Nasty virus or infection

[Lfcpremier]

I have Bronchiectasis & have just started with a virus/cold. Usually I ride it out & don't bother with antibiotics but this one has hit with such speed.. Sunday eve congested, Mon night.. Gone right down deep into my lungs. Horrible raw feeling when I cough & constant greenish mucous coming up from lungs. Do I start taking doxycycline or contact Dr to see if another one of choice or wait & see.Thougts appreciated. X

[sassy59]

I’d start Doxy and tell your GP what’s happening. Others may have different ideas but I hope you feel better soon. Xxxx

[Caspiana]

Hello LF, 👋😄

For most viral infections, treatments can only help with symptoms. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections. So it depends whether what you have is bacterial or from a virus. Although there are antivirals to treat a small number of viruses. I would contact your doctor. They may ask for a sample of what you are coughing up then they can consider the best course of treatment. In the mean time, ask for advice on how to help your symptoms like fever, sore throat etc. Rest is usually the best policy along with some healthy soup. I hope you feel better very soon. xx 🍵🍞🥙🍏

[Hidden]

Bronchiectasis exacerbations often start on the back of a virus. Opportunistic bacteria leaping in. Your description of your mucus and condition does sound very much like an exacerbation. Although Cas is correct in her assertion of the usual treatment of viral infections, with bronchiectasis this isn’t the case as a bacterial infection which starts with a virus infection can cause an exacerbation very quickly. This is why we have our rescue packs which should be of at least 14 days.

My advice is to start your antibiotics now and inform your GP. If it is no better after seven days go back and insist on a sputum test as a different antibiotic may be required.

I hope that helped.

[Dublinn in reply to Hidden]

GP is best. Also they will get you to do a sample and prescribe accordingly.

[Alberta56]

The doctor will perhaps ask for a sputum sample to determine whether the illness is viral or bacterial. I'd start taking doxy and make an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. PS this is a personal opinion- I have no medical qualifications.

[Lfcpremier]

Thank you for your comments. It used to take 4days to get a result from a sputum sample, now it takes a week. Its always difficult for me to know whether its viral or infection. I used to rush to start antibiotics but find them difficult to tolerate so I usually hang on a bit to see which way I'm going. This 'virus'? has taken me by surprise though, with its speed so I may well start Doxy today & hand in a sputum sample beforehand. 🤞

[Patk1 in reply to Lfcpremier]

Having bronchiectasis,I'd say get rescue meds started as viral infections can quickly become bacterial,with all the extra mucous we have.beta safe than sorry.jump on it

[Bevvy]

Have you tested for Covid? These days that should be first point of action ☹️Is being reported that often difference between Covid and bad cold that doing the rounds is the speed affected. Implication is that if gradually comes on then more likely cold. However only a Covid test will confirm and also being reported that many people with”cold” actually have Covid.

[Lfcpremier in reply to Bevvy]

Hi.. Did a lateral flo yesterday.. Negative. Will repeat later but no sore throat, loss of taste or smell, temp or dry cough. Always crosses my mind 1st though mostly shielding. Thanks for your input. 😊👍

[Bevvy in reply to Lfcpremier]

No problem. Just be aware lateral flo tests are not that reliable. So if/when you contact gp they may suggest PCR test….?? 🤷‍♀️

[Lfcpremier in reply to Bevvy]

Yes.. Agree.. Pretty useless lat flo.. Will try & do PCR one. thanks. 😊

[SkyGazer177 in reply to Bevvy]

A work colleague's boyfriend had tested positive for Covid. She came to work as she had tested negative using the Lateral flow test. It was only after her being at work with us for 3 days that she took another test and tested positive. Be careful of those Lateral flow tests as I don't think they are 100% accurate. The other tests are not foolproof either as I had all the symptoms back in March 2020, and still tested negative. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[INK45 in reply to Lfcpremier]

if you take a pcr test you may get a false positive: totalhealth.co.uk/blog/test...

