Is it possible to develop a chest infection without being in touch with anyone. I have bronchiectasis and normally get frequent infections but I have been shielding since start of pandemic and apart from going for my vaccination and a daily walk, have not been anywhere. I have developed symptoms of a a chest infection but don't know how I got it.
Thanks.
I'd say yes it is possible. Supermarket deliveries. Post, pharmacy delivery - if you share a home with someone else who also has contact with others outside the home.
In addition certain things can trigger an exacerbation which may lead to lung infection. temperature too cold inside the home for instance, poor air quality inside the home.
Outside in unhelpful weather conditions.
There are several possibilities.
Whatever the cause, I hope you will soon be feeling much better.
Take good care.
BK
Agree with Bkin, I live alone and have not been out but have had infections. Have been vaccinated so that may help.
Thanks for these timely reminders Bkin. Usually when out at this time of year and have a warm scarf round my neck and wear a hat and gloves. Avoid point about airing the home too.
Thank you bkin.. Always keep an eye out for your and lottlepoms replies always knowledgeable.. With the bronchiectasis.. Thanks again.. Hope us seen my post last week in relation to Pheizer vaccination and side effects.. Elevated heart rate of 150 plus... 6 days later.. Which dr said was related to Ventolin being boosted by immune system..???..Margarita and the woofs
Wow - that must have been scary. Thanks for sharing.
Yes I’m sure it is Biddy. Pete sometimes seems to choke a lot more and has a mute productive cough. He takes antibiotics three times a week which help to prevent a COPD flare up. So far so good.
I hope you feel better soon and your infection will be short lived.
Best wishes to you. Xxxx
That's the thing about bronch. An exacerbation can start on the back of a virus caught from somebody else and most bronchs have found that they have had few or no exacerbations during lockdown. However because there are always little bacteria lurking in the recesses of our lungs they can suddenly have a party and off we go. Things such as not taking as much exercise as usual, not quite emptying our lungs as well as we should, create the ideal conditions for the bacteria to breed. Sometimes there is no particular reason. If you feel poorly do take your rescue pack and don't let it get out of hand.
Great reply from one who knows. Xxx
Thank you sassy. I'm sure that there are other bronchs reading it and recognising the pattern. There is nothing to rival a lifetime of personal experience is there.
I just know you’ll reply with good answers to queries and putting fears to rest. If anyone can, you can. Best wishes to you. Xxx
Thanks Littlepom. I had an infection in October and I suspected that it wasn't completely cleared so if there was some bacteria left behind that could be the answer.
Little devils they are.
Thanks for that explanation Littlepom. I seem to get an exacerbation every 8 weeks or so and considering I’ve been locked down and shielding for ages like most of us, I could never work out where I was getting them from but as you said .... supermarket home deliveries, Amazon deliveries, post and a husband who goes for long walks but keeps well away from others . I have severe emphysema and bronch. I have no idea how the bronch affects me . I blame everything on the COPD.
Yes it’s difficult to tell the difference when you have both. A Bronch exacerbation is most associated with the increased production of mucus which becomes thicker and darker. Breathlessness associated with that is due to the mucus blocking the airways and lung sacs.From reading many many posts and replies it does seem that flare ups associated with emphysema are more to do with increased breathlessness and inflammation which requires steroids ( not a standard treatment for bronch on its own) Although I do know that copd flare ups can also involve a bacterial infection. When you have both, deciding which is causing the problem must be difficult.If you have been having regular infections it could be that the antibiotic that you are given is not the right one for the bacteria in there or that you are not being given long enough courses. 14 days for bronch of a high dose.
I don’t believe that these germs come in on groceries, parcels or post but are very much passed person to person. When a person with bronch catches a virus from another person it upsets the balance in the lungs and airways, giving resident bacteria a chance to breed.
Long before the pandemic I wore a mask in crowds and kept hand gel in my pocket.
If you have a bronch specialist I think that it would be a good idea to get in touch with them about the exacerbations.
Thankyou LP. I don’t have a bronc specialist or a COPD consultant. I was referred back to GP 4 years ago. He ..the consultant, put me on oxygen and said there was nothing more he could do for me.
The antibiotic I have with my rescue pack is amoxicillin and I get one week supply of it and steroids. It’s the steroids that clear the ‘infection’. I get notes asking me to produce a sputum
sample and I ‘ve been unable to provide one. On the rare occasion I do get something up it’s in the middle of the night or late evening. ... never before 3 pm the collection time when the surgery is open. I’m used to it so it’s not a bother really as I know it will clear eventually. I don’t see any one else other than my husband and he only sees me so it’s all a puzzle! 😀
Many thanks LP . 🍀
I really do think that when its possible you insist that your GP refers you to a different respiratory consultant with a special interest in bronch. It is terrible that you have not been under the care of someone to monitor your conditions. One week of amoxycillin is useles for a bronch exacerbation but may be fine if your flare ups are emphysema driven. Only a really good consultant can deal with this and advise your GP about ongoing treatment.
