Since being diagnosed with bronchiectasis, I've always taken a rescue antibiotic with me on vacation, just in case. I've never had to use it... until now.
A few days into my trip to Italy, I felt a scratchy throat. I didn't have any other symptoms, but I noticed that I was producing more mucus and it was becoming darker. I felt well so it was difficult to justify taking antibiotics at first, but after increasing my airway clearance and not seeing any improvement, I decided to start taking a 10-day supply of Levaquin. It's possible that I just had a virus, but it's also possible that introducing the virus into my lung microbiome made certain bacteria more dominant. Presently, there's a lot of research being done on the lung and gut microbiome. Some of it focuses on how the relationship and communication amongst the microbes can affect one’s health. It's a fascinating area of study and I think we're going to learn a lot more about it in the next five years. On a personal note, my hyper-secretions diminished so I feel I made the right call. #bronchiectasis #travelingwithbronchiectasis #chroniccough
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AuthorLinda Cooper Esposito, MPH is a health educator with bronchiectasis. She developed the BE CLEAR Method to Living with Bronchiectasis and writes with compassion and humor about this chronic lung disease. Archives
September 2024
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