It's late and tomorrow I will let you know what I do, when I start getting symptoms. I cannot help you make a decision about whether you should be on IV meds or not. But I will tell you my own story tomorrow about how I used to be on IV meds and have not had to take them in the last twelve years at all because my doctor treats the inflammation in the lungs which is a breeding ground for bacteria and infections. And like CFsucks wonders: Your doctors let YOU decide whether to be on antibiotics or go into the hospital?? It is not easy to tell if it is inflammation or infection. There are many people on this board who talk about being on endless cycles of IV's and after weeks of antibiotics are still very sick.
I would also like to make it clear after reading the article that you are all referring to, that NOWHERE does it suggest that aggressive treatment means taking antibiotics. In fact, the point is specifically made that the "real medicine" was defined as doctors who were caring, conscientious, and made sure their patients were compliant.
In quoting Dr. Warwick: "The secret is simple --You do whatever you can to keep the lungs open as possible."
The above statement is an important one. One that is responsible for me staying off IV's. How do you keep the lungs as open as possible? One way is to reduce inflammation, reduce swelling in the lungs so that the mucus CAN come out. There are many ways to do this.
When describing a patient who came to Dr. Warwick with a 20% lung function, the one thing that is that is pointed to as Warwick's success with the patient is having him use the vest. Again for mucus clearance.
Everyone one of us at sometime or another needs antibiotics. They have saved my life. But I take them when my doctor determines they are necessary. And be sure my doctor is very aggressive, by taking what she calls "protective measures and when symptoms appear: aggressive measures." Antibiotics are used when necessary (less and less over the years) and never preventatively. There are other things that I do that work much, much better so that I don't have to subject myself to constant antibiotics risking kidney damage, liver damage , hearing loss, yeast overgrowth, and antibiotics resistance which I have had in the past and that was a real problem.
More to come.
