Difference between normal CF cough and infection?

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katethekid

Guest
I have been coughing a lot since Friday, so four days now. I normally cough during and after treatments which is a good thing, to get the mucus out. This cough however seems to be deeper, is much more painful than usual, and lasts all day on and off. I'm just not sure if this means I need to go back on antibiotics or if it's a normal CF thing. I haven't been dealing with the lung side of CF for very long, so I could really use some advice. I have been on and off oral antibiotics since February and it seems whatever this bug is just keeps returning. I hate to call my dr's office if I don't have to as I feel like I'm being needy. When do you know it's time to call your doctor? I was feeling a little better, but after doing one load of laundry and taking our stairs once to get their I am wheezing and coughing again. Thanks for your help.
 
K

katethekid

Guest
I have been coughing a lot since Friday, so four days now. I normally cough during and after treatments which is a good thing, to get the mucus out. This cough however seems to be deeper, is much more painful than usual, and lasts all day on and off. I'm just not sure if this means I need to go back on antibiotics or if it's a normal CF thing. I haven't been dealing with the lung side of CF for very long, so I could really use some advice. I have been on and off oral antibiotics since February and it seems whatever this bug is just keeps returning. I hate to call my dr's office if I don't have to as I feel like I'm being needy. When do you know it's time to call your doctor? I was feeling a little better, but after doing one load of laundry and taking our stairs once to get their I am wheezing and coughing again. Thanks for your help.
 
N

nocode

New member
Hi,

When i start coughing more (I'm actually going through that now because i got a cold) I usually go on a 2 week round of oral antibiotics. If that doesn't work, I think the doctors assume that it could be a lung infection and that's when they would probably put me on IVs.

I can't say for sure because the oral antibiotics always seem to make the cough stop.

Good luck!
 
N

nocode

New member
Hi,

When i start coughing more (I'm actually going through that now because i got a cold) I usually go on a 2 week round of oral antibiotics. If that doesn't work, I think the doctors assume that it could be a lung infection and that's when they would probably put me on IVs.

I can't say for sure because the oral antibiotics always seem to make the cough stop.

Good luck!
 
M

musclemania70

New member
If you have attempted to use oral antbx and the cough keeps coming back worse than 'baseline' then you need to get pfts done and go on IV's.
My advice is DO NOT WAIT. Address the issue and go on IV's NOW.
Your doctor does not know what your 'baseline' cough is. YOU DO.
If you are feeling worse and more out of breath than normal GO TO THE DOCTOR AND INSIST YOU START iv'S.

I am not a doctor but doctors in my experience tend to 'wait it out' and not be aggressive enough about dealing with infections.
 
M

musclemania70

New member
If you have attempted to use oral antbx and the cough keeps coming back worse than 'baseline' then you need to get pfts done and go on IV's.
My advice is DO NOT WAIT. Address the issue and go on IV's NOW.
Your doctor does not know what your 'baseline' cough is. YOU DO.
If you are feeling worse and more out of breath than normal GO TO THE DOCTOR AND INSIST YOU START iv'S.

I am not a doctor but doctors in my experience tend to 'wait it out' and not be aggressive enough about dealing with infections.
 
S

scrapper1264

New member
Please go to the doctor. I did not want to feel like an overprotective Mom in the beginning with my son, but times have changed! I call them all the time now because I would rather be safe than sorry.
 
S

scrapper1264

New member
Please go to the doctor. I did not want to feel like an overprotective Mom in the beginning with my son, but times have changed! I call them all the time now because I would rather be safe than sorry.
 
K

katethekid

Guest
Thank you all. It's definitely not normal for me to get this out of breath, especially not since I have started all my new treatments a couple months ago. I just didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac calling the dr over a cold or something, but I can't seem to shake this bug. I will definitely give them a call and see what they say, these repeated infections this close together just aren't normal for me.
 
K

katethekid

Guest
Thank you all. It's definitely not normal for me to get this out of breath, especially not since I have started all my new treatments a couple months ago. I just didn't want to seem like a hypochondriac calling the dr over a cold or something, but I can't seem to shake this bug. I will definitely give them a call and see what they say, these repeated infections this close together just aren't normal for me.
 
K

krisgabes

New member
I understand how you're feeling about calling the doctor a lot, I used to feel the same way. After a while I just told myself that it's MY health and I deserve to feel as well as I can each day and if that means calling him more than usual than so be it.

You deserve to feel better!! It sounds like something may be brewing in your lungs from your description. I'd definitely call and go on IVs. If it keeps coming back since February you probably need something to kick it once and for all. I hope you feel better soon!!
 
K

krisgabes

New member
I understand how you're feeling about calling the doctor a lot, I used to feel the same way. After a while I just told myself that it's MY health and I deserve to feel as well as I can each day and if that means calling him more than usual than so be it.

You deserve to feel better!! It sounds like something may be brewing in your lungs from your description. I'd definitely call and go on IVs. If it keeps coming back since February you probably need something to kick it once and for all. I hope you feel better soon!!
 
K

katethekid

Guest
Doctor sent me to the hospital last night for a chest X-ray and labs. My white count was good, so at least I don't have an infection. He upped my hypersal to twice a day and increased my CPT. I have to go in to see him this week or next to see about adjust some medications again, he said it sounds like I am just having more of a CF cough than usual for me. ER dr said he can hear stuff in my upper chest and I just need to get it out. But at least they did give me some cough medicine and some morphine for the chest pain so I could sleep last night since I hadn't slept much in 3 days.
 
K

katethekid

Guest
Doctor sent me to the hospital last night for a chest X-ray and labs. My white count was good, so at least I don't have an infection. He upped my hypersal to twice a day and increased my CPT. I have to go in to see him this week or next to see about adjust some medications again, he said it sounds like I am just having more of a CF cough than usual for me. ER dr said he can hear stuff in my upper chest and I just need to get it out. But at least they did give me some cough medicine and some morphine for the chest pain so I could sleep last night since I hadn't slept much in 3 days.
 
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