Ct scan after infection

[lilypickle1]

3 years faffing around with adult onset asthma (not convinced) and hacking, rattly, congested cough that makes me retch, I am finally going for more tests to try and find out EXACTLY what I DO have instead of my g.p's just fobbing me off. Consultant at hospital thinks it may be Bronchiectasis - not like I suggested that 2yr ago to my g.p's and was laughingly derided! Anyway, just at the end of another 7x day course of anti's and steroids for yet another chest infection but am booked for a Ct scan in 7x days time. Will anything be detectable after the course of treatment? Have I shot myself in the foot? Should I have taken nothing until AFTER the scan? Any advice welcomed thank you.

[Hidden]

Hello lilypickle1, Don't worry, if you have bronchiectasis the lungs will show it on the ct scan even if you have been succesfully treated for an exacerbation ( infection). I doubt if the infection will have been knocked on the head because bronchiectasis exacerbations require at least 14 days of the antibiotic most suited to the bacteria present in a large enough dose. Do make sure that if you get a diagnosis of bronchiectasis you find yourself a bronchiectasis specialist. Not a general chest consultant because they mostly do not have the knowledge or specialism to be able to treat it properly. Although they will seldom admit this. Most bronch specialists are based at large teaching hospitals. Find a name and get your GP to refer you. Don't take no for an answer. The specialist will then tell your GP how to treat you. Most GPs are woefully ignorant about bronch. It isn't their fault. There is no emphasis on it during their training. Good luck.

[lilypickle1 in reply to Hidden]

thank you very much, you've really put my mind at rest! thanks too for giving useful advice about how I may need to move forward, it is very reassuring to get help off real people with very real debilitating health problems. I have no doubt that there are many people with much worse issues than mine but we are not a tick list or a textbook note, which is how we're made to feel a lot of the time!

[Hidden in reply to lilypickle1]

you are welcome lilypickle. All of us with bronchiectasis are similar in that we have a condition which is complex to manage and we learn that we have to be our own advocates and chivvy our medics into meeting our needs. We are also very different from each other in the areas of damage to our lungs, the way it affects us and how we react to different antibiotics. That's why forming a relationship with the right specialist is the most important thing. I hope that you start to move forward now. There are several long term experienced bronchs on here and I'm sure everybody will be happy to support you.

[Caspiana]

Hello lilypickle1 .

I definitely do not think you have shot yourself anywhere. 😊 If you have something beyond asthma the scan will most likely show it.

I'm sorry you've had such a frustrating time with your GPs. I hope the scan will shed more light on the issue and you get the right treatment and relief very soon.

Take good care.

Cas xx 🌿

[lilypickle1 in reply to Caspiana]

thanks caspiana, I'm really hoping the scan is beneficial. I'm between a rock and a hard place at the moment; I obviously don't want to have bronchiectasis but I also don't want to be told that its just asthma and there's nothing else they can do!

[Caspiana in reply to lilypickle1]

Understandably so. Please let us know how it goes. Thinking of you. xx 🌿🌸