Bronch steriods

Good morning, A visit to see my gp this morning ,chest feels inflamed jet sputum looks quite clear ,I've lived in a house full of dust for the last three weeks ,had toilet put in down stairs this involved knocking brick wall down putting studded walls up ,had a soot fall in the bargain ,I think it was the plastering that really got on my chest ,silly me no mask I'm really paying for it now as I have brochiectases ,I know my gp will put me on steroids this morning the trouble is I hate them they reck my stomach ,and I won't get a wink of sleep for five days ,wish there was an alternative to steroids, thanks for listening to miserable me this morning

[Patsy164]

Hi Alice I am the same with plaster it makes me ill and I have to go on antibiotics and steroids after. I’m not sure you could walk around 24/7 with a mask on I find I can only put one on for a while otherwise I’m struggling for air. Steroids affect me also can’t sleep but found a way to drop off by listening to an audiobook set it to turn off in an hour and I was always asleep by the time it ended. Even an hours sleep is bliss. I think it takes the sound off the crackling bubbling chest that helps. Fortunately they don’t reck my stomach the antibiotics do that. I hope you get on ok with the gp and let us know how you get on xxx😊

[Hidden in reply to Patsy164]

Hi Patsy Dr gave me eight prednisone a day for five days along with doxycycline, I asked could I take them 4aday for 10 days, he said that would be ok

[Patsy164 in reply to Hidden]

I’m glad you have some antibiotics and prednisone to treat it. Let’s hope you get better quickly and don’t lose too much sleep. Xx

[2greys]

I empathise with the wrecked stomach, suffering myself because of steroids, could not eat for three days because my breathing was really bad, start to feel better and can only eat a little before the acid stars to erupt. You just can't win. Luckily I had managed to get my weight up to 70 Kgs so can afford to lose a little. Best of luck with them, make sure you take them first thing in the morning, re insomnia.

[jmsutt73 in reply to 2greys]

Hi 2greys. Not related to meds, but A question: recently...the last year. Sometimes as I get up from my bed or chair, I get an excruciating pain around the area of my diaphragm, almost like a cramp. I feel as if my body is about to break in two. It really does 'stop me in my tracks.' Thankfully, it leaves very quickly. The past year, I have done breathing exercises and I am wondering if this could be a contributing factor. Have any ideas. I see my Dr. GP, in a couple of weeks.

[2greys in reply to jmsutt73]

Hi, Sorry for a delayed reply, just got in from work. There are two types of hyperinflated lungs, having a barrel chest and hyper-extended chest (long lungs). From what you are saying, you are like me and have long lungs, which press down on to your diaphragm. This results in our lungs, diaphragm and stomach all competing for the same space in the body cavity.

This now going to sound a bit unladylike I'm afraid. When seated shuffle your posterior to the edge of the seat, then place your feet and legs a shoulder's width apart. Place your hands on your knees, gently rock forwards and at the same time push down with your hands on your knees as you stand up. This maneuver then allows a space between your legs for your stomach to occupy instead of being scrunched up into your diaphragm, which I think may be the cause of the sharp pain.

I hope that I have made sense, it will take a little practice but you will get there.

[jmsutt73 in reply to 2greys]

Thank you...I am going to try to remember to do this consistently. I had not thought of this. Not related to the pain, but I had read that when rising it is better to brace one's hands on one's thighs than chair arms. Did you happen to read what I wrote about burning in my thoracic cavity? Sometimes it occurs up the front of my chest, other times it is toward my back.... When I experience different sensations in my back or my chest, I always wonder "does everyone who has lung issues feel anything like this"" That autumn, 2016, I began with having sinus infections that went quickly to bronchitis. That was my Waterloo! First time I had become ill since I had become a 'senior.' My immune system had, unknown to me, become deficient in Vit d, to the point where it measured a 7 on test. I had shoulder pain, had shrunk 1.5 inches... I linked to the article on D not being effective past 70.. When all went awry in me and I learned of the D deficit, I took mega doses 50,000 iI, and still take 5000 i.u. daily.. Got back to low normal, have not had congestion since. I, too, will never stop taking D. Thanks for replying to my query. J.

[Hidden in reply to 2greys]

Hi 2greys ,Dr said instead of taking eight prednisone per day over five days to take four a day over ten days ,I hope they work ok that way

[jmsutt73]

Good practice...wearing a mask! I do even when I am just vacuuming or dusting on my weekly regular around the house cleaning. Actually, I wear it Everytime I go out in public, especially during cold and flu season. I get the flu vaccine, but we still can get the flu, just a lighter version. I believe that the secret to survival with respiratory illnesses is to avoid exposure to germs. Staying well, preventing, to the extent that we can, infections, will be the best medicine that we can give ourselves...J

[Hidden in reply to jmsutt73]

Hi jmsutt referring to your post on pain in diaphragm, I occasionally get the pain really bad ,gp told me it was gastritis but I swear it is cramp ,my inhalers sometimes give me cramp in fingers and legs ,that pain in diaphragm is so bad I carnt move thank God it is only occational ,and doesn't last long

[jmsutt73 in reply to Hidden]

The pain that I experience occurs only when I rise from my bed or chair, and sometimes when I am changing side positions in bed. It is excrutiating, but, thank God, it last only a few seconds. I sometimes get a burning pain in my torso...stomach area up my chest or in the back. I attribute it to acid. I wonder if all of this isn't just part of the 'deal' in having chronic lung illness.

[2greys in reply to jmsutt73]

"I wonder if all of this isn't just part of the 'deal' in having chronic lung illness."

I believe that you are correct. Many of us get issues with our stomachs, I read about it across many forums.