intermediate

[liz26ny]

I agree that the synergy testing would be much more helpful at the beginning of an exacerbation. My sensitivities to drugs vary from culture to culture. Definitely push for this in the future! And I would absolutely push for the desensitization to the drug you are sensitive to!!!! If your CF center is unwilling to do it maybe you can find an allergist who will do it for you. I am allergic to lots of abx and I have an allergist who does the desensitization for me right in his office as out-patient.

 

[liz26ny]

I agree that the synergy testing would be much more helpful at the beginning of an exacerbation. My sensitivities to drugs vary from culture to culture. Definitely push for this in the future! And I would absolutely push for the desensitization to the drug you are sensitive to!!!! If your CF center is unwilling to do it maybe you can find an allergist who will do it for you. I am allergic to lots of abx and I have an allergist who does the desensitization for me right in his office as out-patient.

 

[liz26ny]

I agree that the synergy testing would be much more helpful at the beginning of an exacerbation. My sensitivities to drugs vary from culture to culture. Definitely push for this in the future! And I would absolutely push for the desensitization to the drug you are sensitive to!!!! If your CF center is unwilling to do it maybe you can find an allergist who will do it for you. I am allergic to lots of abx and I have an allergist who does the desensitization for me right in his office as out-patient.

 

[liz26ny]

I agree that the synergy testing would be much more helpful at the beginning of an exacerbation. My sensitivities to drugs vary from culture to culture. Definitely push for this in the future! And I would absolutely push for the desensitization to the drug you are sensitive to!!!! If your CF center is unwilling to do it maybe you can find an allergist who will do it for you. I am allergic to lots of abx and I have an allergist who does the desensitization for me right in his office as out-patient.

 

[liz26ny]

I agree that the synergy testing would be much more helpful at the beginning of an exacerbation. My sensitivities to drugs vary from culture to culture. Definitely push for this in the future! And I would absolutely push for the desensitization to the drug you are sensitive to!!!! If your CF center is unwilling to do it maybe you can find an allergist who will do it for you. I am allergic to lots of abx and I have an allergist who does the desensitization for me right in his office as out-patient.

 

[saveferris2009]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ladybug</b></i>

ok, let me clarify...



i personally think its a waste of time and money to do synergy testing on a culture that is no longer growing much since i'd been on abx for 6 weeks at that time. </end quote></div>


You're still growing plenty after you're on abx. CFer's are chronically colonized with bacteria - they don't go away for the most part.

in fact, you probably have different sensitivies after 6 weeks of abx treatment than before. So that could be very useful information in the future. Hopefully next time you'll take advantage of any synergy testing they'll do for you, regardless of the timing. That information is more useful than none at all!

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> why on earth would you resort to syngery testing that was done at the d/c of a prior course of abx? </end quote></div>

Because it takes quite a # of weeks to get synergy testing back and chances are if a bug is resistant after your last course of abx when you d/c the abx, you're still resistant to it at your next exacerbation. Ask an infectious disease specialist - they'll tell you the same



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> this is why we culture each time we go on abx, right? this is why they don't rely on a 4-5 month old culture... especially one taken at the END of abx therapy. right? </end quote></div>


Sensitivities don't change all that much. Sputum cultures are done so frequently as well to make sure you haven't picked up a new bug. Chances are sensitivities haven't changed all that dramatically in a few months (but they could)



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>i want to do synergy testing with each culture, or at the very least when i feel its time for abx. </end quote></div>

Well depending upon how quickly you initiate antibiotic therapy, you might not get synergy testing results back in time to switch abx. Unless 6 weeks is your normal duration, then I suppose that could be useful.



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> but at the END of therapy? when i'm "well"? honestly, my sputum was a completely different color and thickness than it is now (and than it was at the onset of prior exacerbation too!).</end quote></div>

Well that's the whole point - after exposure to abx your sensitivites chagne. You could become more resistant. It's not as if those bacteria are gone - they're still there. And if they're resistant, more often than not they're staying that way (not always though). SO synergy testing is still very useful.

Take care

 

[saveferris2009]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ladybug</b></i>

ok, let me clarify...



i personally think its a waste of time and money to do synergy testing on a culture that is no longer growing much since i'd been on abx for 6 weeks at that time. </end quote></div>


You're still growing plenty after you're on abx. CFer's are chronically colonized with bacteria - they don't go away for the most part.

in fact, you probably have different sensitivies after 6 weeks of abx treatment than before. So that could be very useful information in the future. Hopefully next time you'll take advantage of any synergy testing they'll do for you, regardless of the timing. That information is more useful than none at all!

