Aspergillus bronchitis

[Tinker26]

I have just been told that I may have Aspergillus bronchitis,been to wythenshaw hospital under Dr denning ,Abpa came back clear and lungs show no other infections other than mild bronchiectasis.IGG levels raised,has anyone else been diagnosed with what the Dr says is only a recent illness .Was sent due to recurring chest infections .

[Wendyhoz60]

Hello. I too have this aspergilus I am not really that clued up on it myself just that it’s an air born fungus to keep away from. I suffer in winter with a really bad chest( I did ten years ago) but I was a silly smoker back then 😧 I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. The specialist did blood tests and it came back with that. I avoid the woods in winter when dog walking because that’s where these fungai grow. I am asthmatic but it is really well controlled. I googled all about it. I hope you get it sorted xx

[Tinker26 in reply to Wendyhoz60]

Thankyou for your reply,do you get any special medication?

[Hidden]

When markers for aspergillus show up in the blood it is usually that the body is reacting to aspergillus in the atmosphere ( much like any other allergy) The body’s immune system usually fights this off. Sometimes I have this show up. Sometimes I don’t. There is no treatment needed for this. I used to live and walk in fields and woods every day.

If it were in your lungs it would show up in sputum tests and you would feel very unwell. The treatment for this is anti fungal drugs, given by aspergilla specialists at hospitals. Many people are confused about the difference beween reactive aspergillosis and aspergilla growing in the lungs.

As you have damaged lungs it is a good idea to stay away from compost heaps which are the most common source of domestic aspergilla.

Any infections which show up in your lungs are probably lurking in the fluid in your airways and lungs due to the bronchiectasis. These don’t always show up on lab plates. This is why it is very important to empty the mucus from your lungs every day. I don’t know of your doctor but if he is a bronchiectasis specialist as opposed to a general respiratory specialist and you were diagnosed as having bronch by ct scan you should be in very good hands.

[Hidden]

I meant to say that any infections showing up can be due to undetected bacteria rather than aspergilla. I hope that all helps.

[Tinker26]

Thanks littlepom,I am under a bronch specialist at Aintree and under dr denning at wythenshaw aspergillosis centre ,no nasty bugs cultured only high igg so hopefully I will be a lot better ,have an acapella now and touch wood I have not had any chest infections for over 12 weeks now ,couldn’t live without it now,thanks for your wealth of information,as you can see I am fairly new to all this chesty stuff !

[Hidden in reply to Tinker26]

That sounds good. I hope the igg drops.

[Superzob]

Aspergillus is the white sheen you get on grapes. It is obviously in the air all the time, like mildew and penicillin (the blue mould on oranges), which is how it gets on food, etc. Mould likes damp places so, in this recent dry heat, you may find its airborne concentration reduces and that might help your infection - let's hope so!

[VoodooChile]

Hi. I have had infections since the beginning of February. A recent bronchoscopy has confirmed that i have 3 Aspergillosis infections, biopsy’s have identified there all different. My case is too complex for my local hospital and my consultant sent two weeks ago an urgent referral to Professor Denning. I have no idea of the waiting times. How long did you wait from referral for your first appointment?

Regards Andy

[Tinker26]

I waited about 8 weeks from referral from my respiratory team in Aintree Liverpool ,hope you get well soon,they are really efficient at wythenshaw!

[lisajawea46]

Hi, I remember learning about aspergillus in pre nursing and thinking how dangerous it could be in my messed up lungs. Do you work in garden or with dirt very much?

[Tinker26 in reply to lisajawea46]

No not at all ,didn’t even have a garden until my 30s ,but have renovated very old houses so maybe that’s where it came from !

[lisajawea46 in reply to Tinker26]

Its hard to say. Ive dond remodelling too. So many things I should have worn masks.. take care of those lungs and hope u feel good soon. 😎

[Tinker26 in reply to lisajawea46]

Feeling great at the moment but on 2.5mg of prednisone still as cortisol levels are a bit low ,been on maintenance steroids for over 6months to bring down inflammation,seems to have worked!