Bronchiectasis-avoid inf people

[Dawnsunny]

Hi

I've been told to avoid being around anyone with colds etc. How do you do this when it's someone you live with (husband)who's full of flu??

Just wondered how others manage this?

[Hidden]

Not easy Dawnsunny. I find First Defense very good when I go into public places. I keep at a distance from anybody who obviously has a virus. If anyone in the family is ill I don't visit and tell them not to come to me until it is over.I do think that scrupulous handwashing is important and carry antibac gel with me. I live alone so don't have to worry about a partner with a cold etc but if I did live with someone, one of us would be sleeping in another room. It is very important because we have to remember that unlike the usually 'well' our lungs are damaged and vulnerable. Any virus infection can result in a secondary bacterial infection where nasty virulent bugs breed rapidly in our lungs and cause further damage.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Hidden]

It's a difficult one, both hubby and I work in schools and I foster a 15yr old. My daughter is at uni. Worried I'm not going to see them much as they bring home every bug going!

I'm wondering if I need to start my emergency antibiotics today.

My mucus is thicker this morning and has gone greener, I have an achy feel in my chest. I've done a sample and will drop off later. However after coughing up the mucus I feel better and not as crackly. What do you think? Should I wait and see how it pans out? I guess I'm worried about starting a full 14day course if it's not an infection ?

Dawn x

[Hidden in reply to Dawnsunny]

That's a hard one too. Sometimes, for some unknown reason these things resolve themselves after a couple of days. Mostly however, we actually know our personal signs that things are going pear shaped. I started 14 days cipro 3 days ago. I have been fine for 10 months, nebulising ceftazidime. Several days ago I started to feel v down with reduced energy. Then stiff and a bit wheezy ( unusual for me) on the right side. No increase or change in colour of mucus but 'not right'. Today I am breathing easier and actually got rid of a lot of stuff yesterday which must have been quietly collecting down there. My instinct is to take it rather than not take it unless it has completey resoved within a few days.

[B0xermad in reply to Dawnsunny]

Hi Dawnsunny I had delay and ended up in hospital with pneumonia and pleurisy last month,so keep a close eye on its changes .I also have bronchiectasis ,worked in a school and am so aware if grandkids/hubby etc are germy.Julie

[Spacecat1 in reply to Dawnsunny]

Don't they say if it's green mucus it's the start of an infection I was told this by my gp so started my antibiotics which I'm glad I did helped to clear mucus and crackles I did keep an eye on my temperature as well.

[Hidden]

pS I hope that you had your flu jab and encourage anybody who may bring flu home to you to go and pay for one.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Hidden]

I had a throat op a week ago and so didn't walk as much or cough. I wondering if it could be that due to this I built up some mucus that needed clearing and now I have it feels better. Think I may wait and see how it goes.

That's a great idea, didn't think if that. Will get them to have it done.

So sorry to hear that littlepom, I really hope you get sorted soon.

I used to love Winter, now I'm dreading it x

[Hidden in reply to Dawnsunny]

Yes you could be right about the consequences of the op. That's the problem with bronch. It has a life of its own! Hope it has sorted itself for now.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Hidden]

We are all booked in, just need to check with my foster child's social worker as to if she can have one. She's 15. She would like one but need to check x

[Hidden in reply to Dawnsunny]

Good for you. I can tell that you are a very organised person. Two of my grandaughters get a free flu jab because one has a strange hormone condition and the other has just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I don't know what government policy is on the general vaccination of school children. As we are learning that more and more conditions are the result of viral infection (diabetes for one) I do think that for the cost it could only benefit to vaccinate the whole community and create herd immunity as has been done for such as diptheria and polio.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Hidden]

I agree! Let's hope that happens before more damage is done x

[Caspiana]

Hello Dawnsunny .

Doctors tell us to avoid catching cold as much as possible for good reason. My doctor obsessively tells me to avoid people with cold, sanitize my hands, avoid crowds and make sure if my family have colds I don't get too close to them. According the the surgeon who may eventually conduct my lung transplant at the University of Tokyo, if I were to get an infection even just a simple cold , because of the weakened state of my lungs, it could quickly and irreversibly cause more damage. I know this is true. Three years ago I got a very bad infection. It took two whole months to feel normalish again and I know I deteriorated after that bout. So now, I don't take any chances. My family also understand how dangerous colds are for me, so they are also careful.

I think it takes everyone's effort. Take care of yourself.

Cas xx 🌹

[mrsmummy]

RUDE RESPONSE REMOVED

Please report any further rude responses rather than replying to them.

Thanks

mrsmummy

[Dawnsunny in reply to mrsmummy]

Sorry, just trying to understand the comment. Will do from now on.

[Billiejean_2]

This a very difficult situation to deal with Dawn. I live with three other people and as the weeks go on, each of them will come down with a streaming, sneezing cold. My instinct is to run upstairs and lock my bedroom door or banish the offender to the garden shed, but this can be a bit difficult to pull off.

Give them the lecture about hand washing/anti bacterial gel and try not to touch things like door handles, light switches etc. Use a paper towel in your hand to turn on taps etc. Keep your distance as far as practicable and if anyone sneezes into the air, shoot them. If caught without a tissue, they should sneeze into their elbows. Germs only live on surfaces for a certain time, so we don't have to carry on theses extreme procedures indefinitely.

Sneezing spouses should definitely be despatched to the sofa or another room at night. And as often as you can, throw open the doors and windows to let some fresh air in.

Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Billiejean_2]

Love it BJ

[Billiejean_2 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks LP ! This is the voice of experience

[Dawnsunny in reply to Billiejean_2]

It made me giggle Bulliejean, but took on board x

[Dawnsunny]

Getting them all to have flu jabs and I've actually ordered mouth masks!

