Too many tune-ups?

[Bubbalove]

Hello everyone-

I just joined the forum. My boyfriend is 25 and has CF. I think he is going to be joining the forum as well. I really never even heard of the disease before I met him, and I've tried to learn as much as I could about it. He has an infection, and has tried to beat it with Bactrim, Levoquin, and is now on Tequin. He wants to get a "tune up" and go on an IV. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is bad for someone to go on IV too much? Should he wait for the IV as a last resort, or is it it better to "bite the bullet" and go on it right away. He has been on IV 5 times in his life- all after his 17th birthday.. any opinions?

Thanks!

 

[Purplelungs]

This is one of those slippery slope type question. If you wait to long to "fix" the problem lung damage can be established and that will never go away. If your on antibotics to much you can become resistant to them. If he is 25 and has only been on ivs 5 times so far i would think he would be ok and a tune up is probably needed. In this case it may be he just needs the strong antibotics to kick the infection. Usually a tune up for most is a prevenative measure, this sounds like he actually has an infection that needs the "big guns" to beat it. I dont really know. But i do know from my personal experience that if the oral antibotics arent knocking the infection like it should, I need the ivs and possible hospital stay to kill the infection. So this would be the last resort for ME...and its quiet possible thats what your bf has done.

 

[Bubbalove]

He is looking forward to a tune-up.. he loves how he feels right after he gets off of one. The only bad part is getting the IV in his arm- he doesn't go to the hospital because doctors always come in his room and ask him all sorts of questions that make him feel like a science project.. I'm guessing he'll be on it by Monday.

 

[anonymous]

I agree with the last poster, but I also want to tell you that I am very impressed with you for asking a question like this and for being so informed about the medications and this disease! You should give yourself a big pat on the back <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Just make sure his Dr does a sputum culture before the IV's to see what meds the infection(s) are sensitive to. I had IV's once and had meds that I was resistant too given to me. I found out thru ordering a copy of my sputum culture after the fact. What a waste of my time & money<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">

 

[Purplelungs]

Thats why alot of peopl do tune ups because they feel so much better afterwards. It lets a person do alot more things again because they feel better. I prefer home ivs over the hospital too. Tell him I hope he feels better soon.
Amanda

 

[anonymous]

he's only been on i.v.'s 5 times in 8 years? there are people here who are on i.v.'s 5 times or more in one year. i wouldn't worry too much...