Post by Colleen-NC on Apr 15, 2008 8:54:39 GMT -5
Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects? by guest Roadtrip
« Thread Started on Mar 30, 2008, 8:28pm »
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I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me with this...
Have any of you been on high-dose (1500 mg) antibiotics daily for two months or more to treat a bacterial lung infection that has lingered for a long, long time (six months or more.)
I am asking because my Pulmo wants me to do this as he can't clear up my lingering lung infection. My latest Bronch shows bacteria and a high neutrophil count - normal is 1% and mine was 57%, and tons of inflammation.
He has already thrown a ton of antibiotics at it without success.
I am a bit reluctant to take antibiotics that long without getting some first-hand experience from you and other COPDers. I keep hearing stories about antibiotic abuse and how it can create Super-bugs.
I never heard of such a long time to take a broad-based antibiotic. Have you ever done this? If so, did you have any issues with doing so?
Thanks for your help
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canyon711
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #1 on Mar 30, 2008, 8:36pm »
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I can understand you being concerned. Has this bacteria been cultured and the proper antibiotic found for it? If not that would be the first thing. I wonder if an infectious disease specialist is in order. I don't know but know I was sent to one once for a stubborn lung infection and then got outpatient IV antibiotics for a few weeks. I can only imagine what a number this is going to do on your intestines since it is ound to kill the good with the bad. I think I would get a second opinion. Have you had a bronchoscopy? CT scan ? and all that good stuff?
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Guest aka Roadtrip
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #2 on Mar 31, 2008, 10:01am »
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Canyon,
Yes, I have had numerous Bronchoscopies, latest one three weeks ago. Numerous teams, have tried to culture the bacteria. They have been unable to determine what it is. That makes me wonder why they would throw some board-based antibiotic at it without knowing if it is right to treat the infection.
I think the Pulmo is grasping.
You make a good point about bringing in an Infectious Disease team. They tried to culture a similar bacteria several years ago and could not get anything to grow. Maybe by now they could try again.
I have had numerous CT Scans, latest one two months ago. They show infiltrates and other lung junk.
I think I am going to get hold of such a team before I start down the path of long-term antibiotics.
Thanks for the help. Good idea.
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sweetpea
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #3 on Mar 31, 2008, 1:38pm »
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Roadtrip, I hope you can get the infectious disease specialist in to help determine what the devil is going on. I know this has you worried. I wouldn't want to take that much anti's for 6 months either. Good luck to you and please get back to us with any findings. Pat
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muffin
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #4 on Mar 31, 2008, 3:34pm »
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I can say myself I have not had experience with it, however my mother and grandaughter have both had to do this. I don't believe they ever did know what it was but treated it. My mother was on anti's for 3 months, my gd was on for 2 months.
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Life is not measured by how many breathes we take, but by the moments that take our breathe away!
canyon711
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #5 on Mar 31, 2008, 3:43pm »
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Well, good luck to you. I didn't see what anti they were going to use. I am sure they are doing what they can. Mine obviously was much easier to culture but it was not something that usually is in the lungs but in the stomach. It seems like the IV's do a better job and faster. Keep us informed. Someone has got to know what it is.
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charles
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #6 on Mar 31, 2008, 9:15pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I went thru many months of 1,500 mg antibiotics daily and then even had to go thru another kind. IV antibiotics probably are the best and quickest way but; I think they hold them for the last resort. Sometimes the best of doctors don't have the answer. If you aren't comfortable w/this doctor I think I would get a second opinion before going thru a battery of tests.
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Guest aka Roadtrip
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #7 on Apr 1, 2008, 9:49pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you all for your help. I am getting in with other lung specialist in an attempt to identify the bacteria once and for all. It has been hanging on for such a long time. Again, thank you for your help. I will let you know the outcome. Take care all.
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maryaz
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #8 on Apr 6, 2008, 11:36pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi RT, hope you come back and see this. I wish you would join and then could have PM'd you.
RT; My husband had Pulmonary actinomycosis which is a lung infection caused by the bacteria actinomyces or propioni.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000074.htm
He was given Augmentin® XR 1000/62.5mg www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a685024.html
I finally found my post about Joe's DX of Pulmonary actinomycosis.
copd2.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=cg&action=display&thread=1193893326&page=1
It amounted to various tests and finding him with this infection. Dr said it doesn't usually get in the lungs and I did read that.
Still couldn't rule out cancer and had to watch the growth. He was suppose to take 4 pills per day but the 1st month we both missed that and he was taking only 2 pills per day. Then he started the 4 pills.
When the cancer was found and treatment was going to start then he was told to just stop. I am not good enough with this to know if he really had both. I suppose because it was the bronchoscope that found the infection. You can read it at the link.
He never seemed bothered by the 4000mg. The cancer is h_ _ _
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Guest aka Roadtrip
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Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #9 on Apr 7, 2008, 10:12am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Mary.
I appreciate the information. Boy there sure are some strange sounding lung infections aren't there? Hang in there Mary and again thanks.
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« Thread Started on Mar 30, 2008, 8:28pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am hoping that some of you may be able to help me with this...
