Why am I producing excessive phylem as if i am plugged into a phylem machine?

Chest and lungs
1

Why am I producing excessive phylem as if i am plugged into a phylem machine?

caramel 22 August 2012 at 22:11PM

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In 2006 my grandmother died. This was a traumatic experience as she was healthy and strong. Her death was sudden and unexpected. This caused my chest to become so tight that the Drs had to give me nebulizers to open my airways. They later said i have asthma. Without warning my chest would just lock tight and I was unable to breathe. Since 2006 my chest has got so bad that I have been given the brown pump, antibiotics and prednisolone literally every other month. I am now producing excessive phylem and a gurrling sound. The phylem is always green despite antibiotics. My recent episode is being admitted to A&E where I was injected IV with aminophyline 250 mg & Magnisum 2g. I've been to the Hospital today (Tuesday 28/8/2012) The Drs have ruled bronchietasis via CT scan. They say its Asthma. All the Asthma suffers I hav eknow in the past do not produce excessive green/brown phylem? Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

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Hi caramel, I saw no one had answered your question and I know how dispiriting this can be.

I can't really help you as I don't have your problem but I am an asthmatic, I am under control with my inhalers.

If it was me I'd go back to the gp as green/brown phlem is uually indications of an infection and needs treating.

I see that you have had some A nd E treatment recently, it may be that they either missed something (honestly not unusual these days) or you have a low grade infection that hasn't yet been picked up.

Please go back and let me know how you are getting on. Good luck, Fanny Jane.

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Dear Fanny Jane

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my query.

I recently changed my GP after 12 years for 2 reasons (1) whenever they see me coming they try to avoid me i.e. I was booked to see Dr x when he came out and saw that I was in the waiting room, he avoided eye contact and I was eventually seen by another GP (2) on 2 occasions I was seen at my GP surgery and was sent away . The Last Dr told me " your chest is fine. The other Dr told me, "we do not know why you are producing excessive phylem or why your sputum is greeny/brown, just call the ambulance if you chest closes up on you again because all your test is normal. Sometimes it can be psychological. Within 2 days of seeing the last GP I went to A&E and was pumped with neublizers, IV treatment and admitted for 3 days. I was given nebulizers every hour and a half.. My peak flow fell to the lowest it has ever been. My peak flow is usually between 250-300. After being in hospital my peak flow fell to 150. I was given steroids and antibiotics and sent home. My chest is still rumbling.

i just feel a little embarrassed to keep going back to my GP. I feel like giving up and accepting what they say. The blue pump opens my airways for 1 hour when my chest is really bad ( sounds like a boiling kettle and 4 hours when i have finished a course of antibiotics.) The brown pump suffocates me and I have to take the blue pump again to open back my airways. After leaving the hospital I was told to take 7 puffs of the blue pump and 4 puffs x 2 of the brown pump. Presently my heart is beating so fast, it is unbelievable.

A colleague told me that our body speaks a language. Excessive mucus is a sign that your body is trying to rid itself of something, thus the excessive phylem. I would be happy to accept the Dr's diagnosis if all tests were carried out and they could give me some form of explanation as to why, despite taking antibiotics I still bring up thick greeny brown phylem. Also why when I wash my hair after a few days my chest starts to rumble again and within 7-14 days I would need prednisolone to control my 'asthma'.

I am presently at a lost as to what to do next and feel like just giving up and accepting what the Drs say and just take any medicine they give

sad

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Hi caramel,

I am so sad for you that you have so much to put up with, it must be so very difficult for you.

You did the right thing changing your gp. It is a sad fact that some gp's are hard nosed and very jaded about people and their problems. It makes you wonder why they chose their proffession sometimes.

Some just want the easy life, inocculations etc; Many people have had the same problem as yourself for different reasons.. Long term problems whatever they happen to be are very difficult to control and treat.

