Hello everybody. You have helped me on a couple of occasions for which I thank you all. It is comforting to know that there other people like me with COPD and bronchiectasis,
Now here is my complaint. In the past six months I have got a great deal worse, breathing down from 41% to 35%. It makes a big difference!. I send my browny sputum to the hospital, they come back with the fact that I am using the right antibiotic [doxycycline- probably not spelt that right]. However the browny sputum does not go away and it seems as though the antib just does not work. I have had browny sputum for three months despite taking all the doctors tell me to. I know this does me no good, and the consultant at the hospital [Bournemouth] refuses to try anything else.
Am I alone in this, but I feel that the NHS has given up on me, and I am determined to last till I am 80 years old [ I am 73]
Name of Brian, hope to hear from you soon.
Written by
ffederbompou
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Hi Brian I sometimes feel as though I have hey have given up on me too, but like you I keep on fighting. Please see your GP and explain how you feel, I'm sure he cAn help and support you. Have a lovely day and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx
Hi Brian, sorry to hear you are having such struggles getting help. I am in Australia so do not know your health system. If that were happening to me here I would seek a second opinion from another consultant. Absolutely you want to live to a good age and with your positive attitude you will. Keep pursuing the issue on whatever path you can take medically to get help.
You’re not alone! I have asthma and bronchiectasis and have been laid low by the H. Influenza bacteria for at least 9 months-as confirmed with sputum tests-and on doxycycline with little or no effect on my lung infection.
After 6 months of debilitating ill health I saw a respiratory consultant who sent me for a blood test that showed that I had no natural immunity to H. Influenza.
I’ve got another consultant appointment this Friday with the hope that I’ll be referred to an immunologist who may be able to immunise me against the offending bacteria.
I really hope that the doxycycline works for you-there are other antibiotics that the consultant can offer and may prescribe.
It’s important that you keep a personal record of your Dr and consultant interactions and any proof that your condition isn’t improving or in decline. I’ve got a rather scary chart that shows my peak flow consistently hovering between 200 and 250 for 2 months-despite using ventolin, antibiotics and increasing seretide to max dose- that seemed to galvanise my Dr.
This is a great forum for information and support. I’ve learnt more on here than from the Drs and consultants so don’t feel isolated and ask as much as you need to and let us know how you get on.
Hi I have been given the vaccine for HIB and also an extra shot of the Pneumonia Vaccine as my levels where Suboptimal on the P one. I’m going soon to have a titre test to see if my levels are ok.
thankyou Elizabeth. I hate causing a fuss, but I am coming up with another appointment with my consultant, and I may lose my temper [a bit], and demand some action, but on the other hand I may not. Silly old me!
Hi, usually there is more than one antibiotic recommended with a sputum result. I remember this happening to me once and they changed the ab. Do you know which bacteria it is?
I took Clarithromycin for a while for moraxella.
Also they could take you in and give you intravenous antibiotic which they probably will do should you get worse. Dont give up, keep pestering ! Good luck.
You are certainly not alone Brian and great that you can come here for advice. I too am in my 70s and just wish doctors would acknowledge that by now we know our own bodies.
Best advice a member gave me here was simply to KEEP ON ASKING QUESTIONS.
it’s sad but it is a fact that in today’s world we sometimes have to make a loud but polite noise to be heard.
Good luck and keep on asking until you get what you need to improve.
I don't think there is any bacteria that only has one antibiotic that can be used in treatment. Sending you away repeatedly to try the same antibi seems nothing short of negligent to me.
Is your medical adviser recommending a long enough period of taking your dose? After several failures, or for anyone that suffers frequent exacerbations you should be taking a full 14 day dose*. That's the official doctor guidance for bronchiectasis and as we are talking about lung infections that probably duplicate between bronchx and COPD sufferers i suspect the same guidance on dose length would apply
Of the 9 common bacteria that impact on bronchiectasis sufferers, doxy is the recommended antibi for only one, and that is MRSA*. I doubt you have MRSA unless you have been in a specific risk environmemnt like surgery in a hospital. COPD and bronchiectasis tend to share the same infections I believe.
I strongly suspect that your medical adviser is either inadequately qualified/experienced to manage a patient with your chronic disease, out of date and relying on his general historical experience, overly cost-conscious in a funded health system like the NHS (doxy is dirt cheap compared to some of the other antibis), or an idiot/unqualified fraud. Only joking on the latter - hopefully.
If he/she has told you the bacteria you are suffering let us all know and we can have some input to what you should have been taking or what second line alternatives that you should be now receiving in the face of the first line defence antibi clearly not working. You might be able to use the info to justify a switch of medical adviser to someone who understands the specifics of your disease.
*Source 'British Thoracic Society - Guideline for Bronchiectasis in Adults
I have had several chest infections over the past few years and the treatment has ALWAYS been antibiotics AND steroids. Are you taking steroids and, if not, get in touch with your GP to see if he/she will prescribe the steroids. The doxycycline and steroids have always managed to clear the infections.
Brian, it's quite possible you need combination antibiotics to clear this infection & probably a long course too.
Following a dx of COPD / Pneumonia in hospital last year I was discharged with 6 weeks of Clarythrimocyn / Amoxiclave as well as 1 week IV.
The trouble is the longer the infection goes on being treated ineffectively the more stubborn & resilient it is to shift & meanwhile you get sicker & sicker........
Don't I know it. The frustration is that somewhere I know there must be a right course for me, and that it is being blocked. Perhaps wishful thinking, but how to convince my consultant is the problem
Have you ever had pseudomonas .It can take a long time to show up in a sputum test. .I had browny coloured sputum when I had it.It takes IV antibiotics to make you feel better .
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Antibiotic advice please
NO ANTIBIOTICS IN RESCUE PACK?
WARNING! Clarithromycin antibiotics side effect.
IVs rather than oral antibiotics. 
Afraid to go back to work.
