Chest infection and asthma

[nina30795]

Thought I would write as I am feeling awful having for a chest infection and asthma exacerbation. I’m on steroids and claryrhrimycin and feel dreadful. Not much improvement and now at my surgery it is difficult to get to see a doctor. I’ve had asthma for over 60 yrs and Everytime I get a chest infection I have such a battle to get better. It’s just so depressing as I feel my life comes to a complete stop.

I’ve been reading some of your posts and know many are much iller than me and I feel guilty about moaning, but sometimes it all gets too much for me.

[sassy59]

Hello Nina, please don’t feel you’re moaning as chest infections are awful. If Pete ever gets one we can write off at least three weeks and sometimes longer. It is depressing.

I don’t know how long you’ve been on clarithromycin and steroids but maybe it’s time to see your GP again. Try and get an urgent appointment if you can and explain how you feel.

Good luck and feel better soon. Xxxxxxx

[nina30795 in reply to sassy59]

Thanks, Sassy! I was on Doxycycline for a week and now 9 days on clarythromycin. I also worry about antibiotic resistance and have never recovered from any respiratory infection without antibiotics. No one knows whether this is viral or bacterial ..... I will try to speak to a gp today.

[sassy59 in reply to nina30795]

That’s the problem though, too many antibiotics but what ekes us there? Pete takes Azithromycin three times a week and then Ciprofloxacin if he has a chest infection.

I wish you well. Xxxx

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Good morning Nina please don't worry about having a little moan it does us good, sorry to hear that you are not feeling well, hope to start to feel better soon. I know exactly what you mean by finding it hard to see a doctor, we have the same problem at our surgery. We can't make an appointment to see the doctor,those days are long gone. We have to phone and give the receptionist details of what is wrong with us, then the doctor phones us and let's us know if we need to go and see them. You have a lovely day and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

[nina30795 in reply to Damon1864]

Thanks Bernadette! I will have to do that as well and see if they will give me an emergency appt.

[nina30795 in reply to nina30795]

I have got an appt for later today with a GP so will hopefully get a plan. Thanks for advice. Feeling very breathless now. But sitting quietly hoping steroids will kick in soon

[knitter in reply to Damon1864]

Hi , Bernadette......have you tried sending an email to ‘ ask my GP ‘ instead of phoning .....that’s what I do, I find it easier.

[Damon1864 Volunteer in reply to knitter]

That's a great idea, will have to try that thank you. Have a lovely day and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

[nina30795 in reply to Damon1864]

I phoned the asthma nurse from an asthma charity and spoke to her this morning. She was reassuring and gave me some good advice about taking lots more of my ventolin inhaler. They’re an amazing resource. I’m not quite as breathless as this morning. Let’s see what the GP says later. Thanks for all your responses. It’s good to know You’re out there in the ether somewhere

[Caspiana]

Hi Nina,

Please do moan away. No one minds at all. In fact we should all moan more from time to time. I'm sorry you aren't doing so well. I feel the same way at times, I feel stuck. I hope you feel better very soon. xx ☕🍰💐

[peege]

Hi, I hope it goes well with your appointment this afternoon. I've asthma too and 1 week of antibiotics is never, ever enough.

There is also the BLF help line here too, 03000 030555 9 - 5 weekdays. They're very helpful indeed.

Please don't hesitate to get a same day appointment when you're poorly, you/we've every right to with asthma and any other lung disease as its so important. Our lives are at stake after all.

Receptionists are trained to ask "is it an emergency"? I always say yes, I have asthma, suspect an infection so all I need is GP for a quick listen to my lungs. They have to weed out the people with a snuffle or cold.

Regarding feeling awful, both the steroids and strong antibiotics (I hope yours are 500mgs?) can make us feel ill. For steroids I always have them ready by the bed, set my alarm for 4am, take them with water & rush back to sleep....otherwise I get palpitations at night and feel absolutely awful all day.

Good luck, hope you get another weeks worth of clarithromycin this arvo. P

[nina30795 in reply to peege]

Just got back from the GP. Fortunately he took me very seriously and was not a Cavalier as GPs can sometimes be. He listened to my chest and said I’ve still got crackles so Still have some infection. We discussed various options and I will stay on clarithromycin till the end of the second week (I’m on day 9 now) and he’s added a second antibiotic because my overuse history with antibiotic and possible antibiotic resistance. So I’m back on a higher dose of steroids, and started taking the second antibiotic and I’ll see if this picks me up a bit.

Thank you so much for the number of the BLF. If I start feeling very desperate again I’ll give them a ring. Hope you’re feeling alright and haven’t got this terrible summer virus that that’s going round.

[peege in reply to nina30795]

I'm so glad you got in and had a decent GP 👍

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi nina

Please don’t feel guilty in any way about having a moan. It’s the best place as everyone here totally understands what you are going through. Most of us have a moan on here sometimes - I know I do. If it helps whilst you are struggling, then go for it. In turn when you feel well you can support someone else. That’s how it works. You wouldn’t think someone else who was struggling was moaning I am sure - so be gentle on yourself.

Good advice from your friends. I hope you get sorted out and start to feel better soon.

Love cx

[nina30795 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thank you for your encouragement! At least I’m less breathless than this morning and I’m hoping to sleep a bit better tonight.

[jackdup]

Don’t ever apologize for moaning as most if not all of us will do it from time to time.