1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Pneumonia vaccine or not?

Posted by cesaly1 @cesaly1, Mar 30 9:11am

I just love that one month, my pulmonology office says, Get the pneumonia vaccine, and many months later says, You can't get the pneumonia vaccine when you have MAC/bronchiecstasis. I need a new pulmonologist but, for now, I sure could use some advice on protocol.
Thank you.

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cesaly1 | @cesaly1 | Apr 4 7:17pm
In reply to @scoop "@jnmy Good point about the timing. I checked my records and both P20 and P23 were..." + (show)
@scoop

@jnmy Good point about the timing. I checked my records and both P20 and P23 were given a year apart.

I often wonder if my bronchiectasis is worse because of sinus involvement. Something I found very helpful for sinus infections is Mupirocin ointment (Rx only) 3x day in each nostril for 2 weeks. It should be used no more than 2-3 times a year. Last time I used it I avoided oral antibiotics.

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Wow. Mupirocin!?

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jnmy | @jnmy | Apr 5 8:07am
In reply to @cesaly1 "I, too, read that you have to wait a year between the two. And that Prevnar..." + (show)
@cesaly1

I, too, read that you have to wait a year between the two. And that Prevnar 13 is now mostly for at-risk 65+. I'm now wondering if my pulmonologist is worried about the risk of a pharmacy clerk injecting either vaccine too high on the shoulder or too deeply, in which case paralysis and other bad things could ensue. I have only one "good" arm left (the other having been functionally withered by Cipro/flu cross-reactivity, then lymphectomy following breast cancer surgery). Who knows. Life is interesting.

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@cesaly1 Yes, life presents us with many challenges including our health unfortunately. I might still suggest that you check in again with the pulmonologist. The Prevnar 20 replaces Prev 13 now, and Bronchiectasis places us in the at-risk category, regardless of age. I was told anyone over 55 years should consider taking it if they’ve had pneumonia before or have health issues such as a chronic lung disease. People at younger ages can also get it.
A pharmacist trained in giving vaccines could likely answer your questions, if you’re still considering it.
The other vaccine that someone mentioned is Shingrix for Shingles. That virus is very painful and debilitating for many unfortunately. It tends to linger on for some people.

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jnmy | @jnmy | Apr 5 8:09am
In reply to @cesaly1 "Wow. Mupirocin!?" + (show)
@cesaly1

Wow. Mupirocin!?

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Thanks @scoop. I looked it up. It’s an antibiotic ointment.

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scoop | @scoop | Apr 5 10:22am
In reply to @jnmy "Thanks @scoop. I looked it up. It’s an antibiotic ointment." + (show)
@jnmy

Thanks @scoop. I looked it up. It’s an antibiotic ointment.

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@jnmy Best applied when you first notice sinus symptoms. For me, it’s a little crusting on the edge of my nostril. Apply with a Q-tip, separate tip for each nostril just inside the nose. Then I pinch my nose for about 20 seconds to make sure it gets distributed. It takes a few days to feel it working.

Ayr is also useful in keeping the nasal passages feeling good in between infections. Applied the same way as mupirocin. Ayr is OTC.

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cesaly1 | @cesaly1 | Apr 5 12:11pm
In reply to @scoop "@jnmy Best applied when you first notice sinus symptoms. For me, it’s a little crusting on..." + (show)
@scoop

@jnmy Best applied when you first notice sinus symptoms. For me, it’s a little crusting on the edge of my nostril. Apply with a Q-tip, separate tip for each nostril just inside the nose. Then I pinch my nose for about 20 seconds to make sure it gets distributed. It takes a few days to feel it working.

Ayr is also useful in keeping the nasal passages feeling good in between infections. Applied the same way as mupirocin. Ayr is OTC.

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I would be afraid to use Mupirocin long term, glad it works for you. Before bed, I tilt head and spray Arm&Hammer Simply Saline Nasal Mist once into each nostril, gently sniff it up, and let sinuses drain. Also dab Ayr on both sides of the septum, not far back, to avoid drainage-induced nosebleeds. So far, so good.

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scoop | @scoop | Apr 5 12:34pm

@cesaly1 To clarify Mupirocin should not be used longterm. No more than for 2 weeks at a time, and no more than 2-3 times a year. Best to check with ENT around recommendations.

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tjmc | @tjmc | Apr 8 11:14am
In reply to @sallyb827 "I had a COVID booster in August of last year. I always have a reaction to..." + (show)
@sallyb827

I had a COVID booster in August of last year. I always have a reaction to them with a fever for a day or two. This past time I was sick for several days and was finally diagnosed with Strep. After 4 weeks on 4 different kinds of antibiotics, I still had strep. My naturopath gave me some herbs that finally knocked it out.
The whole time I had strep I was emailing my Doc at Mayo and keeping her up to date on my progress. When I had my six month appointment with her in November, she told me no more Covid shots and no RSV. She said there have not been enough studies completed yet to justify giving it. I was told to get the flu shot and pneumonia was not mentioned. I had a pneumonia shot about 5 years ago. How often are you supposed to have those?

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My doctor at Mayo told me it was a good idea to get the RSV and COVID shots. My doctor also works in the pulmonary ICU and said they have seen first hand that the patients that have had those vaccinations had less severe symptoms and less time in the hospital.

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scoop | @scoop | Apr 9 11:58am

Excellent resource in question & answer format about pneumococcal vaccines
https://www.immunize.org/ask-experts/topic/pneumococcal/

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