Doctor won't give antibiotics

tingalay · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

My Mum has been on various antibiotics which seemed to help the infection in her lungs, turning the phlegm to white rather than brown. I've asked for her to have some more antibiotics but, despite no prognosis (we are prior to CT and bronchoscopy at the moment), she is having to suffer with awful, awful coughing trying to release brown yuk. I've asked if she can have something to break the phlegm up to make it easier to expel but told no. Who's right? Me or the doctors?

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2838

Hard to say. If the mucus is not green/yellow, then there may not be an infection anymore.

Make sure your Mom drinks a LOT of fluids, as that will thin out the mucus secretions and make them easier to cough up. Also, you might want to try Mucinex, which also aids in thinning the sputum/mucus.

Please check with the doctor on the Mucinex, although I cannot see how this can hurt. My husband was on it most of the time he was ill.

Best of luck,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

tingalay · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

[quote="pbj11"]Hard to say. If the mucus is not green/yellow, then there may not be an infection anymore.

Make sure your Mom drinks a LOT of fluids, as that will thin out the mucus

Thanks for the advice. The phlegm is back to brown and Mum is exhausted, poor love.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2838

I don't know what brown means. In a smoker, it would be somewhat tan colored, but you said she's a non-smoker.

Call the doc and let them know that the color changed again. Maybe she can be seen again on Monday. Is she running a fever?

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

andreajones021 · New User Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 1

Make abiding your Mom drinks a LOT of fluids, as that will attenuate out the fungus secretions and accomplish them easier to ahem up. Also, you ability wish to try Mucinex, which as well aids in abrasion the sputum/mucus.

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