Connect
Recently diagnosed +1 Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Good Evening Everyone,
I've done quite a bit of reading on this forum and the Mayo forum in re of the antibiotics for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - Levaquin. Frankly it scares me. I also do not have any symptoms. I do airway clearance and lead an active life at 68yo.
I also tested positive for MAC this Fall, first sample so far.
I attend UNC Hospital, North Carolina, for my Bronchiectasis. My Doctor wanted me to start Levaquin now for 2 weeks. We had a conversation in which I could wait another couple of weeks and re-test before starting an antibiotic.
For those of you who have had low number PA test result, did you start the antibiotic or just waited to see if it would go away on its on and re-test?
Thank you,
Patty
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Connect
I took 3 weeks of Levaquin right away. I don’t believe it goes away on its own. Mine has colonized and my pulmo says it will always be there active or not and two years later treating it won’t help unless I have a flare at this point
Sharon,
Did you manage taking the Levaquin when taking, side effects? How long ago?
Can you please define a "flare", your symptoms ?
So, you've be on Levaquin only once then?
Thank you, Sharon
Patty
I grew out pseudomonas putida a couple years ago. Pulmonologist didn’t call right away and I figured it didn’t need treating. Two weeks later at appointment he suggested nebulized Tobramycin. It caught me by surprise and I declined. My family protested when I told them and I sent him a message asking him if waiting and watching was ok or if I needed to take it. He said waiting was ok. At the time I was glad, but after being in this group a couple years and reading challenges with it, if I grow it again, I’d likely take it.
Note: I’m better than I was two years ago.
Good luck- these decisions are so tough.
I would nip it in the bud. But you could ask your Dr if there are any alternatives to the Levaquin? Although some people do just fine on it. The alternatives would be Toby inhaled or IV antibiotics. You did not say how long you have had the pseudo. If it is recent all the more reason to try and eradicate it now.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@mountains1957 I have taken Levaquin many, many tints before … before I ever had or was diagnosed with PA or BE. I never had side effects from it except after multiple usage I pulled my Achilles tendon. It can affect your tendons. I’m trying to avoid it now. A flare for me is green gunky lungs that are very hard to clear and night sweats.