Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Hi Cassie, Re resistance to abx... If you kee having same abx often w incomplete effectiveness then the bugs you have (serratia is a new one on me, but I would imagine strept would be immune to just about anything that could be thrown at it, it is so prevalent... But maybe that varies according to location and how prevalent in that location?). I’d suggest doing a google of serratia and maybe serratia antibiotics, and just see what comes up. Re months of abx, and not feeling better – good scenario for the bugs to develop resistance, so next time they will not have any affect; and possibly cause poor nutrient assimilation (because of how they’re metabolised or if cause diarrhoea), irritable bowel syndrome ... (main legacy of my long-term usages). Another very likely poss side-effect (worse w some than others, eg Augmentin is very bad) is allowing proliferation of fungal infx. Thrush if just on the tongue isn’t usually a worry, for healthy people. For us, using puffers, inhalants, immuno-compromised lungs – easy for it to spread to throat, to lungs....and then is very hard to clear up – more meds required! As you may have picked up from previous emails generally – I’m no fan of prednisone – any steroids - as all they do is mask symptoms. As soon as you go off them you’re right back or worse than where you were...with the added bonus of high likelihood of osteoporosis, so that being given percussion or using a percussion vest becomes compromised, maybe. (I’ve been told that no physio will give me percussion because I have osteoporosis thru whole spine). Years ago, in that situation my then doc told me not to come back if I took myself off meds. I didn’t go back... What I have come up w on the net re cough suppression – not good for bronc, it’s vital to keep the mucous coming up, horrible though that may be, it is really the best prevention of infx, rather than trying to fix an infx w meds. Sorry if I seem so long-winded and repeat myself on some of these things. I had to learn a very hard way, not much support from docs, (and at times plain bloody-mindedness from them) and absolutely nowhere else to find any info until very this last few years. It’s hard not to feel angry sometimes, that some of the added extras I now have to deal w maybe/could have been avoided - oh well, too late now! as so well put it so well... just build on it, live for today, eat, think and look after yourself well (and keep a log, record, diary... It really can teach you about your own wellness management, what works/doesn’t work...) Hugs to all, Joy -- -- " Wealth is nothing, position is nothing, fame is nothing. Who you become inside is everything. What happens to you is not as important as how you react to what happens. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Hi Joy, Thanks a lot for your experience and input re: adapting and sputum color. I feel like I always learn a lot from you! The doctors gave me Bactrim for Serratia but I'm still having the yellow mucus. And subsequent cultures did not grow serratia yet the sputum persists. It makes you wonder then how accurate the sputum cultures are. Do you take any inhalers (steroids or albuterol, etc)? If so, are the bronchodilators known to suppress your cough? I'm so sorry that you weren't feeling too well the other day and I do hope you're doing a lot better. Take care, Cassie Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Hi Cassie, Thnx – I just hope I don’t give people wrong info – I do know there’s much I don’t know!! I do know some bacteria ‘hide’ within sputum. I don’t know anything of serratia – have you researched via google, or Wikipedia, often a good source of info, to know its habits/properties. I find on the whole docs don’t rely on sp results, but more on how you feel, as you know your own symptoms best. W/ bronc there’s often underlying low-grade infx which, while you’re running well, your body will deal with and get rid of – some of it via sputum, and if so it will most likely be whitish/yellow colour range. I use ventolin if I feel ‘tight’, and Serevent (steroid) if ventolin isn’t helping (usu infx) both as little and infrequently as poss. I’ve tried just about all, these seem to work best. Please, absolutely do not suppress your cough. Because it can be exhausting to cough cough cough for little result, that’s where puffers should help – perhaps it’s a matter of finding the one – and techniques - that work for you. Do you user a spacer for your inhalers? Do you do anything like bubble-pep or huff breathing to help loosen sticky gunk? These save a lot of energy and are effective, w/out meds, in removing gunk from deep down. I’m on day 3 of abx, so not feeling as bad... Thanks! Have had no phone (or email) all w/e, and have missed you all! Now catching up on about 40 emails! (and hope to send before the phone line is drowned again, we’re getting torrential rain) Joy -- -- " Wealth is nothing, position is nothing, fame is nothing. Who you become inside is everything. What happens to you is not as important as how you react to what happens. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Hi Cassie, Thnx – I just hope I don’t give people wrong info – I do know there’s much I don’t know!! I do know some bacteria ‘hide’ within sputum. I don’t know anything of serratia – have you researched via google, or Wikipedia, often a good source of info, to know its habits/properties. I find on the whole docs don’t rely on sp results, but more on how you feel, as you know your own symptoms best. W/ bronc there’s often underlying low-grade infx which, while you’re running well, your body will deal with and get rid of – some of it via sputum, and if so it will most likely be whitish/yellow colour range. I use ventolin if I feel ‘tight’, and Serevent (steroid) if ventolin isn’t helping (usu infx) both as little and infrequently as poss. I’ve tried just about all, these seem to work best. Please, absolutely do not suppress your cough. Because it can be exhausting to cough cough cough for little result, that’s where puffers should help – perhaps it’s a matter of finding the one – and techniques - that work for you. Do you user a spacer for your inhalers? Do you do anything like bubble-pep or huff breathing to help loosen sticky gunk? These save a lot of energy and are effective, w/out meds, in removing gunk from deep down. I’m on day 3 of abx, so not feeling as bad... Thanks! Have had no phone (or email) all w/e, and have missed you all! Now catching up on about 40 emails! (and hope to send before the phone line is drowned again, we’re getting torrential rain) Joy -- -- " Wealth is nothing, position is nothing, fame is nothing. Who you become inside is everything. What happens to you is not as important as how you react to what happens. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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