IV meds

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008

Hey everyone...

I'm re-posting my original question here since we got a bit off track (that's ok though!) on my other discussion.

PLEASE give feedback on your experience with IV antibiotics and how you know you're well enough to go off them. Thanks.

Here is my original question:

Hello, friends...

So, many have been following my saga with this recent illness and I'm just really perplexed. After 11 days of IV meds, I'm not feeling any better and my pfts are just barely up 2%. Blah. This is highly unusual for me. I"m still tired and still coughing up stuff, but the stuff I'm coughing up is thinner and less green, so maybe a good sign?

Anyway, I am curious how YOU know when you're totally (or almost totally) better on IV meds? For example, do you still cough up gunk, though it may be thinner, lighter, etc. or does your cough disappear entirely? Do you still have shortness of breath or is that completely "cured" by the middle to end of a clean-out?

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008

Hey everyone...

I'm re-posting my original question here since we got a bit off track (that's ok though!) on my other discussion.

PLEASE give feedback on your experience with IV antibiotics and how you know you're well enough to go off them. Thanks.

Here is my original question:

Hello, friends...

So, many have been following my saga with this recent illness and I'm just really perplexed. After 11 days of IV meds, I'm not feeling any better and my pfts are just barely up 2%. Blah. This is highly unusual for me. I"m still tired and still coughing up stuff, but the stuff I'm coughing up is thinner and less green, so maybe a good sign?

Anyway, I am curious how YOU know when you're totally (or almost totally) better on IV meds? For example, do you still cough up gunk, though it may be thinner, lighter, etc. or does your cough disappear entirely? Do you still have shortness of breath or is that completely "cured" by the middle to end of a clean-out?

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008

Hey everyone...

I'm re-posting my original question here since we got a bit off track (that's ok though!) on my other discussion.

PLEASE give feedback on your experience with IV antibiotics and how you know you're well enough to go off them. Thanks.

Here is my original question:

Hello, friends...

So, many have been following my saga with this recent illness and I'm just really perplexed. After 11 days of IV meds, I'm not feeling any better and my pfts are just barely up 2%. Blah. This is highly unusual for me. I"m still tired and still coughing up stuff, but the stuff I'm coughing up is thinner and less green, so maybe a good sign?

Anyway, I am curious how YOU know when you're totally (or almost totally) better on IV meds? For example, do you still cough up gunk, though it may be thinner, lighter, etc. or does your cough disappear entirely? Do you still have shortness of breath or is that completely "cured" by the middle to end of a clean-out?

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008

Hey everyone...

I'm re-posting my original question here since we got a bit off track (that's ok though!) on my other discussion.

PLEASE give feedback on your experience with IV antibiotics and how you know you're well enough to go off them. Thanks.

Here is my original question:

Hello, friends...

So, many have been following my saga with this recent illness and I'm just really perplexed. After 11 days of IV meds, I'm not feeling any better and my pfts are just barely up 2%. Blah. This is highly unusual for me. I"m still tired and still coughing up stuff, but the stuff I'm coughing up is thinner and less green, so maybe a good sign?

Anyway, I am curious how YOU know when you're totally (or almost totally) better on IV meds? For example, do you still cough up gunk, though it may be thinner, lighter, etc. or does your cough disappear entirely? Do you still have shortness of breath or is that completely "cured" by the middle to end of a clean-out?

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008

Hey everyone...
 
 I'm re-posting my original question here since we got a bit off track (that's ok though!) on my other discussion.
 
 PLEASE give feedback on your experience with IV antibiotics and how you know you're well enough to go off them. Thanks.
 
 Here is my original question:
 
 Hello, friends...
 
 So, many have been following my saga with this recent illness and I'm just really perplexed. After 11 days of IV meds, I'm not feeling any better and my pfts are just barely up 2%. Blah. This is highly unusual for me. I"m still tired and still coughing up stuff, but the stuff I'm coughing up is thinner and less green, so maybe a good sign?
 
 Anyway, I am curious how YOU know when you're totally (or almost totally) better on IV meds? For example, do you still cough up gunk, though it may be thinner, lighter, etc. or does your cough disappear entirely? Do you still have shortness of breath or is that completely "cured" by the middle to end of a clean-out?

Havoc · Nov 9, 2008

I can't say that I've had much experience with IV antibiotics, however with no improvement after 11 days some things I would be thinking about would be:

1 Wrong antibiotic. I would assume your CF team are getting regular cultures and sensitivities to make sure your antibiotics are effective against what you are growing, but it might be prudent to ask. It might also be wise to involve someone from Infectious Disease if you are culturing something particularly stubborn.

2. Non-bacterial infection. Consider things that antibiotics wouldn't cover, aspergillosis for example.

Havoc · Nov 9, 2008

I can't say that I've had much experience with IV antibiotics, however with no improvement after 11 days some things I would be thinking about would be:

1 Wrong antibiotic. I would assume your CF team are getting regular cultures and sensitivities to make sure your antibiotics are effective against what you are growing, but it might be prudent to ask. It might also be wise to involve someone from Infectious Disease if you are culturing something particularly stubborn.

2. Non-bacterial infection. Consider things that antibiotics wouldn't cover, aspergillosis for example.

Havoc · Nov 9, 2008

I can't say that I've had much experience with IV antibiotics, however with no improvement after 11 days some things I would be thinking about would be:

1 Wrong antibiotic. I would assume your CF team are getting regular cultures and sensitivities to make sure your antibiotics are effective against what you are growing, but it might be prudent to ask. It might also be wise to involve someone from Infectious Disease if you are culturing something particularly stubborn.

2. Non-bacterial infection. Consider things that antibiotics wouldn't cover, aspergillosis for example.

Havoc · Nov 9, 2008

I can't say that I've had much experience with IV antibiotics, however with no improvement after 11 days some things I would be thinking about would be:

1 Wrong antibiotic. I would assume your CF team are getting regular cultures and sensitivities to make sure your antibiotics are effective against what you are growing, but it might be prudent to ask. It might also be wise to involve someone from Infectious Disease if you are culturing something particularly stubborn.

2. Non-bacterial infection. Consider things that antibiotics wouldn't cover, aspergillosis for example.

Havoc · Nov 9, 2008

I can't say that I've had much experience with IV antibiotics, however with no improvement after 11 days some things I would be thinking about would be:
 
 1 Wrong antibiotic. I would assume your CF team are getting regular cultures and sensitivities to make sure your antibiotics are effective against what you are growing, but it might be prudent to ask. It might also be wise to involve someone from Infectious Disease if you are culturing something particularly stubborn.
 
 2. Non-bacterial infection. Consider things that antibiotics wouldn't cover, aspergillosis for example.

ladybug · Nov 9, 2008