My PFT's are down... any advice?

[twistedlibrarian]

mine is at 46% right now. Thats really low for me... it has been lower earlier this year though. It just really scares me. And it is hard to do agressive treatments when I've been having chest pain off and on for over a month. (pluerisy, and now i think my lungs are just sore from so much coughing) My doc told me to take pain medicine when I was hurting real bad, just so I could do a good vest treatment without hurting.

 

[twistedlibrarian]

mine is at 46% right now. Thats really low for me... it has been lower earlier this year though. It just really scares me. And it is hard to do agressive treatments when I've been having chest pain off and on for over a month. (pluerisy, and now i think my lungs are just sore from so much coughing) My doc told me to take pain medicine when I was hurting real bad, just so I could do a good vest treatment without hurting.

 

[Debi]

You didn't mention whether your chest felt "tight" so I don't know whether this will help. Not all infections are the same. If this feels different, it may be that you need a slightly different approach. I normally go through the PICC, IV antibiotics routine, but earlier this year I had a bout for which my doctor treated me differently. It just didn't seem like my normal PA flare-up. He prescribed prednisone (80 mg for three days, then 60 for 3 days, etc) along with Cipro and it worked perfectly for that infection. I normally hate using prednisone, but it really helped open up the airways so I had to do a lot less work to cough up the junk.

If you're not seeing improvement, please don't wait to seek more aggressive treatment. I completely understand about not wanting to deal with the hospital at Christmas, but if you decide to wait, be sure to get yourself in there right after the holiday.

I'll be pulling for you that the Cipro alone will work!

 

[Debi]

You didn't mention whether your chest felt "tight" so I don't know whether this will help. Not all infections are the same. If this feels different, it may be that you need a slightly different approach. I normally go through the PICC, IV antibiotics routine, but earlier this year I had a bout for which my doctor treated me differently. It just didn't seem like my normal PA flare-up. He prescribed prednisone (80 mg for three days, then 60 for 3 days, etc) along with Cipro and it worked perfectly for that infection. I normally hate using prednisone, but it really helped open up the airways so I had to do a lot less work to cough up the junk.

If you're not seeing improvement, please don't wait to seek more aggressive treatment. I completely understand about not wanting to deal with the hospital at Christmas, but if you decide to wait, be sure to get yourself in there right after the holiday.

I'll be pulling for you that the Cipro alone will work!

 

[Debi]

You didn't mention whether your chest felt "tight" so I don't know whether this will help. Not all infections are the same. If this feels different, it may be that you need a slightly different approach. I normally go through the PICC, IV antibiotics routine, but earlier this year I had a bout for which my doctor treated me differently. It just didn't seem like my normal PA flare-up. He prescribed prednisone (80 mg for three days, then 60 for 3 days, etc) along with Cipro and it worked perfectly for that infection. I normally hate using prednisone, but it really helped open up the airways so I had to do a lot less work to cough up the junk.

If you're not seeing improvement, please don't wait to seek more aggressive treatment. I completely understand about not wanting to deal with the hospital at Christmas, but if you decide to wait, be sure to get yourself in there right after the holiday.

I'll be pulling for you that the Cipro alone will work!

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Thanks, Debi, prednisone used to work wonders for me, but the last time I begged my doctor to put me on it a couple of months ago, it didn't do anything for me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I am hoping the Cipro will help, but I'm willing to give it until New Years. If I do need iv's, hopefully the Cipro can hold me over until then. Being with my family on the holidays is pretty important to me. I know some might think I'm stupid for that... but the doctor hasn't said anything yet about iv's, so i'll give it a few days and see...

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Thanks, Debi, prednisone used to work wonders for me, but the last time I begged my doctor to put me on it a couple of months ago, it didn't do anything for me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I am hoping the Cipro will help, but I'm willing to give it until New Years. If I do need iv's, hopefully the Cipro can hold me over until then. Being with my family on the holidays is pretty important to me. I know some might think I'm stupid for that... but the doctor hasn't said anything yet about iv's, so i'll give it a few days and see...

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Thanks, Debi, prednisone used to work wonders for me, but the last time I begged my doctor to put me on it a couple of months ago, it didn't do anything for me. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I am hoping the Cipro will help, but I'm willing to give it until New Years. If I do need iv's, hopefully the Cipro can hold me over until then. Being with my family on the holidays is pretty important to me. I know some might think I'm stupid for that... but the doctor hasn't said anything yet about iv's, so i'll give it a few days and see...

