Connect
← Return to Meds for bronchi flare
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
When I have an exacerbation I always submit a sputum culture before stating antibiotics. Weirdly, most times nothing grows in the lab yet an antibiotic helps. It's both a relief and a frustration that nothing grows from the culture. Doctor prescribes antibiotic because I have chills, malaise, headache, body aches, cough, increased sputum, etc. I will only take steroids when my chest is very wheezy. Headaches then are 8+/10. My latest thinking is that lack of sinus drainage is causing a sinus infection, which seeds the lung infection. Sinus surgery is in my future as I get way too many of these infections.
Replies to "When I have an exacerbation I always submit a sputum culture before stating antibiotics. Weirdly, most..."
I had balloon sinuplasty four weeks ago along with a six week course of Bactrim. I can now breathe through my nose and the sinus infection that has probably been brewing for years seems to be cleared. My energy level is back to what it was over two years ago when I developed a cough that led to the bronchiectasis diagnosis. My pulmonologist did three sputum samples before clearing me for the surgery and Bactrim. While the surgery and recovery are not pleasant I would do it all over again to experience these results!
Connect
I am not making a recommendation here - only saying that, 25 years ago, it worked for me. The ENT counted 22 sinus/ear/throat infections in 2 years in my 40's and said "let's take a closer look." After scoping, he resorted to surgery and removed scar tissue, polyps, cleared out pockets of infection & straightened my septum (broken in a teenage water fight that involved metal buckets.) Once all was healed I could breathe normally through my nose for the first time in my life - I had my first recognized sinus infection at age 10.
Probably my bronchiectasis began to develop way back then from repeated bouts of bronchitis brought on by sinus infection drainage.
Sue