Oooh, I hate those dreaded IV's! I am usually on them every 4 months or so. I have had so many courses that I now have a port in my chest for IV access. Those antibiotics are rough, I feel for you. The nebuilized TOBI is harsh on my lungs at first, it takes a good week to get accustomed to it. I actually feel much worse before I feel better. I also grow out B. cepacia and other bugs along with PA. When they flare up, I am usually nailed with IV's...as much as 5 depending on what I am growing.
I hope the 21 days goes quickly and that your colony counts drop...Keeping you in my thoughts. Sunny
Thanks for your input. It was quite helpful, especially regarding aggressive treatment for pseudomonias, which I have. I saw my Infectious Disease specialist today and he ordered a picc line, 21 day course of 3 different antibiotics plus inhaled tobramycin. As far as my bronchiestasis goes, my treatment for the past year has been similar to yours: Vest, inhaled albuterol & inhaled sodium chloride using a nebulizer & Spiriva. Needless to say, if one faithfully adheres to this rigid treatment plan, there is little time to do anything else. It is essentially the life of an invalid, which is difficult for me to accept! Anyway, thanks again for replying to my posted questionon Medline. I appreciate it!
Agnes737
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Hi....as far as getting O2....have the doctors tested your levels while you are walking? They should do the 6 minute walk test and monitor your O2 levels continuously as you are walking. It wouldn't surprise me if your levels dropped to 88 and below which would qualify you for O2 by most insurance guidelines. It sure sounds like you would benefit from O2, your lungs and heart are working very hard right now.
As far as your bronchiectasis, are the docs aggressive with the treatment of it? I have bronchiectasis (have atypical CF) and am on a rigorous daily treatment to help keep my lungs clear. For one, I do chest physiotherapy twice a day at a minimum to loosen my thick sputum using the Vest (a device that I put on, kind of looks like a life jacket, which is then hooked to a machine that pumps air in and out at a high frequency. This pounds my chest very effectively). I also nebulize many medications that helps thin my secretions as well as nebulized Tobramycin to keep my pseudomonas colonies at bay.
I honestly believe that with aggressive therapy, the incidences of infections has decreased sharply. Prior to my diagnosis, I was sick constantly, now it is more like twice a year which requires IV antibiotics to clear the infections.
I Hope this helps you...Sunny
Someone please respond to my post dated 10/24/08 re Nocardia, etc.
Agnes 737