 

[Debi]

wow, that's a new one for me. I hadn't realized prednisone could lose its effectiveness. I know that there are a variety of diseases for which prednisone is used continually for years (certain cancers, lupus for example). Amy, maybe you could shed some light on the prednisone issue.

Lauren, I completely understand the whole wanting to be with your family during the holidays thing. I am exactly the same way. So far my hospitalizations and IV antibiotics have managed to either be completed before the holidays or not started until after the New Year. I've had a few times of being pretty short of breath on New Year's Eve. That may sound silly to some, but it's just what I need to do. Still, be careful not to put yourself into a danger zone - if you get too bad, maybe they could at least start the IVs via a peripheral line for a few days at home until you can get in. Hang in there, and be good to yourself.

 

[Debi]

wow, that's a new one for me. I hadn't realized prednisone could lose its effectiveness. I know that there are a variety of diseases for which prednisone is used continually for years (certain cancers, lupus for example). Amy, maybe you could shed some light on the prednisone issue.

Lauren, I completely understand the whole wanting to be with your family during the holidays thing. I am exactly the same way. So far my hospitalizations and IV antibiotics have managed to either be completed before the holidays or not started until after the New Year. I've had a few times of being pretty short of breath on New Year's Eve. That may sound silly to some, but it's just what I need to do. Still, be careful not to put yourself into a danger zone - if you get too bad, maybe they could at least start the IVs via a peripheral line for a few days at home until you can get in. Hang in there, and be good to yourself.

 

[Debi]

wow, that's a new one for me. I hadn't realized prednisone could lose its effectiveness. I know that there are a variety of diseases for which prednisone is used continually for years (certain cancers, lupus for example). Amy, maybe you could shed some light on the prednisone issue.

Lauren, I completely understand the whole wanting to be with your family during the holidays thing. I am exactly the same way. So far my hospitalizations and IV antibiotics have managed to either be completed before the holidays or not started until after the New Year. I've had a few times of being pretty short of breath on New Year's Eve. That may sound silly to some, but it's just what I need to do. Still, be careful not to put yourself into a danger zone - if you get too bad, maybe they could at least start the IVs via a peripheral line for a few days at home until you can get in. Hang in there, and be good to yourself.

 

[twistedlibrarian]

I won't go into that danger zone, trust me... When my chest was hurting the last time I went into the hospital, I left to go into the ER at 1 am, because it was hurting so bad i thought I might have a collapsed lung. Turned out to be pluerisy, which is extremely painful... That just went away a couple weeks ago.

 

[twistedlibrarian]

I won't go into that danger zone, trust me... When my chest was hurting the last time I went into the hospital, I left to go into the ER at 1 am, because it was hurting so bad i thought I might have a collapsed lung. Turned out to be pluerisy, which is extremely painful... That just went away a couple weeks ago.

 

[twistedlibrarian]

I won't go into that danger zone, trust me... When my chest was hurting the last time I went into the hospital, I left to go into the ER at 1 am, because it was hurting so bad i thought I might have a collapsed lung. Turned out to be pluerisy, which is extremely painful... That just went away a couple weeks ago.

 

[ladybug]

Lauren,

I don't have much more to add, as I think everyone is doing a pretty good job. I also know the feeling of thinking its too soon for antibiotics. I avoid them at all costs if/when I think there is a fleeting chance my body can fight off some of what I'm experiencing. Because of this, I am sensitive to many antibiotics yet. Plus, when I do go in for clean outs, its usually when I can tell my cough and stuff is different.... This last time my pft's weren't even down and I went in cause I just didn't feel right. However, there are several times within a given year that I feel crummy and congested and run down, but I don't always run to get on IVs unless it just never lets up. So, I guess what I'm saying is listen to your body and not so much how long its been. Maybe the meds you were on didn't catch the buggies that are bothering you now.... Maybe they need to try a new combo. Often, what you show on a culture may be from a certain part of your lung and what is actually causing you problems may not have "come out" to show on that culture. So, maybe the drug combo was inaccruate because of that. I don't know. Just some thoughts on why you may not feel better. Hope that helps put your mind at ease that it may not be that you're "sicker", just a different bug is showing up that you need to "attack" with antibiotics.