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> why on earth would you resort to syngery testing that was done at the d/c of a prior course of abx? </end quote></div>

Because it takes quite a # of weeks to get synergy testing back and chances are if a bug is resistant after your last course of abx when you d/c the abx, you're still resistant to it at your next exacerbation. Ask an infectious disease specialist - they'll tell you the same



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> this is why we culture each time we go on abx, right? this is why they don't rely on a 4-5 month old culture... especially one taken at the END of abx therapy. right? </end quote></div>


Sensitivities don't change all that much. Sputum cultures are done so frequently as well to make sure you haven't picked up a new bug. Chances are sensitivities haven't changed all that dramatically in a few months (but they could)



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>i want to do synergy testing with each culture, or at the very least when i feel its time for abx. </end quote></div>

Well depending upon how quickly you initiate antibiotic therapy, you might not get synergy testing results back in time to switch abx. Unless 6 weeks is your normal duration, then I suppose that could be useful.



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> but at the END of therapy? when i'm "well"? honestly, my sputum was a completely different color and thickness than it is now (and than it was at the onset of prior exacerbation too!).</end quote></div>

Well that's the whole point - after exposure to abx your sensitivites chagne. You could become more resistant. It's not as if those bacteria are gone - they're still there. And if they're resistant, more often than not they're staying that way (not always though). SO synergy testing is still very useful.

Take care

 

[saveferris2009]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ladybug</b></i>

ok, let me clarify...



i personally think its a waste of time and money to do synergy testing on a culture that is no longer growing much since i'd been on abx for 6 weeks at that time. </end quote></div>


You're still growing plenty after you're on abx. CFer's are chronically colonized with bacteria - they don't go away for the most part.

in fact, you probably have different sensitivies after 6 weeks of abx treatment than before. So that could be very useful information in the future. Hopefully next time you'll take advantage of any synergy testing they'll do for you, regardless of the timing. That information is more useful than none at all!

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> why on earth would you resort to syngery testing that was done at the d/c of a prior course of abx? </end quote></div>

Because it takes quite a # of weeks to get synergy testing back and chances are if a bug is resistant after your last course of abx when you d/c the abx, you're still resistant to it at your next exacerbation. Ask an infectious disease specialist - they'll tell you the same



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> this is why we culture each time we go on abx, right? this is why they don't rely on a 4-5 month old culture... especially one taken at the END of abx therapy. right? </end quote></div>


Sensitivities don't change all that much. Sputum cultures are done so frequently as well to make sure you haven't picked up a new bug. Chances are sensitivities haven't changed all that dramatically in a few months (but they could)



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>i want to do synergy testing with each culture, or at the very least when i feel its time for abx. </end quote></div>

Well depending upon how quickly you initiate antibiotic therapy, you might not get synergy testing results back in time to switch abx. Unless 6 weeks is your normal duration, then I suppose that could be useful.



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> but at the END of therapy? when i'm "well"? honestly, my sputum was a completely different color and thickness than it is now (and than it was at the onset of prior exacerbation too!).</end quote></div>

Well that's the whole point - after exposure to abx your sensitivites chagne. You could become more resistant. It's not as if those bacteria are gone - they're still there. And if they're resistant, more often than not they're staying that way (not always though). SO synergy testing is still very useful.

Take care

 

[saveferris2009]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ladybug</b></i>

ok, let me clarify...



i personally think its a waste of time and money to do synergy testing on a culture that is no longer growing much since i'd been on abx for 6 weeks at that time. </end quote>


You're still growing plenty after you're on abx. CFer's are chronically colonized with bacteria - they don't go away for the most part.

in fact, you probably have different sensitivies after 6 weeks of abx treatment than before. So that could be very useful information in the future. Hopefully next time you'll take advantage of any synergy testing they'll do for you, regardless of the timing. That information is more useful than none at all!

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> why on earth would you resort to syngery testing that was done at the d/c of a prior course of abx? </end quote>

Because it takes quite a # of weeks to get synergy testing back and chances are if a bug is resistant after your last course of abx when you d/c the abx, you're still resistant to it at your next exacerbation. Ask an infectious disease specialist - they'll tell you the same



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> this is why we culture each time we go on abx, right? this is why they don't rely on a 4-5 month old culture... especially one taken at the END of abx therapy. right? </end quote>


Sensitivities don't change all that much. Sputum cultures are done so frequently as well to make sure you haven't picked up a new bug. Chances are sensitivities haven't changed all that dramatically in a few months (but they could)



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>i want to do synergy testing with each culture, or at the very least when i feel its time for abx. </end quote>

Well depending upon how quickly you initiate antibiotic therapy, you might not get synergy testing results back in time to switch abx. Unless 6 weeks is your normal duration, then I suppose that could be useful.



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> but at the END of therapy? when i'm "well"? honestly, my sputum was a completely different color and thickness than it is now (and than it was at the onset of prior exacerbation too!).</end quote>

Well that's the whole point - after exposure to abx your sensitivites chagne. You could become more resistant. It's not as if those bacteria are gone - they're still there. And if they're resistant, more often than not they're staying that way (not always though). SO synergy testing is still very useful.

