Chest infections

[GHG_]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with MSA in 2019 although unexplained neurological symptoms long before that. Recently, last year and this I have had chest infections which have taken a long time to clear up. Last year, late Autumn, I had 4 doses of antibiotics before it seemed to clear the infection.

From just before February this year I have already had 4 doses of antibiotics, the most recent, which I have finished was 7 days of Clarithromycin, 500mg twice daily, which is quite high, and I still have a cough and can hear my chest still rattling and making noises. I am just about exhausted with this. I know they treat pneumonia with Clarithromycin, I'm just wondering if this is going to be my way out

Has anyone had constant chest infections and if so did they manage to get them cleared up.

Thanks

Graham

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Hi,

Sorry to hear of your troubles at this time.

Chest infections are quite common with MSA some of these are due to swallowing issues where "it goes down the wrong hole" . It is pneumonia and it does take time to clear up . My Sue has quite a round of this a few years ago with blue light hospital visits and lots of antibiotics.

It will clear up.

Threw things to do

1 Chat to your GP about an emergency set if antibiotics at home to administer when you start a chest infection

2. Protect yourself by limiting meets with people with colds and flu

3. Chat with a speech and language specialist through your GP who will give good tips.

Also MSA trust have lots of information.

Paul & Sue

[Fatwallet]

good morning. Sorry to hear that you are having these chest infection. My husband Phil has also been suffering with them throughout last year so much so I always have a ‘rescue’ pack of antibiotics to give him if necessary. He was admitted into hospital in January with pneumonia and again just this past week. In hospital he is treated with 2 x antibiotics , Amoxicillin and Mertonidazole used for pneumonia. He is currently at home and i am continuing with the antibiotics for a further 4 days.. Sadly we have been told that this is always going to be a risk. Although he is ‘peg’ fed he does take liquids at Level 2 thickens and soft food but these last 2 hospital visits have been due to aspiration. We have been told that this will continue even if there is ‘nil by mouth’, there is still a danger if aspiration through the feed and we produce saliva too that can go down jnto the lung.I have found using a nebuliser has really helped to loosen the phlegm that seems to be sitting at the top of Phils chest, its been a great help so i would recommend everyone speak with their GP .. Hope you get well soon, take care, Shirley..

[LadyLins]

hello yes I get alot of chest infections now in fact I have another one just starting now. Do you have issues swallowing? as mine is related to eating with food going into my lungs. I now have to have level 5 food which is soft texture and I have protein drinks. All of which give me respite between infections. I would talk to your comsultant or speech and language about it

[GHG_]

Many thanks for all your replies. I do sometimes have a problem with something going down the wrong way so that may have a bit to do with it. Strange thing is my chest X-Ray came back clear. Hard to understand when even after my X-Ray the GP said My chest was definitely not clear. I see my GP on Wednesday (6th March) so I'll see where we go from here . I'll bring up the subject of having a "rescue" dose for when it starts up again (if I ever get clear), thanks for that Paul, Sue and Shirley. I do have times when food that gets stuck LadylLins, sometimes I've had to make myself sick as I thought I would choke. It's not a lot of fun this condition.

[GHG_ in reply to GHG_]

Well this is a first for me, I'm onto my 6th consecutive course of antibiotics and steroids. Surely every bug in my body must have been killed off by now, but I know there's good and bad in that. I suppose I should maybe take some probiotics to put something healthy back into my gut. I don't know what will happen when I go back again to my GP, surely there has to be a cut-off point if antibiotics don't work

[esj20]

hi there

I have been plagued with infections and prescribed the same medication too but thankfully cleared up.

Take care