Discussions
Discussions
Flare-Ups/Exacerbations - How long to return to "normal"
After an exacerbation, how long does it take most of you to return to your steady state? My most recent flare-up occurred on a very humid day, when the air quality was terrible (including smoke from the Canadian fires). This was back in July. After a round of antibiotics, I am patiently waiting to return to my "normal." I have stepped up my airway clearance efforts but improvement is very slow. At least this is my first flare-up this year (perhaps that is due to my starting Brinsupri). Thank you all in advance for your thoughts.
Replies
Ron,
Bad air quality and humidity can take a toll on our lungs. Do you have a doctor's appointment scheduled so they can listen to your lungs and examine you? Your lungs take time to heal, but you should feel better soon. Recovery time varies from individual to individual, but you should feel better after a month if the antibiotic worked. Do you have other comorbidities that may be impacting you? I think a doctor's visit or phone call to discuss this is worth checking out.
I called my doc and they gave me antibiotics. I have not gone in for a visit, as there is some improvement, albeit the improvement is very small/slow.
Comments
What kind of antibiotics are you on for the flare up
Interesting that you asked. At first the doc prescribed ceftin, but my doctor was off so it was another doc who apparently did not check my file that I often get pseudomonas infection. So I called back and they prescribed cipro, which is one of the two that always worked better for me (the other being levoquin). I suggested a sputum sample but the first doc disagreed and sent me for a chest x-ray instead (it was negative).
Comments
Hi Ron. Pseudomonas can be a pesky infection and often requires back-to-back treatments. (Search Eradication Therapy for Pseudomonas in PubMed, and you can read all about it.) There can be conflicting approaches to how best to remove Pseudomonas, and about half the time, it is one of those infections that people treat and live with forever, unfortunately. So here are my thoughts: the chest X-ray may not show much (as you stated), but a sputum test and some bloodwork may give your doctor an idea if the Pseudomonas is a lingering infection. Other than the oral antibiotics on occasion, those who live with Pseudomonas in their lungs have a prescription for inhaled Tobramycin that they complete each month.
I don't want to get ahead of my skis, so first thing... ask about the sputum test and bloodwork. Get your answers. Then, put a treatment plan in place with your doctor. If you have an ongoing infection, it might be worth your time to get an infectious disease specialist (ID) weighing in. Keep us posted. In the meantime, keep up that airway clearance (as you are doing), drink plenty of water, exercise each day (whether a little or a lot - depending on energy level), and eat foods that will fuel your body.
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