Always sick

Hi Mindy

You might want to ask your doctor about an immune deficiency. There are several of these that are not HIV related. Please ask your doctor.

Here's a helpful article:

http://www.cdli.ca/~dpower/immune/blood.htm

Kerry

I have always been kind of sickly even as a child, I was always the smallest and weakest and I still currently am.

Do you have any suggestions on what type of immune disorder it could be?

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if you do not smoke and do not have asthma(or at least a tendency to wheeze) when you get bronchitis,and dont have chronic sinusitis,then it would require blood work and an evaluation.The true immune deficiency disorders are many but fairly rare and require very specialized testing.Quite often even then nothing definitive shows up.I have seen many pts. that receive antibiotics for viruses and colds(which is inappropriate)that wind up with repetitive cold,bronchial or sinus infections.If there is possibility of asthma -like illness or chronic sinusitis you can see your doctor for testing and treatment.If there is a smoking history thats 90% of the problem there.

Edited by barton perry on July 28 2005 at 11:22am

I do smoke, lightly but I do and I also grew up around smokers. Even as a child I would be sick allot and be on antibiotics. Now that I am older, I seem to be getting sick more often than not and now it seems most of the antibiotics dont even work, they keep giving me a high dose every time I get bronchitis cause the first 2 or 3 wont work. I don't have asthma or sinusitis that I know of. When I do go to my doctor, all he does is perscribe me anothe antibiotic and send me home and says rest. It just seems impossible to really get better. Besides totally stop smoking, is there anything else?
Thank you

I really think youve had too many antibiotics.You most likely have chronic bronchitis from the smoke.I would insist on NO antibiotics(when you go to the doctor with problems) unless you are proven to have a pneumonia or sinus infection BY XRAY or other Proven bacterial infection! Treatment for chronic bronchitis (aside from smoking cessation)includes a daily steroid inhalor and long acting bronchodilator.These help control the irritation and inflammation and swelling that is in the bronchial tubes ALL THE TIME.If you can imagine a raw scrape on the skin with oozing etc,the lining of the bronchi are like this.It s no wonder then that infections esp viruses can keep causing infections from the nose and sinuses to the distant bronchioles.

Edited by barton perry on July 28 2005 at 1:35pm

I get bronchitis allot really, more than I think normal people would get. My doctor has never ordered X-rays even when it has lasted for more than 3 weeks and I go in and tell him I was running a fever of 102 the night before with uncontrolable chills. He has given me an inhaler that I refilled to use now, cause I know if I go back he will just give me more antibiotics and send me home. I really appreciate your help.
Sounds like a need a new DR. Also I have alot of problems with my throat, I get alot of sore throats and strep throat, tonsilits. They were suppose to take out my tonsils as kids but it never happened and I continually ask if to take them out now and he says I am too old now. If that true. I honestly think I would not get as sick as much if someone would take them out.
Any opinon on that?

most ENTs are reluctant to take them out nowadays since they help fight infections.However if one has 5-6 proven strep tonsillitis infections a year the benefit may outweigh the risk.But even without the tonsils there ,that persistent inflammation can still be present.If you use an inhalor Id make sure it had steroid and long acting bronchodilator in it and use it every day to help with prevention and not just when you feel like you need it.I dont necessarily think you need a new doctor,all of us get busy and do things to "save time".I think he will be willing to work with you with the appropriate inhalor and with smoking cessation if you take the initiative and refer to ENT if needed.good luck.

Edited by barton perry on July 28 2005 at 2:05pm