I also have that problem of producing a sputum sample for a particular time collection. My previous GP collection time was 10-30 it was impossible. Recently changed surgery and it a later collection which is slightly better.
Definitely well said ,our lungs can be productive in germs without outside infection sources nasty little beasties those germs
Thanks Littlepom. Very useful info.
In my case yes it is possible to get a chest infection while shielding, I’ve had a few since lockdown 2
me too
Hi Biddy, yes I had one last year whilst shielding and wondered how I’d managed to pick one up too?? I have no idea 🤷♀️ Hope you’re feeling better soon!
With all her experience and knowledge from living with it, LP’s reply is excellent (as always!), particularly with regards to bacteria lurking in wait of an opportunity to grow at the bottom of someone’s lungs and catch you out that way, but I thought it’s also worth mentioning that chest infections in BE, as with cf, are not necessarily about coming into contact with other people. Where there is bronchiectasis from any cause, environmental bacteria can find their way in just as other ‘normal’ infection causing bacteria do in people without a lung condition, so you could - theoretically - never be within 100 miles of another human being in your entire life and still get chest infections. Most of the common bacteria like h.influenza and staph aureus are usually transmitted from person to person, but pseudomonas is a prime example of an environmental bacteria, along with bugs like klebsiella, enterobacter, and the acinetobacter family, which are less common but have been isolated from patients with NCFBE during an infection. Same with fungal infections. NTM infections (aka mycobacteria). These all tend to come from natural sources like compost, soil, and water (ponds etc.), not people. Without getting into all the rubbish as to why NCFBE is treated so differently to cf, people with cf are strongly advised from birth to avoid exposure to environments and activities where these bugs are commonly found. Whereas they don’t generally effect people otherwise unless immunocompromised, it’s the excess sputum in BE and CF that allow these environmental bacteria to invade and cause infection - a perfect living Petrie dish for them to grow in, which is why chest clearance is so vital to reducing exacerbations.
Fantastically detailed and informative answer as always.
That’s why I never go near a jacuzzi 😣
If you did a straw poll, I’m pretty sure that would be ‘the one’ everyone would be particularly miffed about. Bod definitely is, even though I’ve kept her so far away, she doesn’t even know what a jacuzzi looks like at this point! Somebody once said to me, but she’s already got it, so what does it matter now...👀🤦♂️
Just shows how little some people will ever understandYears and years ago my GP called them pseudomonas soup.☺
My daughter wanted to treat me to a Spa day but I was warned against this (jacuzzi) by my consultant. Very bad for us lungies!
Well explained , Charlie and Littlepom. Airborne bugs can get anywhere.
Thank you for that excellent explanation Charlie G
I hope you feel better soon 🌈
I am on the most vulnerable list, I had no contact with anyone besides my spouse and I have been shielding. In 2020 I repeatedly developed chest infections and I have lost count the of infections I have had. What seemed to turn the corner for me was Carbocistine. Carbocistine liquified the phlegm for me. I still cough up phlegm but it less and more liquid then the solid mass I used to cough up.
I agree with others and one bacteria that is everywhere, but especially in decomposing organic material, is pseudomonas. That can be a nasty chest infection. I got that once from a vase of flowers I forgot to change and it's why no flowers are allowed in hospitals now. Hope you feel better soon. Get a sample into your doc asap and before you start abs. 🙂
Yes as the bugs grow in our mucous in lungs
Thanks for the post Biddy47 , it’s been so interesting and informative 😃 I’m so glad my aversion to jacuzzis has been proven to be correct too . I’m a carer with no health issues but I’ve always instinctively thought they must be a perfect environment for all sorts of nasties , the thought of getting into one makes me fill sick 🦠🦠🤢
Touch wood not had any infections since started on antibiotics by consultant it's 6 weeks on them then 6 weeks off, long my they continue to work. Hope you feel better soon 👍
A lot of excellent info on this particular thread! Is there a way of saving or sending a copy of the thread from the app, as I’d like to save it for future??
Hi Blackcat99, is a save -option at the bottom of the original post you can use. That saves it for you, to your home page
I am getting severe rib pains from my almost 3 x 1 hour sessions of laying on my right to clear my lungs. I have severe brochiectasis. Any ideas? I have to lie on my right side because the very bad lung is on my left.
Hi Biddy. My consultant told me that mucus sitting in your lungs is at risk of bacteria that's when you get an infection. Look up Active breathing cycle on you tube. BLF also have info or phone their helpline (busy currently).
Yes bacterial infections may occur without human contact especially if you’ve had a sore throat through coughing, a nasal sore etc, smoking.
Just started another course of antibiotics my fourth in the last six months. Struck with yet again another chest infection. Had one in February, December and October too. Shielding only go for walks with hubby very little contact with anyone and shop online.... this is the worst I have been in my 10 years of been diagnosed with asthma a d bronchetasis.. hope you feel better soon.
Thanks Mellypad. I just wonder if it might be to do with not exercising as much as I usually do, which manages to move the mucus. Take care.
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