Connect
Third sputum culture rejected - frustrating
Arrrgh! Got my sputum culture results back again and once again it's unacceptable! I can't seem to cough up anything that they can culture. Maybe that means there is nothing there so that would be good. It's just frustrating because I haven't felt great lately and would like a culture at least cooking. At this point in my recovery (have been off MAC meds since April) I am supposed to submit one every 6 months. Not sure if I should just let it go at this point or request an order for another one be submitted. I should note that I was diagnosed with a bronchoscopy and since then all of my sputum cultures have been negative. - Jen
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Connect
Hi. I posted original question/issue. I am now not feeling well and feel some chest congestion but have no way of knowing what is going on since I can't get a sputum culture. I had a chest CT scan back in September that showed no changes in lesions or bronchiectasis and had been feeling quite well until recently. I have no fever and just a bit of a cough. One side of my chest feels more congested than the other. Has anyone else had this issue with one side of chest feeling congested but not the other?
@jenblalock , Hello Jen. Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. I was feeling like I had pneumonia coming on last week.I had a stabbing pain radiating out the backside of my right shoulder blade. I was already halfway thru my 28 Day cycle of tobramycin when that came on. My dr. phoned in a prescription for Levafloxacin. I am thinking it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and will kill any gram postive infection since I got sick while on the tobi which treats gram negative bacteriums. I am starting to feel better, but still coughing up green. Call your dr. and ask what you should do. Do you nebulize the 7% saline twice a day by any chance?
@windwalker Thanks for your reply. I hope the Levafloxacin takes care of your problem and you feel good again soon. That's what I was put on last time I had pneumonia and it cleared it up. I do nebulize with 7% once a day and huff cough and nothing comes up except spit so it feels like a waste of time. I'll give this a week and see how I feel. I don't feel horrid and can still function. Just went out for a brisk walk/run to clear my lungs and did okay except some coughing so maybe I'm just paranoid. The problem is I'm not sure how I am *supposed to feel anymore. I did contact the doctor and asked for an RX for Dulera inhaler to see if that helps. Inhalers traditionally have done nothing for me but it's worth a try.
@windwalker I hope you are continually feeling better, please keep us updated.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @jenblalock I always felt more congested on the right side, know idea why, I would also get pain on that side. I hope you are feeling better soon.
@jenblalock, I hear you, the inhalers didn't seem to help me much either. The corticosteroids. I mentioned that to my dr., he said I wouldn't be able to feel the difference, but that it helps with iflammation. I still don't use it, more out of bad habit than being obstinate. My dr has me nebulizing the saline twice a day. Some people do three. One thing it does is add moisture to the phlegm so that it is thinner and easier to get up. For a long while, it didn't irritate me into a wet cough, but now it does. Don't give up! Perhaps try twice a day. I pull double duty; I nebulize while mentoring this site. I too have been taking long walks, at least once a day. Today, I did two. Hope you are feeling better soon!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @heathert. Isn't that weird? I wonder if it's due to their actually being more congestion on that side? Thank you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@windwalker Glad to hear you have the same inhaler issues! I have been pretty non-compliant with nebulizing lately. I felt better and treatment fell to the wayside. I'll get back to it and try twice a day then. Thanks.
Dr. Huitt's (NJH) nurse called me yesterday and said to nebulize in the morning and then use Aerobika again in the afternoon so I'll try that. Or maybe I'll nebulize twice a day. How do you mentor the site and nebulize. I find I can't type because I need my hand to hold the inhaler (trying it now - not going well).
@jenblalock Did Dr Huitts nurse say why she thinks you have more congestion? could it just be the bronchiectasis, were you left with scaring after your cavities closed, I was?