Have any of you been on high-dose (1500 mg) antibiotics daily for two months or more to treat a bacterial lung infection that has lingered for a long, long time (six months or more.)
I am asking because my Pulmo wants me to do this as he can't clear up my lingering lung infection. My latest Bronch shows bacteria and a high neutrophil count - normal is 1% and mine was 57%, and tons of inflammation.
He has already thrown a ton of antibiotics at it without success.
I am a bit reluctant to take antibiotics that long without getting some first-hand experience from you and other COPDers. I keep hearing stories about antibiotic abuse and how it can create Super-bugs.
I never heard of such a long time to take a broad-based antibiotic. Have you ever done this? If so, did you have any issues with doing so?
Thanks for your help
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
canyon711
Senior Member
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #1 on Mar 30, 2008, 8:36pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can understand you being concerned. Has this bacteria been cultured and the proper antibiotic found for it? If not that would be the first thing. I wonder if an infectious disease specialist is in order. I don't know but know I was sent to one once for a stubborn lung infection and then got outpatient IV antibiotics for a few weeks. I can only imagine what a number this is going to do on your intestines since it is ound to kill the good with the bad. I think I would get a second opinion. Have you had a bronchoscopy? CT scan ? and all that good stuff?
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
Guest aka Roadtrip
Guest
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #2 on Mar 31, 2008, 10:01am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canyon,
Yes, I have had numerous Bronchoscopies, latest one three weeks ago. Numerous teams, have tried to culture the bacteria. They have been unable to determine what it is. That makes me wonder why they would throw some board-based antibiotic at it without knowing if it is right to treat the infection.
I think the Pulmo is grasping.
You make a good point about bringing in an Infectious Disease team. They tried to culture a similar bacteria several years ago and could not get anything to grow. Maybe by now they could try again.
I have had numerous CT Scans, latest one two months ago. They show infiltrates and other lung junk.
I think I am going to get hold of such a team before I start down the path of long-term antibiotics.
Thanks for the help. Good idea.
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
sweetpea
Senior Member
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,025
Location: SoCal
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #3 on Mar 31, 2008, 1:38pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roadtrip, I hope you can get the infectious disease specialist in to help determine what the devil is going on. I know this has you worried. I wouldn't want to take that much anti's for 6 months either. Good luck to you and please get back to us with any findings. Pat
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muffin
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member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 179
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #4 on Mar 31, 2008, 3:34pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can say myself I have not had experience with it, however my mother and grandaughter have both had to do this. I don't believe they ever did know what it was but treated it. My mother was on anti's for 3 months, my gd was on for 2 months.
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is not measured by how many breathes we take, but by the moments that take our breathe away!
canyon711
Senior Member
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 313
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #5 on Mar 31, 2008, 3:43pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, good luck to you. I didn't see what anti they were going to use. I am sure they are doing what they can. Mine obviously was much easier to culture but it was not something that usually is in the lungs but in the stomach. It seems like the IV's do a better job and faster. Keep us informed. Someone has got to know what it is.
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charles
Senior Member
member is offline
Joined: Aug 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 73
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #6 on Mar 31, 2008, 9:15pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I went thru many months of 1,500 mg antibiotics daily and then even had to go thru another kind. IV antibiotics probably are the best and quickest way but; I think they hold them for the last resort. Sometimes the best of doctors don't have the answer. If you aren't comfortable w/this doctor I think I would get a second opinion before going thru a battery of tests.
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
Guest aka Roadtrip
Guest
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #7 on Apr 1, 2008, 9:49pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you all for your help. I am getting in with other lung specialist in an attempt to identify the bacteria once and for all. It has been hanging on for such a long time. Again, thank you for your help. I will let you know the outcome. Take care all.
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
maryaz
Senior Member
member is offline
Blowin In The Wind
Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,058
Location: Phoenix AZ
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #8 on Apr 6, 2008, 11:36pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi RT, hope you come back and see this. I wish you would join and then could have PM'd you.
RT; My husband had Pulmonary actinomycosis which is a lung infection caused by the bacteria actinomyces or propioni.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000074.htm
He was given Augmentin® XR 1000/62.5mg www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a685024.html
I finally found my post about Joe's DX of Pulmonary actinomycosis.
copd2.proboards59.com/index.cgi?board=cg&action=display&thread=1193893326&page=1
It amounted to various tests and finding him with this infection. Dr said it doesn't usually get in the lungs and I did read that.
Still couldn't rule out cancer and had to watch the growth. He was suppose to take 4 pills per day but the 1st month we both missed that and he was taking only 2 pills per day. Then he started the 4 pills.
When the cancer was found and treatment was going to start then he was told to just stop. I am not good enough with this to know if he really had both. I suppose because it was the bronchoscope that found the infection. You can read it at the link.
He never seemed bothered by the 4000mg. The cancer is h_ _ _
Link to Post - Back to Top Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest aka Roadtrip
Guest
Re: Long-Term Antibiotic Use and Side Effects?
« Reply #9 on Apr 7, 2008, 10:12am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Mary.
I appreciate the information. Boy there sure are some strange sounding lung infections aren't there? Hang in there Mary and again thanks.
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