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pneumonia

I have both COPD (mod) and pulmonary fibrosis. On 2 liters of O2 via a TTO.Got a bad cough about 21/2 weeks ago. Having problems bringing up the phlegm as it is temacious. have been on  Levaquin for 5 days and 50 mg of Prednisone for 10 days. Now am on Azithromyocin 250 mg daily for 30 days.
Just got some Mucinex.This has "wiped" me out . Been in bed for 2 days.Hoping to get stronger soon. I have tried vaporizers . Thought you might be of help. I have had COPD for about 8 years that I know of .Haven't smoked for 18 years. The fibrosis was directly related by Mayo as a toxic reult of taking furantoin. Thanks. Eo
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90270 tn?1199334469
I would make sure that you are well hydrated, drink plenty of fluids. If you are dehydrated, then the mucous will be very thick (of course, if you have fluid restrictions then be careful). You are already on Mucinex, which is pretty good as far as breaking stuff up. If you can tolerate chest physiotherapy (where someone can clap on your back in a cupping fashion to loosen up mucous) that would be something worth trying as well. I do this daily as I have chronic problems with thick mucous. If you have a nebulizer, try nebbing normal saline (it comes in premeasured bullets like albuterol does and contains .9% salt solution). I would talk to your doctor about this though, he or she has to prescribe it if he agrees that it could be of some help to you. Saline breaks down mucous...Another med that is often used in nebulizers that is considered a mucolytic is Mucomyst...it isn't pleasant smelling but it does the job.
It wouldn't hurt to touch base with your doc as to how you are feeling, especially if you continue to feel as wiped out as you describe. Perhaps your oxygen levels are lower than your norm...do you have a pulse oximeter at home to check? That could also explain how you feel.
I can't think of anything else to add...I hope that this helps. Sunny
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
I will add physicians will not give 100 percent oxygen to COPD patients because there is a chance that when the carotid sensors reflect high concentrations of oxygen the breathing may stop. This is true fors mokers, but you are NOT a smoker.T hey probably have you on a nasal cannula. The organisms are probably anaerobic which means oxygen kills them. With someone in the room watch you and MONITER your breathing rate, turn up the 02 flow to 8 Liters and suck on that nasal cannula for a minute or so. Give it a five minute rest and do this again.  After you get off the highe r02 use a watch to moniteryour breathing rate. If your rate of breating decreases significantly you can't do this. Go back to conventional administration of  02. There is some risk to this protocol. But much benefit. For an hour after every Albuterol treatment.You want a higher concentration of oxygen to "wash" over the exposed bacteria.
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
After much hesitation and thought I am going to provide you with specific advice. Of course you should consult your physicians, who will undoubtedly disagree with me. You are entirely correct in viewing the mucus as the problem. The organism causing the trouble (Let's call it"Harvey") is living the good life in what is called a "biofilm". Harvey can exist in a Lugols solution (which kills every known bacteria)in one of these films. The anti-biotics cannot reach the organism through the film. Now comes the hard part.How to get rid of the film? You need an electrical nebulizer immediately. And you need your physician to prescribe TWO solutions. Ipratropium Bromide inhalation solution .02 (0.5 mg/vial) and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation solution (O.83%). There are severalissues.You will eventually acustum yourself to these solutions and they will stop working.You should have at least two weeks.Probably months, but at least two weeks before this happens. The Albuterol will make you "antsy" and nervous. If it gets too bad try the Ipratroprium alone. You probably need another antibiotic, whichin all probability they won'tgive.You should be on intravenous anti-biotic for two days (run in over an hour - not 30 minutes) followed up by oral antibiotics. I think you should be off the prednisone. For a while.Your immune system hastokick in. This is the catch. Without theprednisone you have a chance of death. But you can use the Albuterol and the Ipratropium to keep the lungs clear instead of the prednisone for at least two weeks. Make sure you have enough solution on hand. You can always go back to the prednisone. I think you need at least a week off the prednisone. That is a half-____ guess.I wouldad that allphysicians treat with prednisone plus antibiotics.My opinion is this is going in two different directions.I am not going to go into "tapeting off".Ending theprednisone will cause immediate excessmucus which can be dealth with by the inhaler. Initially you may need an hourly treatment. Maybe for the first six hours. Go to every six hours as soon as possible. Take two 800mg Ibuprifin with an eight hour intervalwith food the first day. Each subsequent day take 100mg Ibuprufin 1n 200mg doses at three hour intervals. This is a mild anti-inflammatory which will settle down the lung. Take periodic doses of Guinefesen (without the cough suppressant). Monitor your progress by coughing up sputem on a tissue. When the sputem in clear fo four days you have  probably ended the infection.  Be aware of the side effects of the antibiotics. Get the handout from your pharmacist provided by the manufacturer. NOT the abreviated version given by the drug stores. You have to evict Harvey.
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
The often prescribe a second anti-biotic, such as Cefuroxime Axetil 500MG. Both Azithromyocin and Levaquin are punishing drugs, as you know. Hopefully they have cultured your sputem. Sometimes they want to do a broncoscopic exam to get the sample. I disagree, but this is often the protocol. Have they prescribed an electrical albuterol inhaler, or any asthmatic meds? The albuterol inhaler will break up the mucus. There are other asmthmatic meds you can use in the inhaler. The use of prednisone while you have an infection is controversial. I know they use it. The problem is that the prednisone sometimes makes the infections go out of control. Make sure you take vitamin D3. Use an expectorant and observe the color of the sputem. As long as it is yellowish you have an infection. Make a daily log of the color. Many physicians never ask to see the sputem. I have an issue with that. Be carefull with use of blood pressure medications. High blood pressure in such a case is compensatory, and many make the decision to endure the high blood pressure while you have the infection. You will be under tremdous physician's pressure to continue to take the blood pressure meds. but limiting heartrate in your case is very dangerous. Get a BP cuff. Keep your progress posted.
Helpful - 0
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