In the last 12 months I have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis, aspergillosis and now possible colonisation by pseudomonas bacteria
The consultant wants to admit me to hospital for 7 days of intravenous antibiotics and treatment by physiotherapists
Has anyone else experienced this? Will the antibiotics make me feel ill?
It's more likely that the IV antibiotics will make you feel a lot better.
While you have the attention and skills of the physiotherapist, make sure you use them to learn all you can about clearing your lungs (if you don't already know). It's really important to prevent further infection once you have finished the antibiotics.
It is possible that you will never be clear of pseudomonas but you can keep the numbers under control by good clearance techniques and trying to remain as well as possible. Nebulized antibiotics long term can help, as can clearance devices eg Flutter Valve and mucolytics eg carbocystine, hypertonic saline.
Hello Herbiecat . I can't add to what Bella has said, but I want to wish you well. I don't think the antibiotics will make you feel sick. Please take good care. xx 🌱
Herbiecat - I forgot to say that my OH had IV Meropenem for two weeks. First few doses as hospital inpatient then he was discharged home and we had the community nurses administering the treatment three times a day. He felt much better after the treatment had ended but unfortunately not long after that he had a resurgence of the pseudomonas. A short while later he was able to improve his clearance and also start long term nebulized antibiotics, both of which have kept him stable so far. Seven days IV treatment is not long enough - the protocol for bronchiectasis is two weeks. That is in the new BTS guidelines for management of bronchiectasis.
Thank you Bella, can’t wait to feel a little better
and sleep at night
Pseudomonas is a nasty bacteria that seems to have taken over my life at the moment 😳
Does anyone know the origin of the bacteria or is it in the atmosphere and we can’t fight it?
I hope that you soon feel better. Please ask about two weeks of treatment because that is bronchiectasis protocol. You are right - pseudomonas is a nuisance. I asked about it and apart from general hygiene - hand washing etc it seems that it can’t be avoided. The pesky things are everywhere, waiting for a nice new, warm home.
If you haven’t had this already, you should probably consider asking about immunity tests. That is also in the guidelines.
As mentioned, the way to keep the numbers down is to adopt good lung hygiene practise at least twice a day. Nebulized Colomycin can be a real help if you can tolerate it. This drug, plus good clearance has helped reduce exacerbations considerably for my OH. For mucolytics he uses carbocysteine three times a day, hypertonic saline as required. The Colomycin is twice a day and the diluent is 5ml normal saline so that loosens up the phlegm too. He has an Aerosure pep device, a Flutter Valve and SmartVest so with all that lot he’s keeping reasonably clear. It’s all hard work though. 😰
Hi Herbiecat, I have exactly the same and frequently get admitted for IV antibiotics. They will make you feel better but you’ll have to team it up with lots of chest clearance and exercising. Keep this up when you get home too. Joy.
Hi there. I had 2 weeks IV last year (a few days in hospital then continued at home). No side effects and felt much better. The pseudomonas came back after 3 months and take nebulised colomycin which I struggle with as it clogs me up. Good luck! IV should be fine.
update on hospital visit
Brother in hospital with pulmonary fibrosis 
