Constant chest infections

[Sazb3010]

Hi all I'm under the care of The respiratory department as I keep getting constant chest infections I finish a course of antibiotics and then a week later it's back ! I've been told they have grown a fungus from my sputum test and they changed my inhalers that I had a reaction to so I'm now fighting to get them changed back which is causing more stress but my question is im not due to go back to respiratory till September shall I just go back to the doctors to get checked and see if I need more antibiotics ? Feeling pretty crappy with the heavy feeling and greens brown phlegm that tastes of horrible ham sorry that's the only way I know to describe it ? Not sure what to do wait or go back or am I wasteing my time been going to the doctors for a year and a half now do I just try and fight it ?? The doctors think it's my asthma but my asthma is fine it's just the horrible phlegmy cough ? Thanks x

[risabel59]

I think it sounds as you should definitely go back to the doctor or I would call up the respiratory team and tell them what is happening they may want to see you sooner. Or you could go to the GP, see what he/she says and ask them to call the respiratory team for you.

In any case I don't think you should struggle on.

aspergillosis, (fungal) infection is very common in people with Bronchial damage, either re-modelling from long term asthma or bronchiecstasis. As are the dreaded Pseudomonas aeruginosa these pesky bacteria are difficult to treat, as they hide in deep pockets in your lungs. I have Bronchiecstasis as well as asthma and am on low dose antibiotics permanently to try and stop these bugs colonizing my lungs. It may be that you need to take antibiotics for a longer period and also get some respiratory physiotherapy to help you clear trapped mucus. There are some great videos of chest clearing techniques on you tube.

Also the Asthma U.K. Helpline may be able to help you in how to deal with your current situation

I hope you feel better soon

R

[Griffon]

You do know that antibiotics do not work against viral chest infections don't you ? The fact that you are taking them and they are not working should illustrate this .

Also continued use of antibiotics is likely to cause you to become resistant to them , which may be a problem when one day you really need them .

[Sazb3010 in reply to Griffon]

Yes of course but the respiratory department at the hospital I'm being treated by Have said my fungus and infection is bacterial hence why they are treating it with antibiotics and the only way they know how to get rid of the amount of phlegm I have is to dry it up with the bacterial antibiotics