Who knows lots about chest infections and asthma?

[Katymac]

I need help

I am waiting for a phone call from the asthma nurse, DH has yet another chest infection this time it's Streptococcus pneumoniae but it has been various others

I reckon he has had about 12 infections over the last 18 months - I think that is a termendous amount - but I am worrying un-neccessarily?

Hi Katymac

Oh your DH is having a nasty time of it.

How was he befor this bout of infections?

Has anything changed have you moved house, job, anything at all.

I would say that that level of infections is very high.

This comes from a girl with severe asthma I Normally have 2 bouts of Broncitus a year and 1 - 2 bouts of peumonia (sp)

I assume he is antibotics?

Is he completly recoving between infections? Have the doctors flagged any concern?

Sorry loads of questions I dont mean to be noisy just need some more info befor I can be a Lot of help

I'll try & answer them

How was he befor this bout of infections? Well about 14 yrs ago he had a major asthma attack (first since he was a child - he was 40) and it damaged his lungs

Has anything changed have you moved house, job, anything at all. Not really - just before the major asthma attack (all that time ago) he hit his head & he had stiches - then last Easter - he fell & hit his head again - I am sure it's all connected but he (& the doctors) isn't

I assume he is antibotics? Everytime - sometimes 2 lots for one infection (esp if they test it and he needs different AB)

Is he completly recoving between infections? Don't think so

Have the doctors flagged any concern? Not really 6 months ago he went & had a cat scan & a chest Xray - 'apparently'

But I really worry

Message withdrawn

Agree with Yorkiegirl re your dh's meds. What does he currently take?

I have only been in hospital once for a chest infection and asthma attack but I was given anti-biotics, anti-inflammatories AND steroids. I was on the steroids for 3/4 weeks.

Hi katymac

Ok, It really does not sound like anything to major has changed. E.g. if you moved house the new house might have damp!

Certaininly if he has got scarring or damage to the lungs he is really going to suffer.

I assume that things drop straight to his chest. I laughed when my doctor warned me about this and I literally went to bed one night and woke up with douple pnumonia the next morning.

It sounds like the infection is not being cleared up completly. Which means that every and every time he comes off a course of anitbiotics he will get worse again. Just as a point it has take me 5months to be fully clear of broncitus befor now!

few things I can recommend. Do you have a home nebuliser? You DH is clearly old enough to be trusted to use it responsibly. I simply could not manage with a chest infection without mine. That why he can have medication deilivered stright to his lungs. Just have to ware and mask and breath in a bit of steam every few hours.

Have the doctors ever given him prodisolone (sp) they would be little brown or red tablets he would take maybe 8 - 10 in the morning? These are steriods that help the lungs regenerate. Given how ill he has been his lungs need some help. Lots of GP will loan these out in the short term but you may well need to fight to get one. You can buy them too. but cheaper to borrow and see if it helps

Make sure that he sleeps with atleast two pillows his head should alwasy be above his cheast. (He will need pillows to help support his neck and get comfy) This will help clear the lungs of liquid.

Hot steamy baths of simply sitting in a hot steamy room, with help ease any mild tightness in his cheast and help break up the infection.

There are loads of non invasive things you can do to help like honey and hot lemon will help break the infection and easy any soreness.

If at any point he complains that he is really pain when he is coughing or holding his ribs to be able to cough. Go straight back to the docotors. as this can be a sign that the infection has got worse. Same if he coughs up any blood, or red phlem.

I have to say that 12 infections over 18months is terrible, kick up a stink and get his gp to get this sorted. He needs help. You need referal to a good specilist not an nurse a consultant. No disripect intented nurses are wonderful but he clearly need medical support.

Also his immue system is taking a hammering, and will need help to keep him fit infection in the future. So lots of vits and minerals,

As to things being related I am sure they are but that is for another post as I have already gone on far to long !! sorry

Hope I have been of some help

God I sound really bossy. Sorry

I'm only trying to help don't mean to sound so uncaring. I'm just a very straight forward person. Sorry !!!

