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Prescription for MethylPrednisolone 6 day pack before a trip

Posted by rozie83 @rozie83, 4 days ago

I was diagnosed with BE about a year ago. I can feel the mucus in my throat. It is white but not much comes out. My pulmonologist was surprised how "gunky" my chest sounded as I'm very active and don't feel ill. I went to see her because I had more mucus than usual. I am flying to California to be with my daughter and her family. When I didn't feel well a few days ago, my pulmonologist prescribed nebulizer use and a 6 pack of Methylprednisolone. I don't like taking steroids so I am going to wait to see if I really need them. I'm wondering if anyone else has used the steroid 6 pack. I'm 84 years old, and I really would like to avoid them. I had a male friend who had advanced COPD, and I remember how he hated using the steroids because of the side effects. Thanks for any responses. Have a safe and fun Fourth. Roz

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scoop | @scoop | 4 days ago

Personally, I'd stay away from steroids until I desperately needed them, or if you are an asthmatic during a difficult flare. Instead I'd work to clear my lungs with hypertonic saline via nebulizer/compressor followed by breath holding and huff coughing. If your lungs sound gunky, have you submitted sputum for a culture? That's the only way to determine if you have an infection; stethoscope auscultation cannot determine that. Maybe you have something brewing that needs a targeted antibiotic treatment.

If bacterial infection has been ruled out, instead of steroids you might ask your pulmonologist about 3-day azithromycin, which is a macrolide that helps reduce inflammation in bronchiectasis. Before its use, however, any kind of NTM bacteria must be ruled out usually through sputum culture and CT scan. Are you seeing a pulmonologist who specializes in bronchiectasis?

If you don't have time to follow through on the above, in the short term I'd ask for scripts for albuterol and hypertonic saline for the nebulizer.

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1 reply
rozie83 | @rozie83 | 4 days ago
In reply to @scoop "Personally, I'd stay away from steroids until I desperately needed them, or if you are an..." + (show)
@scoop

Personally, I'd stay away from steroids until I desperately needed them, or if you are an asthmatic during a difficult flare. Instead I'd work to clear my lungs with hypertonic saline via nebulizer/compressor followed by breath holding and huff coughing. If your lungs sound gunky, have you submitted sputum for a culture? That's the only way to determine if you have an infection; stethoscope auscultation cannot determine that. Maybe you have something brewing that needs a targeted antibiotic treatment.

If bacterial infection has been ruled out, instead of steroids you might ask your pulmonologist about 3-day azithromycin, which is a macrolide that helps reduce inflammation in bronchiectasis. Before its use, however, any kind of NTM bacteria must be ruled out usually through sputum culture and CT scan. Are you seeing a pulmonologist who specializes in bronchiectasis?

If you don't have time to follow through on the above, in the short term I'd ask for scripts for albuterol and hypertonic saline for the nebulizer.

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Thank you for your helpful reply. Staying away from steroids is my motto also.

I am getting a nebulizer, but I won't have it before I leave. I did Azithromycin for 5 days, and the sputum culture has still not been read. I don't feel sick, but the amount of mucus has increased. That is why I was and am concerned.

I will be at my daughter's house. I don't think any of my family members understand yet the disease. They think I'm this really healthy 84 year old. And I like to think I am, but this diagnosis has been really hard to accept.

Thanks for listening and for you aways-sage advice and knowledge.

Roz

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1 reply
scoop | @scoop | 4 days ago
In reply to @rozie83 "Thank you for your helpful reply. Staying away from steroids is my motto also. I am..." + (show)
@rozie83

Thank you for your helpful reply. Staying away from steroids is my motto also.

I am getting a nebulizer, but I won't have it before I leave. I did Azithromycin for 5 days, and the sputum culture has still not been read. I don't feel sick, but the amount of mucus has increased. That is why I was and am concerned.

I will be at my daughter's house. I don't think any of my family members understand yet the disease. They think I'm this really healthy 84 year old. And I like to think I am, but this diagnosis has been really hard to accept.

Thanks for listening and for you aways-sage advice and knowledge.

Roz

Jump to this post

As everyone else here, I get it that your family doesn't get it! Since the holiday weekend is upon us pack the steroid just in case. Stay hydrated and try some long acting mucinex as it often helps to break up the mucus. Have a great trip!

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rozie83 | @rozie83 | 4 days ago

Thanks, Scoop, for sharing your knowledge. I will pack the steroid. And get some long acting mucinex. Have a safe weekend. Roz

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