[Digger0 in reply to Lfcpremier]

when I had Covid in April 2020 I did not have the usual symptoms, just thought it was my normal chest infection!

[peege]

I'd not hesitate to begin your doxy. Yes of course a cold is a virus however, with bronchiectasis you cannot muck about, and Littlepom is so right, a bacterial infection can come on pretty fast on the back of a viral infection - (same as with covid). I've lost count of the times it's happened for me.

Hopefully your gp practice will also do a sputum test but that depends on what's happening with yours- I know full well that's nigh on impossible with my practice. Good luck, P

[Lfcpremier in reply to peege]

Thanks Peege. 👍😊

[Blackcat99 in reply to peege]

In full agreement! With bronchiectasis, your rescue pack is just what it says - take it as soon as possible and it may well prevent the situation worsening. You can get sputum tests organised too, but pre-empt the waiting time for results. All the best!

[Morrison10]

I’ve had bronchiectasis for very many years, currently have pseudomonas, just got rid of Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia. Yes sputum samples now taking too long for results. Only three antibiotics now effective, waiting for course of i.v. when can get help. Think sooner take antibiotics better when starting to feel really off, check your temperature but that’s not always good indication. Good luck, Jean x

[Badbessie]

My own started last Monday....felt alright in the morning. By 1200 I had a temperature of nearly 40. Resting pulse of 120 and my oxygen sats were 88% an unheard of level for me. Amoxicillin did not work . Now on Doxycycline and steroids. Finish antibiotics today after 10 days but still not anywhere near my normal self. Never had an infection hit so hard or fast. GP stated that I was not the only one who reported these symptoms.

[Hellodolly]

Hello

So sorry re your bug. The respiratory consultant I have is super clear about this. He says start antibiotics as soon as there is yellow /green phlegm as you want to avoid more scarring. He says as quickly as possible.

If you can get a sample to them, great, and if you can speak to them, also great, but probs don’t delay if you can’t.

Good luck 😊

[Pjmf]

I’ve been lucky not to have an exacerbation for more than two years, but I have my little samples jars ready and strict instructions from my consultant to take in sputum samples as soon as I started symptoms. The reception at the GPs office was obstructive once and the consultant (NHS) wrote again. It’s very important to know what bacteria you are dealing with. I used to get frequent infections . I ‘rode out’ one infection after talking to the respiratory nurse as it was a bacteria they were less worried about, but otherwise it was doxy as each infection can exacerbate the condition. Hope you get better soon.

[SkyGazer177 in reply to Pjmf]

Would you be kind enough to describe what exacerbation symptoms are and how you are feeling when you are having an exacerbation? Thank you very much

[Lfcpremier in reply to SkyGazer177]

Hi..11 yrs on & still find it difficult to distinguish between a virus & infection. Both are considered an exacerbation.This one started off like a cold but then descended onto lungs very quickly( within 24 hrs)..extremely rattly & wheezy chest.This time it felt very raw inside..in addition to muscle aches , headaches & chills.A lot of mucous but seemed stuck,hard to cough up.Normally I try to hang on before taking antibiotics as I don’t tolerate them well ( liver issues) & consultant recommended doing a CRP blood test &/ or sputum sample.But this time felt the need to take after putting sputum sample in.Haven’t done the blood test.

Finally had a decent nights sleep.😀

[SkyGazer177 in reply to Lfcpremier]

Thank you for your reply. Earlier in the year, out of the blue, I suffered from severe shortness of breath for around 25 minutes. I used the blue inhaler several times but that did not help. I honestly thought I was going to kick the bucket and so phoned for an ambulance, which was a disappointment as the call handler said it would be at least 90 minutes. When I spoke to a medical person he asked how long did the exacerbation last. I said i was ok an hour later. He said, well you didnt have one of those then. Take care of yourself

[Lunglady]