Hi Katymac

I would encourage your dh to seek further treatment/information - has he seen a chest specialist at all?
I get chest infections of this frequency, but suffer from a lung disease called bronchiectasis which means these types of bugs are always growing in my lungs. (Have just come out of hospital on a course of IV abs) This was only diagnosed by CT scan, it can often not be seen in a routine Xray.
What abs is he on? Some such as amoxycillin are generic but don't always work, especially on a bug like strep.p which is pretty nasty and virulent. Has he tried clarithromycin, levofloxin, co amoxyclav or ciprofloxacin?
It's natural to worry about it - 12 in 18 months is a major amount and would make me think there may be an underlying problem such as mine. Unfortunately the nhs is overstretched and sometimes these things go unnoticed and it seems like the doctors are not doing much, which is why I would urge him to ask to see a chest consultant. He could then get further tests and discuss treatment of the condition and how it could be controlled better - there are plenty of things which help - nebulising, physio, different inhalers and drugs.
I hope you are able to get some answers soon, and that he is feeling better. It is a horrible place to be.
Please ask anything about it all, I will try to answer anything.

Thank people - I do appreciate your replies

The nurse hasn't rung back - but I did say it could wait until next week so I'm not too worried

The nurse kinda agrees something isn't right & got me the referral to the hospital (for all the good it did)

So bascially I'm not totally over-reacting and it might be worth whinging a bit to see what else might be done

DH has been on prednisilone about 6/8 times over the 14 years - so I guess that's not too bad

He is on Amoxycillin (sometimes he gets a second lot - but this time not)

He also has reflexology every fortnight - which I hope works

Hi Katymac

You are definetely not over reacting. Unfortunately with so many things you have to keep pushing to get the help you need.

Amoxicilin is not great as it is a broad spec and there are some more effective treatments. I'm afraid my spelling is terrible but "erthomycn" (normally orange capsuls) are often more affective than amox.

If you are into alternative methods of treatments. There are a couple of other things worth trying. There is the Alexander tecnique which is amazing for asthma. Also a very good homopath would probably be able to do wonders. My DH is a complet none beleiver in things like this but he has litterally gone from rolling on the floor in agony to being in no pain at all. I am more than happy to recommend mine, if it is of any help.

Hope your DH is getting better soon, and remember that we are here is you need more help.

erthomycn/eurthrymiacin sounds familiar I think that's the one he gets when amoxy doesn't work

I'm on another thread about this moaning about having 4 chest infectins in a year - so in comparison 12 in 18 months does sound like an awful lot.

No advice really, just watching your thread to try and get ideas.

StaryNightSky - can you expalin the alexander technique and how it works?

Stary - is the alexander technique the same as the active cycle of breathing? Sure it sounds familiar.
Katymac, hope you find some answers soon and that he feels better soon.

Hi Everyone

Hope I am not hi jacking.

Ok Here it goes I will try and keep it short, If anyone wants a longer explanation I will happly do so by email.

Take a leap of faith and beleive that the lungs are controlled by nervous, tenderns and ligaments ect which are linked to the 2,3and 4 Cevical Vetebra. (Hope I hae the location Right, its been a long time since I had to discuss this). They are but if I have to explain anatomy this post will go on for ever.

Most asthmatics find that they will naturally adopt a position of leaning forward with their arms on their knees when having an attack. This is because it allows the lungs their maximum expansion. The alexander tecnique is based around posture and breathing exercises. It is not a CURE, it is a very old tecnique which places the sufferer of many conditions back in the driving seat. Having said that I has let me breath my way out of mild attacks and has kept me breathing in very server attacks rather than arriving unconcious at A and E. It will alos help to reduce the number of attacks.

There are some very good chiropractors in the that can also help by realigning the relevant vetebra. This does work, and will give short term relief of general symptons not an attack. For maybe 2 weeks to a month intially.

With regards Homopathic treatment. I have a wonderful homopath. I am more than happy to refer people to her. She is in Northamptonshire But I am sure she does consultations by phone for people that can't come to her. I have her website somewhere and I am happy to make a personal introduction. She is fully qulified and insured. Homopthy works buy treating the person as a whole and not an individual sympton. It can offer great relief.

Hope that gives everyone an over view.

If you would like more info on anything I can be reached on email. [email protected]

I am really sorry I am a terrible speller, and It would take me hours to check for all the mistakes hope you can all manage to read it

doxydizy.

Very similar, the alexander is the one that relates to psture as well. But I am sure that the active cycle of breathing is very affective as well. Think its a case of different strokes for different folkes

Are you feeling better I hope?

Thank you StaryNightSky. I'm going to look into it.

Thanks Stary. I do find the active cycle good. Also use a nice little gadget called an accappella which gets a lot of my gunk up quickly..yum!
Feeling better....finishing my iv course today and back into hosp to get my line out and signed out tomorrow.
Btw sorry for confusion, just namechanged and couldn't be bothered to change back, lol. was doxydizzy
Very interested in the homoepathy and may look into this further. sometimes I think you need to go further than the common or garden medical treatment handed out on the nhs, grateful as I am for it.