[Caspiana in reply to Dawnsunny]

Oh and we don't share the same hand towel after washing our hands. My daughter works with school age children, so she's very careful in particular. xx

[bayleyray-uk]

I know this may sound a bit strange but don't share mugs/cups, keep a set of crockery and cutlery just for you sometimes we tend to rinse instead of giving thorough washes (when I started doing this I explained to hubby that I was protecting him from my bugs and not the other way around - so he did not get upset) and with our two grandchildren I have lots of antibac wipes for surfaces and we do top of head kissing a lot and have done so since they were born, they are having the flu jab this year, so hopefully that will cut down on the bug levels.

Sue

[Dawnsunny in reply to bayleyray-uk]

Good advice , do you do this all year round?

[bayleyray-uk in reply to Dawnsunny]

Yes and we have separate towels which I can wash separately with it being just the two of us at home having the separate washes is not to bad just a bit of a juggle when the weather is rainy.

How effective these measures are I'm not sure about but I have cut down my flare ups by a third.

Forgot I also wash the bathroom sink and hand taps with an antibac wash before I use it to wash my face whether I'm at home or away.

Sue

[Dawnsunny in reply to bayleyray-uk]

A third! That's fantastic, will be implementing all of these x

[MELNEL]

Yes that can be tricky, best is no snogging 😉no hugs and best if you can sleep separate. Works well with me and take extra vitamins 💃💐💃

[Dawnsunny in reply to MELNEL]

Darn it! 😜..... what extra vitamins do you suggest ? x

[MELNEL in reply to Dawnsunny]

Hello dawnsunny 😉 I started to take seven seas maximum strength, for immune system and eat 3 times in a week Manuka honey 😋😋 I eat them with fresh baked bread yum yum 😋 because I am a sweet tooth, extremely lol I believe it has helped me a lot to deal with colds, didn't get as many I had two years ago. Guess it has boosted my immune system a bit. Very happy about it! I could go in holiday and had no problems when I came back. I am not good in doing sport, so I go swimming twice a week when warm swimming is on. It helps a lot to boost your imunity.🌼💐🌼

[Dawnsunny in reply to MELNEL]

That's fantastic I'll put that on my list to get 🙂

[MELNEL in reply to Dawnsunny]

Happy I could help ❣️😁❣️😘😘 always worth a try

[Ramy22]

I am a primary school teacher so can’t avoid colds etc. I also swear by First Defence. I’m sad today as my very elderly mother had a bad cold and won’t let me near her. I usually visit her at the weekend.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Ramy22]

Aww sorry to hear that Ramy, it's sad we have to keep everyone at bay like this.

What's First Defence? 🙂

[Ramy22 in reply to Dawnsunny]

Thank you.... I didn’t chose to keep my mum at bay.... she decided to keep me at bay because as old as I am she’s still looking after me!!!!😀 First Defence is a nasal spray that deals with cold bugs as they start developing so it recommends you take it if you are in contact with anyone with a cold or think you are getting one. I have used it for years and it works (touch wood!) I have to take it a lot!!!

[Dawnsunny in reply to Ramy22]

Well done mum! We never stop being a mum 😜.

I'll add this to my list to get too. I work in a school as does my husband and my children are in high school and uni, so it's going to used a lot! X

[Ramy22 in reply to Dawnsunny]

We don’t, do we?! She is a better mum than I am!!!! Glad FD is on your shopping list.

[GeorginaS]

My husband has a chronic chest infection. Called GP for an appointment and couldn’t get one. He mentioned my lung disease and they saw him straight away!

I’ve now caught it! Prior to catching it I started a week of doxycycline ( antibiotics). I think by doing that it’s really helped me.

[Dawnsunny in reply to GeorginaS]

Phew! Went in to see the practice manager at my GP practice teary because one particular receptionist makes it so hard to see a dr when I'm ill. It's hard enough without her making you feel worse. She was so different when I went in with my sample yesterday. Sad I had to do it tho.

Glad your responding to doxycycline it didn't help with mine xx

[GeorginaS in reply to Dawnsunny]

Good idea seeing practice manager. I did that when I was first diagnosed (NSIP) as my GP was on holiday. I stood my ground when they handed me the phone in reception for me to talk to him. It’s in public space!

He appeared with notebook and pen! With military precision I told him what he needed to do regarding tests, combinations... the lot!

It was sort-of funny as I did it like I was in a business meeting.... then at the end I fell apart completely. It worked though. X

[Dawnsunny in reply to GeorginaS]

Wow that was brave, at the end of the day its our lives and we need to be sure we get the right support and help, we can't turn clocks back ! X

[lKeith]

Dawnsuny

It's very difficult, try one or other of you wearing a mask a bit like the Japanese &Chinese.

IKeith

[Dawnsunny in reply to lKeith]

Lol, that's what I was thinking Keith, needs must.

[megshafer]

I've given this advise before...lol...but I'm a big Purell gel and Purell wipe fan...everywhere I go, and often. I always use Listerine when I've been out. And, I was told if you keep your hands off your face, don't touch your eyes or lips your much less likely to get sick or catch viruses, etc.

Meg

[Dawnsunny in reply to megshafer]

Good advice x

[Normc]

Anyone who knows me doesn’t visit if they have an infection. I always phone before visiting anyone & if they have an infection then I postpone my visit. If my wife gets an infection then one of us sleeps in the spare room but suppose we are lucky to have one as our children are grown up & have left. Beyond that just try to keep a distance. It can be done. A person without respitory problems will shake off a cold in a week. Try your best.

[Dawnsunny in reply to Normc]

Thanks Normc , what we have to do to say well eh!