Take care

 

[saveferris2009]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>ladybug</b></i>
<br />
<br />ok, let me clarify...
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />i personally think its a waste of time and money to do synergy testing on a culture that is no longer growing much since i'd been on abx for 6 weeks at that time. </end quote>
<br />
<br />
<br />You're still growing plenty after you're on abx. CFer's are chronically colonized with bacteria - they don't go away for the most part.
<br />
<br />in fact, you probably have different sensitivies after 6 weeks of abx treatment than before. So that could be very useful information in the future. Hopefully next time you'll take advantage of any synergy testing they'll do for you, regardless of the timing. That information is more useful than none at all!
<br />
<br /><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> why on earth would you resort to syngery testing that was done at the d/c of a prior course of abx? </end quote>
<br />
<br />Because it takes quite a # of weeks to get synergy testing back and chances are if a bug is resistant after your last course of abx when you d/c the abx, you're still resistant to it at your next exacerbation. Ask an infectious disease specialist - they'll tell you the same
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> this is why we culture each time we go on abx, right? this is why they don't rely on a 4-5 month old culture... especially one taken at the END of abx therapy. right? </end quote>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sensitivities don't change all that much. Sputum cultures are done so frequently as well to make sure you haven't picked up a new bug. Chances are sensitivities haven't changed all that dramatically in a few months (but they could)
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>i want to do synergy testing with each culture, or at the very least when i feel its time for abx. </end quote>
<br />
<br />Well depending upon how quickly you initiate antibiotic therapy, you might not get synergy testing results back in time to switch abx. Unless 6 weeks is your normal duration, then I suppose that could be useful.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> but at the END of therapy? when i'm "well"? honestly, my sputum was a completely different color and thickness than it is now (and than it was at the onset of prior exacerbation too!).</end quote>
<br />
<br />Well that's the whole point - after exposure to abx your sensitivites chagne. You could become more resistant. It's not as if those bacteria are gone - they're still there. And if they're resistant, more often than not they're staying that way (not always though). SO synergy testing is still very useful.
<br />
<br />Take care
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />

 

[liz26ny]

Just to clarify, are you saying it takes 6 weeks to get your synergy testing results? I know it takes longer than a normal culture but my results are usually back within 7-10 days, 2 weeks at most. Is that not the norm?

 

[liz26ny]

Just to clarify, are you saying it takes 6 weeks to get your synergy testing results? I know it takes longer than a normal culture but my results are usually back within 7-10 days, 2 weeks at most. Is that not the norm?

 

[liz26ny]

Just to clarify, are you saying it takes 6 weeks to get your synergy testing results? I know it takes longer than a normal culture but my results are usually back within 7-10 days, 2 weeks at most. Is that not the norm?

 

[liz26ny]

Just to clarify, are you saying it takes 6 weeks to get your synergy testing results? I know it takes longer than a normal culture but my results are usually back within 7-10 days, 2 weeks at most. Is that not the norm?

 

[liz26ny]

Just to clarify, are you saying it takes 6 weeks to get your synergy testing results? I know it takes longer than a normal culture but my results are usually back within 7-10 days, 2 weeks at most. Is that not the norm?

 

[ladybug]

i was told it takes about 4 weeks to get back results from canada, but that if they send it to the place here in texas (which i didn't know they even do synergy in the US?), it can be faster.

my cultures have actually changed A LOT... i generally grow p.a., but last culture i grew staph and MAC. this culture came back negative for staph. so, i would not want to treat staph with synergy drugs just cause that's what i had 3 months ago.

this has become a problem for me. last time (and the time before that), i was on combos of drugs for 3 weeks, then swtiched to a new combo for another 3 weeks cause the first set weren't working (one i got much much sicker on the meds and ended up with severe pneumonia). they basically were just choosing combos blindly. they should have done synergy testing at that time when everything showed Intermediate, no? not just stabbing blinding at combos and then, at the end of treatment, do testing to see what would work.

i do see your point in a way, amy, but even when i mentioned to my nurse today that they did synergy at the end of a course of IV meds, she laughed and wondered why.

i am not currently thinking i'll be going on iv abx for a couple weeks at least, so why not get a fresh culture in now and have it "cookin" for when i need it for THIS illness?

maybe i just can't wrap my mind around all this right now, and am extremely frustrated that my last 2 hospitalizations were 6 weeks cause they couldn't figure out the correct combo.

i've also been told by my previous docs, with regard to cultures, that generally, when you do a culture during or immediately after treatment with abx, the stuff you're dealing with often shows intermediate or even resistant to the med you're throwing at it. so, again, i ask how we'd get consistent results using a culture at the end of a course of abx? if the stuff i grow shows intermidiate at that time just cause that's the med i've been on, how do we even know it WILL in fact be intermediate and not sensitive or resistant next time the med is thrown at it?

anyway, thanks for the info....

i called the cf nurse and she will check with the doc about running synergy on this culture today. fingers crossed they do it. i know DH also finds it ridiculous to not run a test like this when i may need the results in a couple weeks if i get sicker, etc. i mean, i'd even pay out of pocket for it at this point!!! i just want it ordered!!

thanks....

