets in when you realise that you may have something starting and it is going to be very hard to get out. I feel a bit better after a le sip this morning, so I will wait a while and see how things progress through today and tonight. Xx

[sassy59 in reply to stillmovin]

Take care Stillmovin. Xxxx

[stillmovin in reply to sassy59]

Apologies it should read Lemsip. I'm using an iPad and it is awful at recognising some words!

[Hidden]

hello stillmovin. It always happens at a Bank Holiday doesn't it. I have bronch and decided to take my emergency meds a week ago because quite frankly, hospitals are germ pools and GPs know no better than me.

1, if you are coughing up lots of phlem, it is darker than usual I would suggest start the meds. If you have a sore throat, itchy cough and bit of a temp, wait a bit, take paracetamol and watch the situation. If it is a virus it will run its course, if things deteriorate with your chest it is an exacerbation.

2 go on to your surgery website and find the date that they will be reopening.

3 When did you last see your consultant. I don't take doxicyclin but you do seem to have a short course for bronch. Maybe other bronchs who take that drug may comment.

As you have had five lots of abs from your GP this year it suggests that either there is a bug in there which doxi does not deal with and you need another antibiotic or that you are not being given high enough doses for long enough. You need to have your sputum tested to find out what is in there. Your GP can have this done but a check up with your consultant should clarify these matters and they will write to your GP telling them which drugs to give you and for how long. GPs like to think that they can treat bronchiectasis but over 63 years I have found that they can't. They are trained in COPD, as are their nurses and bronch is very different. Consultants struggle so what chance do they have.

Good luck, I hope that you manage to have a nice Christmas.

[stillmovin in reply to Hidden]

Very wise words stillstanding. That's why I love this forum! I agree about GPs and hospitals! I have spent so much time at A&E and Urgent Care Centres since my foot injury that I would be superhuman not to have caught anything from all the coughing and wheezing around me. Absolutely everyone has or has just got over a cold/flu/pneumonia! Few of them have COPD and Bronchiectasis though, so don't understand that some of us are knocked back seriously when we catch it. Anyway, it is rare for me to have anything show up on any of the sputum samples. I think it may be a case of bad exacerbations and mucus getting blocked perhaps, affecting my breathing. I can only compare how I was before the foot injury, when I was out walking everyday and my breathing was better with clearer airways. Since the injury, 3 weeks ago, the brisk walks have had to stop and even chair exercises involving leg and foot are very difficult, so I think I may be lapsing back into the poor breathing cycle again. As for getting more than 7 days supply of antibiotics, well, I have requested 10 days from various GPs in our surgery and from two different consultants and none have agreed. They have always waited to see how I do on 7 days and then offer more if it hasn't improved. Not having pathogens showing up in my sputum is probably why they won't do it. I have a one-off appointment at Royal Brompton Hsop in Feb (Dr Wilson and Loeronger clinic) so I will have this clarified and if they think I need 10 days emergency pack then I will make sure they put it in a letter to my GP and also my own local hospital respiratory consultant.

Thanks for your great response.

Happy Christmas. Xx

[Hidden in reply to stillmovin]

for bronchiectasis it is usually a minimum of 14 days abs. Bugs don't always show up in the lab when they are in your lungs. Not all labs are good. Your consultant should be one that specialises in bronchiectasis. It is good that you are going to the Brompton. Let's hope they sort things out. good luck

[inhaler1]

Start your rescue pack.! Not worth taking chance it will get better.

[stillmovin in reply to inhaler1]

Thanks inhaler. As day is progressing I'm taking paracetamol to see if the throat feels better and it has got a bit better. I will see how I am tonight with trying to cough and get mucus up and then I will know but I will take the antibiotics if there seems to be a chest problem. I won't take a chance as no one will be around me to get to the pharmacy and I definitely don't want to try to get a cab to the Urgent Care Centre, when I can't walk and where I will catch something worse. Happy Christmas! Xx

[Azure_Sky]

By immobile, do you mean you are wearing a plaster cast and have to hobble around on crutches, or sit still. I would think you need to move a little bit. If you start to feel worse, it might be good idea to ask for a home visit from the out of hours doctor.

[stillmovin in reply to Azure_Sky]

Hi there. I will be going to fracture clinic after Christmas for a moon boot. In the meantime, I have been told not to walk on my foot and to rest it so that the fracture and the sprain can heal. I am resorting to hobbling around indoors on walking stick as crutches painful on my arms and good knee. We don't get home visits in this area. The out of hours doctor doesn't really exist now, it is a doctor who calls you back at home after you call 111 and they usually tell you go get to the local Urgent Care Centre, where you are seen by a doctor.

Thanks xx

[rubyred777 in reply to stillmovin]

Do you have anyone with you for the holiday? Your having a most trying time, and hate to think of you by yourself. Hugs, Ruby🌹

[stillmovin in reply to rubyred777]

Hi there and thanks for your kind words. I will be at my sister's for the day and will be here at home through the rest of Christmas but that's ok as I want to be at home where I can rest and watch telly and let my foot heal. The only drawback about living alone when you cannot be mobile is getting basic housework and cooking done. And good company of course! However, this isn't going to go on forever and I can't wait to get back out for my walks again when I heal. I was doing so well while being more active, that's the main drawback. Have a lovely Christmas.xx

[rubyred777 in reply to stillmovin]

No pets to keep you company? Couldn't do without mine! 🌸🌼

[stillmovin in reply to rubyred777]

I agree, it would be nice to have a cat. In our flats, we aren't allowed to keep cats or dogs and I do agree with that. If I had a garden I would have a cat.

[rubyred777 in reply to stillmovin]

Take care..😁

[katieoxo60]

Hi Stillmovin, I have had the bug for about three days, like you say no cold or flu symptoms just cough and throat, my chest hurts from coughing. I have not used any antibiotics or seen GP so I would opt for wait and see any signs of worsening I would contact 111 . Think Gps are closed till Wednesday and many might be quite busy following the long weekend closure. Keep warm and plenty of warm drinks, be careful you don't fall and keep your phone close to hand and if necessary dial 999. Take care xx

[stillmovin in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks for the warm words Katie. I have been riding things out and sticking to paracetamol which has helped the sore throat. I managed to have a nice day at my sisters for dinner and could be inactive all day, so no pressure to keep moving my foot! Hope you are having a peaceful Christmas. Xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to stillmovin]

I am having a peaceful Christmas , but the washing machines on for my smalls this morning . Still coughing but throat is getting better. Meeting My Sister on Thursday in Birmingham shes changed the day but treating me to lunch, so might pop out on Wednesday for some fresh air.