Chest Infections

Hi Ketty,

Our expereince is that, yes chest infections can be very much a part of
various forms of muscular dystrophy. It obviously depends on which
groups of muscles your particular conditions affects but it is a factor.

It is usually where muscles in the throat and neck are affected and this
increases the incidence of food and liquid “going down the wrong way”.
Pieces of rogue food and liquid going down into the lungs causes
chest infections and is usually treated with antibiotics. The medical
term for this is “Aspiration Pneumonia”. I was amazed to find that this
was a factor in my case, I thought everone coughe and spluttered to
the same dgree as myself and my mother. I was even more
surprised to recentky find my mother’s death certificate where the
cause of death was “Aspiration Pneumonia”.

Yes, do run this by your medical people.. I never thought to
even mention it for years. also Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing
and compounds the issue.

There are Speech and Language Therapists who can teach you
“strategies for eating”. It might not sound like it but they
do a great job and rwally know what they are talking about.

I had infections for a few years at his age. But then they
stopped for over 20 years. I am sure our bodies learn to
compensate for these muscular irregularities.

I have had to learn correct postures and angles
for eating and drinking to minimise chances of problems.

I was told that white phlegm means that the infection has gone but I know that when I have had chest infections, that stage lasts a while because the extra secretions produced get quite a way down into the branches (bronchi) and my weakness means it takes time for me to get completely rid of it. This is just my understanding of it but I know that while I was rumbling and rattling it seemed neverending and felt like it would never go.

If you are concerned that infection might return is it worth asking your GP/consultant to prescribe another course? I have often been prescribed antibiotics to have on stand-by. Also, in the past I have had to try another antibiotic after the initial course because it was not effective for me.

I got ill on New Years Day and had to call out a doctor, never worry about doing that if you are concerned- go with your instincts, sometimes just a phone consultation can help.

Best wishes

Sarah

Erythromycin. My mother used to take that one.

Often it would take one to two days after the course had finished
for the full effects to “kick in”. They always say to ensure you take
the full course as that is the full treatment. As Sarah says there will
always be holiday cover and some doctor to prescribe anti-
biotics if you need them. There will in each area be a duty
chemist on a rota so that you can get your prescription filled even
late at night.