Chest Infection and new Biologic

[MissNyxiie]

Hi, Ive had asthma issues and constant chest infections for 3 / 4 years now. This latest bug or infection has really kicked my butt. Ive been ill since november, had a chest infection for a week before getting covid again and been ill since. This latest bout just wont give in, my chest has been so painful and heavy and both my gp and asthma clinic can see that my tests are all fine. I dont know if its because ive started a new biologic in january, whether its affecting it. I had amoxicillin for a week, didnt help, then got steroids and doxycycline. I finish them today and im still coughing up thick green and have a tight chest. I feel like if i try going back to my gp they wont do anything, they always make me feel like im imagining it because my peak flows are mostly okay and i dont wheeze even though it feels like an elephant on my chest. The asthma clinic say theyll do checks but dont find anything and nothing really happens. Thought this injection would be great but ive felt ill since before I started it. Bit lost as to what to do, I dont feel right but dont think they will do anything to help. Sorry for the moan, not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel at the moment. Really fed up of being ill all the time.

[Patk1]

Put a specimen in for testing+ get dr to listen to chest x

[djbctla]

I agree with Patrick put a specimen in for testing. I wish u better ASAP. ❤️🥰🤗🤗🤗

[Poobah]

I know that GPs are unlikely to test the phlegm, but can you get a sterile specimen pot and cough up some phlegm in order to let the GP see what you're battling? Sometimes a visual aid is better than a description.

[DAsthmaD]

What Biologic are you on? Hope you feel better real soon.

[MissNyxiie in reply to DAsthmaD]

It is a new one called tezepelumab. They just started using it at the hospital so their not 100% on side effects etc.

[MissNyxiie]

I have put in samples often at the surgery and the hospital and the latest one when this all started up. They never show anything, this is what makes it hard. They dont show any bugs then treat it like im imagining it.

[ellamental]

If you can get a face to face GP appt (IKR) but if the GP listens to your chest it might help as Patrick said. Ideally if they give you another course of doxycyclin I imagine it might help too. One course is rarely enough. I turn down amoxycillin because all it does is upset my stomach. It is a cheap one I think. Doxycyclin does work for me though. I couldn’t get a tel appt with my GP for 6 weeks so I ordered some online ( prob not wise advice but they did go through my history and let my GP know) after the first lot given at the hospital. EUmeds or Mypharmacy. Can’t remember which one. Hope you feel brighter soon.

[MikeWhite]

Hi, I went through the same a few years back, recurrent chest infections which almost every time had me in resus and 7-10 days in hosp within 48 hrs

I am on Xolair plus 20+ other meds mainly due to the side affects of high dose long term prednisolone

I’m on prophylactic azithromycin - Mon, Weds & Thurs

That together with working from home due to Covid means that I have not had any severe infections for a couple of years - my life has been turned around

It was the Brompton that prescribed the prophylactic antibiotics

Mike

[MissNyxiie in reply to MikeWhite]

Blimey you have been through it, glad thing are better now. I was on azithromycin for a year, dodnt make a difference, then took daily Doxycycline for over a year and it only slightly reduced it but really messed my ibs up. They stopped the Doxycycline and its been really bad since. I mean its march, ive had 5 courses of antibiotics and 2 courses of steroids already and can only count 1 or 2 days i have felt well all year. They seemed to thin this biologic i started in January, tezepelumab, would help. But i was ill before i started and felt like total crap since, due third one next week. I think i felt it would make ne feel great and it just hasnt.

[Jolu29]

Hi sorry to hear your so unwell do you see the physio at the hospital they can help, I'm getting over covid thought I needed more antibodics my bloods came back with no infection, just said it's time.

[Gwalltarian]

I found doxycycline though effective initially then gave me asthma symptoms, it doesn’t seem to be helping you. I found Clarithromycin an effective antibiotic for chest infections.

[Cavmad]

You need to get a sputum culture from your GP