On the whole I have been ok. However, I have rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis and other conditions. I went to the hospital here three years ago for a consultataion about my condition and the possibility of an operation to help me use my hands better. When I got there, after waiting 2 hours, I was told the consultant refused to see me, no explanation why. I burst into tears and the very embarrassed staff got me a taxi to take me home, as I'd come on three buses and it had taken nearly three hours travelling to get there...for nothing.They said they'd get me an appointment with someone else.

The new appointment arrived and the consultant was lovely and I have since had two operations. I shall never forget the humiliation of that day though.

It is very hard to know what to suggest. You must continue with whatever medicines they give you, otherwise it's construed as 'non compliance' modern jargon for not doing as they asked, it makes them cross!

Does your new surgery have a few doctors there? You could ask if they have a doctor whose interest is asthma/airways, he/she will be more sympathetic, or even a pratice nurse that you could chat to. My surgery has a dedicated asthma nurse and she's very kind and helpful and can get the doc to take a look by the sideways route. Also have you a friend/relative that can accompany you to your next appointment? when you pluck up the courage to make one, This will help you to keep calm and have a friendly prescence with you, the doctor is more likely to be both nicer to you and hopefully more helpful.

You sound as if you need the doctors to explain what and why this is happening to you in more detail. Also it is a good idea if you can sit down and make a list of questions you need answers too, take it with you and explain that all you want is to know why this is happening to you and whether there is any treatment that can help you.Most doctors are fine with this, sometimes they are so busy they miss things and don't realise that the patient has left the surgery still no wiser about their condition.

Although anxiety about your condition (understandable in your case) can make you jittery and more stressed about the medications, effects on your life etc: It is very unlikely to result in green/brown phlem.

You really need to be under the Asthma Clinic at your local hospital with regular visits. I'm staggered your gp hasn't reffered you there.They have more expertise to help you.

Also how do you take your inhalers? Do you have a spacer? My gp prescribes me four new spacers a year. I have the big one and a smaller portable one called an Aero Spacer Plus, that fits in my handbag easily. as I have trouble using just the inhaler direct. They make a big difference. I wash them out every now and again as there is a build up of particules but would be lost without them.If you haven't tried these you are entitled to have them prescribed for you.

I am at a loss what else to advise you and hope that you can go back and get the doctors to listen to you. Once you have more knowledge, even if it turns out to be something you have to live with, you may feel more calm about things.Have you tried the Asthma charities and forums?

Let me know how you get on. I truly feel very sorry that you've had the run around for so long.

Best wishes to you, try and think positive and do not give up trying to get some answers. Fanny Jane

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Coughing up green/brown/yellow mucus is a sign of infection. If the first course of antibiotics doesn't work then you should try different ones. A sputum sample can be sent for culturing so that they know which antibiotic will work. If oral antibiotics don't work then the next step is admission for IV antibiotics.

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I AM WELL!!! I AM WELL!! I WOULD HAVE FAINTED IF I DID NOT HAVE FAITH!

Dear Fabb

Thank you for your response.

I totally agree that I have an infection but todate the test have not confirm this. All test have come back normal. I have not however given up!

Since 2007 neither the hospital or my old GP have been able to say why I am producing green phylem. I am yet to speak to my new GP but I am presently addressing the issue of high blood pressure, one of the side effects of prednisolone. The consultant at the hospital said that I was over prescribed with prednisolone (Oct 2012)

I have some excellent news since my last post. Since my last course of steriods in October 2012 I decided that I had enough of putting the management of my health totally in the hands of the Doctors.

I made up my mind that Prednisolone prescribed in October would be the last course I would take.

I there carried out research. For months I researched prednisolone and the side effects and the consequence of it. It was amazing what I came across. The information I came across gave me serious concerns. This made me determined never to go back to my GP for prednisolone.

Somehow I stumbled upon Vit D deficiency i.e. Vit D helps to build the immune system. It also helps with cell bondage thus preventing viruses entering our bodies. Vit D deficiency leads to complications with your lungs, reproduction system, skin and peridontitis. All of which I have problems with. I then came across information that studies have shown that Vit D levels are at its lowest from the months of September/October - March/April. This was exactly the period when my chest would get chronic.

