Medication for reocurring lung infections
I was diagnosed with MAC in 2017, was on the 3 common MAC medications for the first 3 years and was doing fine until recently. I have had 3 lung infections since August and each time was given a non-macrolide antibiotic which cured them. Is anyone on a permanent antibiotic to ward off common lung infections?
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@Cathln my doctor recommended antibiotics but is not working I can't breathe properly.
Some times I feel am gonna die the next day, but am coping
@hhenry
Breathlessness can be common before airway clearance. If you still cannot breathe properly after airway clearance along with antibiotics best to contact your doctor. Are you using albuterol to open your lungs?
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1 ReactionI imagine you test your Oxygen saturation with an Oximeter? If not you should do that to see if low Oxygen could be the cause.
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1 Reaction@scoop
I do clearance twice a day. I am taking Brinsupri, February! Symbicort, 3% neb, and a rescue inhaler.
I had Covid and flu at same time with pneumonia. Then, even after vaccine, caught that bad flu at Christmas, with pneumonia.
Hospital sent me home saying; "you still have pneumonia, but finish these antibiotics." I did! No improvement. By February 1st I was so short of breath I went to ER. Dr. said oxygen is ok, it's muscular. I put myself on o2 until I could get appt with Pulmonary Dr. He was shocked I was on it because he said cat scan was same as last one.
I have been to pain management, Also, had abdominal CT, echocardiogram, holter monitor is on now .
I have asked gastro Dr. for a endoscopy, because the pain and breathlessness starts between lower sternum, not my chest. He said I'm too frail, he wont do it! I found a new one, and he agreed with the first. I cannot stand this. I cannot just stay on oxygen without a reason.
I go back to Pulmonologist end of July. I follow everything I've been told to do.
My lungs are not good, but could still breath. The suddenness of my shortness of breath scares me so much. Pulmonary said; "probably long time with pneumonia. I need a better answer, if there is one!
Some days, I can walk around my house and o2 is around 93, other days its 87. If I lay on left side, it's 95! And, if I walk up an incline it's fine! Put I still feel I can't breath.
I would never leave house without poc on. I also have concentrator 1L for night.
I like my Pulmomologist, but he has to work in hospital now, and I have to see NP. She sent me home with Covid and flu. Anyway, always the squeezing in between bottom of sternum, and I gasp for breath. With or without o2 on.
Thanks for reading this mixed up post. I'm just so nervous.
@Cathln Oh my! That's quite a lot of illness in a short time. The pulmonologist is probably on the right track saying the shortness of breath is from pneumonia. It takes me months after a single bout to get my breath back. And just this week a friend spent 2 days in the hospital and came home on oxygen after 2 rounds of pneumonia, never had lung issues before. It's nasty stuff.
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1 Reaction@Cathln
This sounds terrible. Sorry you're going through this. Getting over the pneumonia is job #1. It can take 6 weeks or longer to feel better. Take good care of yourself all around -- rest, nutrition and airway clearance!
@Cathln I’m so sorry you are going through so much. After I had pneumonia I found myself very short of breath. Beforehand I was able to walk 2-3 of miles without a problem. Then afterwards I could barely make it up the block and had to stop several times to catch my breath. My doctor put me on prednisone and that solved that problem. My issue was due to inflammation. Although I must say that I’m not exactly the same as I was pre pneumonia. All the best to you…