Lungs and Respiratory Disorders Forum - Recurrent Chest Infections

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Q: Recurrent Chest Infections

asked by: JoanOfArc67 on December 21st, 2008

New User

Hello there, I have had 4 chest infections now in quick succession and after a bit of advice on what I should do next as I seem to keep getting fobbed off by my GP. When I went to him the first time he gave me codeine linctus, a brown asthma inhaler (I've never had asthma before in my life) and said that he would not give me antibiotics incase it is viral rather than bacterial infection. This was repeated the second time (a month later) when I returned with a second infection. The third time I saw his colleague who gave me amoxycillin and told me to do steam inhalation and gave me more codeine linctus. The infection improved a week after the antibiotics ran out and I was just on the verge of being clear when the fourth one hit.

This time the doctor was initially reluctant to give me any antibiotics as they have been told not to issue them for colds and flu. When I pointed out that this was my 4th time she gave me a stronger antibiotic (erythromycin). I am now on day 7 of the antibiotics and have noticed very little difference.

In the past week I have had fevers hitting 102 degrees F, cold sweats, coughing up thick green and rusty coloured phlegm and rapid shallow breathing. I have continued doing the steam inhalation with menthol crystals and am now taking an expectorant cough medicine. Nothing seems to be giving me relief for very long.

Should I return to the doctor or should I now be looking at going to the hospital as it seems to have been going on long enough now.

Replies(6)

Steve6103

replied on December 24th, 2008

New User

I have the exact same

Hey,

I red your note and i noticed i am going through the same thing, i am on the last day of when the antibiotics are pushed out of my system;the tenth day, but they dont seem to work right? still coughing up the dirty mucus but the thing is i just went to the hospital yesterday and had chest x-rays and the doctor said this towards my bronchitis, 95% of the time antibiotics wont treat bronchitis because it is either a viral( Treated over time) or bacterial(treated with antibiotics)that has to be treated by time. Which means you should be taking medecine with DM( Decongestant Liqiud ) such as Buckleys, Benelyn, and other cough and cold medecine. He also prescribed me 2 puffers(bronchodilators) to break up the mucas in my throat and open my lungs. It seems as if tho you have Chronic Bronchitis that may last for 4 months or even more. If you know its not bronchitis and your coughing up green phlegm with a strong chest pain and having troubles getting a full breathe it may be pneumonia. I'm not sure if this is the right to do it just seems like you've tried eveything in the book so try this and if its much worse just get x rays so see what the problem is and it will show u 100% results.

alfaone

replied on September 25th, 2009

New User

i have had several chest infection i belive about six or seven course of antibotics and two courses of steriods ,now i have a fungal infection . i now have a buring in my right side rib cage and can cear my chest rattleing , i had to ask my Gp for a chest xray he then said do you know that xrays can cause your a proble to , i am giong out of my mind with worry i think the worst the pain seems to be really nastie noe this all start over a year ago a feel let down by my Gp what on earth i going on , i have an appiontment with another Gp tonight but in the same practice i am very worried as normally when i get a chest infection i can get clear within one or two courses please can some one help

Chintzy

replied on October 11th, 2009

New User

Hi,
I have had the same problem for 3 years on and off, I have had numerous courses of anti biotics and steroid treatments but they only temporarily rid me of the symptoms. I will be yet again visiting the docs and believe I will be prescribed a asthma inhaler this time. I have tried my partners inhaler and it relieves the symtoms in my throat area and I find it easier to cough up the mucus but the rattling still carries on. I have been on countless forums and it seems so many people are going through the same thing! I hadn't realised it was so common, although I do believe this infection was triggered by an allergic reaction I had a month ago.

DebL

replied on October 16th, 2009

New User

Hi all you poorly people. I've been off work since the beginning of September now. Originally I was diagnosed with Swine Flu (but this was over the phone with the good old NHS helpline) but no swabs etc & I never saw a GP. I took the Tamiflu & the flu symptoms went after about a week. Since then though, I had a chest infection/Bronchitus & 2 courses of antibiotics haven't helped. I has a chest xray & blood test about 2 weeks ago & am going back to the GP for the results & a Spirometry test next week.

I am still coughing up the greeny brown phlegm & suffering the tightness in my chest but am not taking any medication at the moment.

Work are bothering me over the phone asking when I will be back & I can't help feeling guilty. I've had 6 weeks off now & I'm wondering if I'll ever get better.

sianmarie

replied on October 31st, 2009

New User

repeated chest infections

I don't have any solutions but just wanted to sympathise, as i suffer with repeated chest infections myself and it wears me out. each one lasts for weeks and i don't even have the energy to climb the stairs to go to bed at night. I have suffered with asthma for about 25 years, and hayfever and for longer than that. As a child i had double pnuemonia and repeated croup. I was always the one who got a cold and it went straight to my chest, but at least this would only be around once a year. Then 3 years ago i had pleurisy and i haven't felt really well since. Every few months i get another chest infection, and have to have two weeks off work, then i go back because i feel guilty but i'm still coughing and exhausted for several weeks afterwards. In the summer things aren't so bad, but i get to october and it all starts again. I have the flu jab the last 3 years and also the pnuemonia jab. I take vitamin c every day and i try to eat a healthy diet. I have had chest xrays and a scan, which showed slight scarring on the lower part of one lung, apparently from the childhood pnuemonia. And my lung function is that of a 'much older person'. Apart from that, nothing showed up. I don't expect anyone to have a solution, but it gets so depressing at times and i just wanted to share it with someone!!

acm1711

replied on November 8th, 2009

New User

It's been interesting to read about sufferers of recurrent chest infectoins, as my husband has been diagnosed with yet another infection today. He has had pneumonia three times over the last 18months, and now this infection. He will be attending a Respiratory Clinic soon, so lets hope they get to the bottom of this and give some type of treatment.
Good luck to fellow sufferers.

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