Bronchiectasis - All change of Treatment - maybe not...

[Kiwib]

Re my Bronchiectasis - Saw different Consultant and told to stop Carboistiene/ Azithromycin & move to 30mg Steroids/ day & Trelergy Steroid inhaler.

5 days later now worse than ever - bringing up heavy thick green sputum and was getting worse daily - spent last night 2am thro 5am coughing up sputum.. aaagh !

Decision in middle of night.. - Self Reverting back to old Treatment as above + Co-Amoxicillin emergency Antibiotic ( went to sleep within minutes of taking tablet) now 5 hours latter starting to feel better coughing/sputum reduced - shame another rain-forest lost in tissues over last few days..

I wonder where next on this ‘interesting’ Bronchiectasis journey

Keeping smiling but v tired today...

[Lfcpremier]

Have you submitted a sputum sample? Initially I had reluctant Dr unwilling to do this but when I finally did had nasty strep inf! Thick green phlegm... Needed strong antibiotic. Also ask for CRP blood test..can indicate infection too. Glad you feeling a bit better!Need to push for answers.

[cofdrop-UK]

What was his reasoning to do that Kiwib? Sounds like you were on a reasonable regime for bronchiectasis. Was s/he a specialist in bronch, as unless you also have asthma that sounds like a shedload of steroids if it was to replace ongoing treatment, or was it to be used as a short treatment?

[WindsweptRissa]

Do you have COPD or asthma as well? The trelegy inhaler is something that is usually prescribed for COPD as it is a steroid inhaler with added LAMA (it’s usually a steroid combined with a LABA that’s prescribed for asthma) and that dose of steroid tablets is usually something that is prescribed as a short course for asthma (and I think COPD too). I maybe wrong, but I didn’t think steroid treatment (inhaled or tablets) was a usual treatment for bronchiectasis unless you have coexisting asthma or COPD. Did they say why they were changing you medication? If you don’t have COPd/asthma related inflammation I would have thought that steroid therapy would make infection more likely (but I’m no expert).

[Kiwib in reply to WindsweptRissa]

Hi - thanks for interest, but do not have and never had had any Lung problems - certainly not Asthma or COPD

All my lung problems started 18 mths ago due to poor Dysphagia swallowing problems with food continually getting into my lungs due to the ongoing Myopathy Muscle problems - thedifferent and continually changing Locums at my GP kept giving me quick fix’ antibiotics and told me to come back in 14 day if nothing worked- When I returned it was to see yet another locum who gave me different antibiotics with same 14 day message - it just went on like that for months - Aaagh - luckily eventual after 10 mths someone looked at the ‘whole picture’ and referred me to Hospital for possible Bronchiectasis....

Happy days - definitely keeping smiling - and I woke up, suns shining - that’s a good start - shame about the continual Sputum...

[Ergendl]

Oh, dear. Hope you get this sorted soon and start to feel better.

[Ladyindistress79]

Try to keep positive. I have had bronchiectasis for twenty odd years now and used to feel a bit like a guinea pig as I tried so many different inhalers. I am now on Trelegy and I find that works quite well for me, and I have accepted that there are some things that I just cannot do and now don’t attempt.

[Kristicats]

Sounds like a risky move, taking you off Abs just like that! Hope you get a more stable regime.