Dear Smile E.,
Why do I feel worse after a few days or weeks of antibiotics for a lung infection? Could I just be not getting the right antibiotic for my particular infection?
Signed,
Still Sick
Dear Still Sick,
I’m sorry that you are still feeling ill. Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about still feeling ill? Did your doctor run cultures with antibiotic sensitivities testing? The antibiotic sensitivity testing will help determine what your particular bacteria is sensitive to. Now keep in mind the bacteria may be sensitive in testing to a particular antibiotic, but when the antibiotic is used to treat the bacteria it may not be as effective as the initial testing showed. Sometimes adjusting your antibiotics may help, but sometimes staying on the antibiotic that you are already on for a longer period of time will help too. Figuring out which is the best approach is something that your doctor should decide. But remember your doctor also needs your feedback on how things are going, so don’t be afraid to speak up.
Given the above; I should also mention that it isn’t uncommon for mucoclearence patients like those with CF and PCD to feel worse before they feel better even on antibiotics. Why is this? If you think about it, as the infection in your lungs, sinuses, or ears breaks down that infection has to be gotten out of the body somehow. That can mean increased ear drainage, increased sinus drainage, increased coughing, and increased mucus. As your body works to breakdown and move out the infection it isn’t uncommon to have fever, chills, exhaustion, nausea, and the list goes on. It’s basically a process that your body must go through to clear out the broken down infection. Unfortunately that process can make one feel awful too. I do encourage you to reach out to you doctor to let them know how you feel, and then your doctor can decide the best way forward for your particular case.
Yours Truly,
Smile E. Turtle
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