Either way, if it were me, I'd watch it a few days and if my body can't fight it, I'd go back in. With changes of seasons, pollution, etc... I know my lungs act up sometimes and I know my pfts would be worse at these times, yet I wait and see what's going to happen. It isn't always my PA acting up (and I colonize PA constantly.. various strains of it). Just me though. Get into the doc if you don't get better. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Good luck!

 

[ladybug]

Lauren,

I don't have much more to add, as I think everyone is doing a pretty good job. I also know the feeling of thinking its too soon for antibiotics. I avoid them at all costs if/when I think there is a fleeting chance my body can fight off some of what I'm experiencing. Because of this, I am sensitive to many antibiotics yet. Plus, when I do go in for clean outs, its usually when I can tell my cough and stuff is different.... This last time my pft's weren't even down and I went in cause I just didn't feel right. However, there are several times within a given year that I feel crummy and congested and run down, but I don't always run to get on IVs unless it just never lets up. So, I guess what I'm saying is listen to your body and not so much how long its been. Maybe the meds you were on didn't catch the buggies that are bothering you now.... Maybe they need to try a new combo. Often, what you show on a culture may be from a certain part of your lung and what is actually causing you problems may not have "come out" to show on that culture. So, maybe the drug combo was inaccruate because of that. I don't know. Just some thoughts on why you may not feel better. Hope that helps put your mind at ease that it may not be that you're "sicker", just a different bug is showing up that you need to "attack" with antibiotics.

Either way, if it were me, I'd watch it a few days and if my body can't fight it, I'd go back in. With changes of seasons, pollution, etc... I know my lungs act up sometimes and I know my pfts would be worse at these times, yet I wait and see what's going to happen. It isn't always my PA acting up (and I colonize PA constantly.. various strains of it). Just me though. Get into the doc if you don't get better. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Good luck!

 

[ladybug]

Lauren,

I don't have much more to add, as I think everyone is doing a pretty good job. I also know the feeling of thinking its too soon for antibiotics. I avoid them at all costs if/when I think there is a fleeting chance my body can fight off some of what I'm experiencing. Because of this, I am sensitive to many antibiotics yet. Plus, when I do go in for clean outs, its usually when I can tell my cough and stuff is different.... This last time my pft's weren't even down and I went in cause I just didn't feel right. However, there are several times within a given year that I feel crummy and congested and run down, but I don't always run to get on IVs unless it just never lets up. So, I guess what I'm saying is listen to your body and not so much how long its been. Maybe the meds you were on didn't catch the buggies that are bothering you now.... Maybe they need to try a new combo. Often, what you show on a culture may be from a certain part of your lung and what is actually causing you problems may not have "come out" to show on that culture. So, maybe the drug combo was inaccruate because of that. I don't know. Just some thoughts on why you may not feel better. Hope that helps put your mind at ease that it may not be that you're "sicker", just a different bug is showing up that you need to "attack" with antibiotics.

Either way, if it were me, I'd watch it a few days and if my body can't fight it, I'd go back in. With changes of seasons, pollution, etc... I know my lungs act up sometimes and I know my pfts would be worse at these times, yet I wait and see what's going to happen. It isn't always my PA acting up (and I colonize PA constantly.. various strains of it). Just me though. Get into the doc if you don't get better. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Good luck!

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Sonia,
you pretty much hit the nail on the head.. that is my biggest cause for hesitation, the fear of my bugs becoming resistant to the only iv drugs that are able to treat them. I have like three different bugs and they all have different sensitivities , but they are really only resistant to a few things, and want to keep that list to a minimum. Staying out of the hospital will keep me from building up too much resistance, if at all possible. thanks for the advice. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Sonia,
you pretty much hit the nail on the head.. that is my biggest cause for hesitation, the fear of my bugs becoming resistant to the only iv drugs that are able to treat them. I have like three different bugs and they all have different sensitivities , but they are really only resistant to a few things, and want to keep that list to a minimum. Staying out of the hospital will keep me from building up too much resistance, if at all possible. thanks for the advice. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[twistedlibrarian]

Sonia,
you pretty much hit the nail on the head.. that is my biggest cause for hesitation, the fear of my bugs becoming resistant to the only iv drugs that are able to treat them. I have like three different bugs and they all have different sensitivities , but they are really only resistant to a few things, and want to keep that list to a minimum. Staying out of the hospital will keep me from building up too much resistance, if at all possible. thanks for the advice. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">