copd chest infection.

[keith194987]

hello i have had 2 chest infections in 1 month taken steriods and antiboiatics chest infections keep coming back. i now have another chest infection i have not had a infection for 3yrs coud anybody advice me what to do.

[sassy59]

Hi Keith, you need to speak to your doctor and have further investigations done xxxx

[Lilian226]

You must be really disappointed Keith, not having an infection for 3 years and now 2 in one month! Hopefully when this one clears up you will go another 3 years without getting another. Hope the meds kick in soon. Lilian xxxxxx

[peege]

If I were you I'd blast my immune system with everything possible including probiotics - but that's me. Constant infections are really depleting as are antibiotics.

You should by now have your sputum tested for correct antibiotic for the bacteria.

Good luck. P

[girliegirl2012]

Sounds like you need a chest xray to rule out pneumonia. It could also be that maybe you are taking your antibiotics, but it hasn't quite cleared up all the infection. It could just be enough bacteria that it re-manifest itself, thereby requiring more antibiotics. If it were me personally, I would ask for a chest xray first, then I would want a CT Lung Scan. You also need a Pulmonary Specialist rather than a General Practioner.

[Leeleel in reply to girliegirl2012]

Some of the side effects of certain I inhalers can cause chest infections.

[girliegirl2012 in reply to Leeleel]

I've never heard of inhalers causing an infection. I worked in a physician's office here in America and never heard a doctor say that. Chest infections normally start in the head and settle in your chest. They originate from germs being either viral or bacterial. If your illness is viral, antibiotics won't work and they treat the symptoms. If it is bacterial, they use antibiotics and treat some symptoms. Both require lots of fluids and rest. You are contagious while you are running a fever. Chest xrays will see the pneumonia, and if necessary a CT Lung scan will be ordered. I'm sorry you aren't feeling well.

[mrsmummy in reply to girliegirl2012]

Leeleel is quite right. Some inhalers do indeed carry a warning that one of the side effects can be a chest infection or pneumonia.

[girliegirl2012 in reply to mrsmummy]

Yes Mrs. Mummy, you are probably right. I don't know that I've ever noticed it on a label here in the US. It is the doctor's decision to advise us on what he recommends for the benefits to outweigh the risks. I'm all for the labels and I say, "when in doubt, check with your doctor."

[Toci in reply to girliegirl2012]

You are mistaken girliegirl2012 . I never worked in a doctor's office but my consultant told me that I had to stop taking Seretide because I kept getting chest infections. The side effect list includes pneumonia and bronchitis as 'common' reactions to this inhaler. And this is not the only one.

[girliegirl2012 in reply to Toci]

I have just replied to Mrs. Mummy regarding the same issue. Thanks Toci.

[y_not]

Hi keith, as I sit here nursing the third exacerbation in eight months I think similar thoughts BUT one thing the GP said resonates with me.

I work fulltime so, after each infection I do as instructed and "chuck emergency meds down my throat until they are all gone" and then go back to work!

The nice GP said, "At 64 years old you no longer have the body of a twenty something (I was going to argue the point but thought better of it) and a week after you realised that something was wrong you've not given you body anything like the time it needs to recover!" he continued to suggest that rather than working (even from home) just 7 days after the onset of an exacerbation was crazy and my body needed closer to three weeks to recover!!

My thoughts are that maybe, like me, you are not giving your body a chance to recover before returning to "normal life"? One side of me hopes that is the case because then the solution would be easy.

Best wishes whatever the cause I hope it's resolved soon.

[Fionafish in reply to y_not]

This is good to know - I am in my early 60s and work in education so a lot of germs. I tend to work through all chest infections and they don't half linger (on the third dose of antibiotics with current one). Have been wondering about giving up or going part time but love my job - plus the money comes in handy! It is a dilemma - good luck kicking bug.

[y_not in reply to Fionafish]

Like you I enjoy work, am well paid and see no issue (other than health to stop doing what I enjoy.

Luckily for me I have a good employer and we started talking about part time sometime next year ... I'm just wondering if I will wait that long ... no decisions in the middle of an exacerbation! Did order a nebulizer yesterday and GP agreed to provide meds so maybe in the short-term I have another option (yesterday the hospital used one ... 2nd time this year).

Best wishes whatever you decide

[soulsaver]

Have they lab tested a sputum sample? Sometimes the bacteria is resistant to the AB they're giving you.

Best wishes

[lKeith]

keith194987

Hi, chest infections can be a pain when they keep coming back. Try to see your GP see if he can put on a course of Carbocicteine to move the the mucus that could be helping to cause the infections. Mucus holds the germs that aggravate the infection.

Keith

[Toci]

It may not keep coming back, it may just be that it is not being beaten so keeps resurfacing. Make sure your GP tests your sputum and gives the right antibiotic for your particular bug.

[hopetorun]

Hello ask your gp if a sputem sample might help identify the problems