I therefore went to my GP and asked for a blood test. Guess what, yes I was Vit D deficient. I have since been taking 1,000 mg of Vit D for the last three months. I can breathe again, I can speak again!. It is amazing what a simple blood test can reveal. It does however take some knowledge on your part to be proactive and ask your GP for a specific test.

I am no longer taking the blue pump only the brown pump twice a day. Yesterday (29th January 2013) I had a follow up appointment with the hospital. I told them that the symbicort 200 that was prescribed. I never took. A few weeks ago, I also told my doctor that the seretide 50 she prescribed I did not take either. Why, because neither the hospital or my GP adeqately explained why I was coughing, coughing, and producing green phylem. The medication just suppressed the symptoms. I was not happy with accepting this.

It is not only Vit D I take. I always juice a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. The juicing is amazing. I instantly feel the effect as it is a jice and it goes into your blood stream quicker than tablets. The Registrar that I saw at the hospital was extremely supportive of what I was doing and told me to continue. He also advised that I should keep the medicine should I need to take it.

In order to get to the bottom of the green phylem issue I want to carry out a certain blood test which the hospital or my GP will not carry out. I can only assume that this is because it is too costly and cannot be carried out under the NHS. I will therefor save and go privately.

Regarding the predisolone and the side effects. Sometimes my back goes into spasm i.e. muscle cramp. I am praying that after a while my muscles will relax and return to normal. I have researched that it will take about a year to be completely free of the side effects of the long term use of predisolone. I have also learned that overdose of prednisolone leads to adrenal exhaustion ie. the prednisolone suppresses our natural cortisol "fight and flight" mechanism. Thus it is difficult for our natural cortisol to kick into action after being suppressed. What's the answer to that I do not know? Further research will be my starting point.

A further side effect is high blood pressure. Well guess what, my blood pressure was so high that I have now been prescribed blood pressure tablets.

The tablets I dread taking everyday. One 5mg of amlodipine completely knocks me out. I have started taking it in the night but when I wake in the morning, I stagger as if I am drunk. My chest feels as if it has an elastic band around it and my legs feel as if they have heavy weights tied to them. I still go for my walks but its hard work. Only after walking for about an hour I feel the blood rushing back through my body and my body heat returning. Is this normal? Again Further research is necessary.

I am now carrying out research as to how I can reduce my blood pressure without blood pressure tablets. Reduction of salt, exercise, reduction of stress etc I am aware of. What I want to find out is whether there has been irreparable damage.

I am aware of the fact that I have to take the BP tablets to prevent heart attacks, strokes etc. I am constantly reminded of this by my friends,family and GP. I have learned that we are all biochemical individuals thus we re-act differently to medications prescribed.

What I find disappointing is the pressure put on GP's. Targets must be met, 5 minutes in a GP surgery is not sufficient to deal with ones concerns. What is the answer?

I am not saying do not take medication prescribed by your GP and the Hospital as GP and Hospitals SAVE LIVES. What I am saying is that we should work with our Doctors in parternship to prevent illness as prevention is better than cure.

I can breathe again, and speak in full and fluent sentences. This I am grateful for.

I will report back around March/April as changing ones lifestyle and eating habits takes about three months before one can see results.

I would like to end by encouraging all who read this page because my last notes was written when I was so desperate; I did not know where to turn. It was a A&E doctor who referred me to this site. I therefore registered in the hope that somebody would have an answer. I have now learned that the answer is within us, our bodies speak a language, we must learn to listen to it and act accordingly.

Please post this to all who are feeling low and believe there is no end to the dark tunnel that they may be in.

Wishing you all the best of health.

Regards

Caramel

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I'm glad you're making some improvements in your health.

I'm aware of Prednisolone side effects and suffer from high blood pressure, insomnia, muscle weakness and cramps because of this drug. I also have vit D+calcium supplements to prevent oesteoperosis, another long term side effect of pred. I really wish I could reduce my asthma drugs, but unfortunately I get worse if I do.