Sounds like what I've had for over a week now. Started with sore throat then awful cough, then chesty cough bringing up green musus (still) , feeling like I'd been hit by a a bus at the weekend. Constant headache. Green mucus from nose. Then awful sinusitis (never had before) pain has moved from left ear/face to right. 2 negative pcr, constant negative lfts. Finally went to Dr's yesterday. Said I've got little crackles on chest, given me short dose of antibiotics. Honestly it's the worst cold I've ever had.Hope you feel better soon

🙂

[Perrythomas]

Doxy is a broad spectrum antibiotic- take it now! And then see doctor with a sample of sputum to get tested. Try inhaling salt water through a nebuliser if you have one x

[Lizzab]

Take it. Green mucous or indeed a change in colour would be enough for me to start antibiotics.A virus is the starter for infection for me.

[Trishe]

Hi, I wouldn't start to take antibiotics until you have collected a sputum sample for the Dr, once you have then I would start them, but get the sample to your GP ASAP, so they can then give the correct Antibiotics. Hope you feel better soon.

Trish

[jonthecourier]

Hi. When I was diagnosed with Bron the doctors consultant said I'll send a message to your own doctor to have some pills too loosen the mucus but they never worked just kept making me urge so I went out and bought a nebulizer and the doc prescribed a saline to put in the nebulizer and it works very well but also you can put an antibiotic in with the saline and it goes straight down to the lungs and you get well a lot quicker.

[Hidden]

Try to produce a sputum sample before starting doxycycline. Take it to you GP straight away. If there's any delay keep it in the fridge until you can take it. Hopefully your GP has already provided you with the collection bottles and appropriate forms for just such a situation.

[Runner4848]

I tried riding out my last chest infection & then got the dreaded covid on top of it ,so i would advise getting it sorted out sooner rather than later ,my breathing was the worst it had ever been ,i was in total panic mode . So i would advise getting chest sorted incase something worse adds to it .

[Egpa]

I have bronciactsis as well as other things, You need to take a sputem test to your gp and get it tested, because you might need different antibiotics to your rescue pack to clear it up. I had to change to 10 days of co-Trimoxazole to clear mine up as when they cultivated the sputem my co-amoxiclave would not have killed the very nasty bugs in my lung. Hope. You Get well soon.

[Lfcpremier]

Thanks so much for all thoughts/suggestions. Have just submitted a sputum sample.. Much more complicated now, have to do an E-consultant & speak to Dr before they issue forms. Ridiculous!I will probably start antibiotic today, though find them difficult with side effects. Not heard of putting them in nebuliser before. Sounds like a good idea. 👍

[BronchyBronwen]

I would start the Doxy today and also get a priority (if you can) appointment with your GP. Agree with Littlepom that bronchiectasis can start so fast that it’s not to be messed with. Get well soon. X

[Mooka]

My instructions are always to take a sputum sample into GP and start rescue pack straightaway. I hope you feel better soon. X

[Maximonkey]

Hi Lfcpremier, have you sent your doctor a sputum sample to send to the lab? If not this is the first thing you should do. If your doctor cannot see you for a day or two I would start your emergency meds but not until you have done the sputum sample. When the results come back to the doctor he/she will change the antibiotics if necessary. Hope you get better soon. Take care, Maximonkey

[Digger0]

My respiratory consultant gave me spare sputum pots so if I start with grotty sputum, I can take a sample down to my GP before I start on and AB's! Hope you feel better soon.

[bobbysgirl1]

Start taking them asap

[corriena]

Id start doxy asap then tell dr what you are doing. And get replacement doxy for next time. I hope you are feeling better soon.

[YummyBear]

Try obtaining advice from: bronchiectasishelp.org.uk

Very useful information

[larryvon1012]

how long have you had Bronchiectasis, and what antibiotics have you been on before? What I learned years ago, when my Mom had it, cipro cleared up fairly well...

[larryvon1012]

also, do have bouts of bleeding, or bleeding from the lungs?

[Lfcpremier]

Update. Had a bad reaction to doxycycline, advised to come off them. Pseudomonas showed up in 2 more specimens before a third was clear. Felt better so didn't take anything else. Thankyou!