abx

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Hi Joy, Good to hear from you again. And thx for all your input about the sputum log, abx, etc. Yes, I've had sputum cultures done in the past before. Some grew serratia marcescens and streptococcus, I believe. I was effectively treated for those bugs but unfortunately the yellow sputum just never went away! Funny thing, all my health problems really seemed to stem from that severe pneumonia several years ago. I'm always thinking that maybe I'll be able to get to where I was pre-pneumonia but I'm starting to lose hope since the rotating abx, prednisone and MWF of Zithromax aren't eradicating the condition (they do seem to help but never get rid of the sputum entirely)! What exactly did you mean when you said if you become resistant you are making the bronch worse? I'm starting to think that despite

my dr's recommendation, I should try weaning off abx even if my sputum production and the characteristics of the sputum look worse. Perhaps the amount I produce (even if more) will be my true baseline and not masked by the abx & steroids. I can't even tell anymore whether I'm having an exacerbation or whether the sputum production is my true baseline because I've been on abx for so long (ie, 9 months of rotating abx and then more recently a couple of months on Zithromax). Was just hoping the abx could reverse the bronch (or whatever it is I have!) by diminishing the mucus production and therefore the lung damage since my condition is supposedly still in the early stages. But in light of the resistance issue, it's so confusing and so hard to know what to do with this disease! Also, the Combivent seems to suppress my cough but the sputum has actually come back and looks worse (ie,

yellower, thicker). Guess I spoke too soon about it being a miracle drug! Guess I was just too optimistic at the time! Hope you're doing okay, Cassie

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