 

[ladybug]

i was told it takes about 4 weeks to get back results from canada, but that if they send it to the place here in texas (which i didn't know they even do synergy in the US?), it can be faster.

my cultures have actually changed A LOT... i generally grow p.a., but last culture i grew staph and MAC. this culture came back negative for staph. so, i would not want to treat staph with synergy drugs just cause that's what i had 3 months ago.

this has become a problem for me. last time (and the time before that), i was on combos of drugs for 3 weeks, then swtiched to a new combo for another 3 weeks cause the first set weren't working (one i got much much sicker on the meds and ended up with severe pneumonia). they basically were just choosing combos blindly. they should have done synergy testing at that time when everything showed Intermediate, no? not just stabbing blinding at combos and then, at the end of treatment, do testing to see what would work.

i do see your point in a way, amy, but even when i mentioned to my nurse today that they did synergy at the end of a course of IV meds, she laughed and wondered why.

i am not currently thinking i'll be going on iv abx for a couple weeks at least, so why not get a fresh culture in now and have it "cookin" for when i need it for THIS illness?

maybe i just can't wrap my mind around all this right now, and am extremely frustrated that my last 2 hospitalizations were 6 weeks cause they couldn't figure out the correct combo.

i've also been told by my previous docs, with regard to cultures, that generally, when you do a culture during or immediately after treatment with abx, the stuff you're dealing with often shows intermediate or even resistant to the med you're throwing at it. so, again, i ask how we'd get consistent results using a culture at the end of a course of abx? if the stuff i grow shows intermidiate at that time just cause that's the med i've been on, how do we even know it WILL in fact be intermediate and not sensitive or resistant next time the med is thrown at it?

anyway, thanks for the info....

i called the cf nurse and she will check with the doc about running synergy on this culture today. fingers crossed they do it. i know DH also finds it ridiculous to not run a test like this when i may need the results in a couple weeks if i get sicker, etc. i mean, i'd even pay out of pocket for it at this point!!! i just want it ordered!!

thanks....

 

[ladybug]

i was told it takes about 4 weeks to get back results from canada, but that if they send it to the place here in texas (which i didn't know they even do synergy in the US?), it can be faster.

my cultures have actually changed A LOT... i generally grow p.a., but last culture i grew staph and MAC. this culture came back negative for staph. so, i would not want to treat staph with synergy drugs just cause that's what i had 3 months ago.

this has become a problem for me. last time (and the time before that), i was on combos of drugs for 3 weeks, then swtiched to a new combo for another 3 weeks cause the first set weren't working (one i got much much sicker on the meds and ended up with severe pneumonia). they basically were just choosing combos blindly. they should have done synergy testing at that time when everything showed Intermediate, no? not just stabbing blinding at combos and then, at the end of treatment, do testing to see what would work.

i do see your point in a way, amy, but even when i mentioned to my nurse today that they did synergy at the end of a course of IV meds, she laughed and wondered why.

i am not currently thinking i'll be going on iv abx for a couple weeks at least, so why not get a fresh culture in now and have it "cookin" for when i need it for THIS illness?

maybe i just can't wrap my mind around all this right now, and am extremely frustrated that my last 2 hospitalizations were 6 weeks cause they couldn't figure out the correct combo.

i've also been told by my previous docs, with regard to cultures, that generally, when you do a culture during or immediately after treatment with abx, the stuff you're dealing with often shows intermediate or even resistant to the med you're throwing at it. so, again, i ask how we'd get consistent results using a culture at the end of a course of abx? if the stuff i grow shows intermidiate at that time just cause that's the med i've been on, how do we even know it WILL in fact be intermediate and not sensitive or resistant next time the med is thrown at it?

anyway, thanks for the info....

i called the cf nurse and she will check with the doc about running synergy on this culture today. fingers crossed they do it. i know DH also finds it ridiculous to not run a test like this when i may need the results in a couple weeks if i get sicker, etc. i mean, i'd even pay out of pocket for it at this point!!! i just want it ordered!!

thanks....

 

[ladybug]

i was told it takes about 4 weeks to get back results from canada, but that if they send it to the place here in texas (which i didn't know they even do synergy in the US?), it can be faster.

my cultures have actually changed A LOT... i generally grow p.a., but last culture i grew staph and MAC. this culture came back negative for staph. so, i would not want to treat staph with synergy drugs just cause that's what i had 3 months ago.

this has become a problem for me. last time (and the time before that), i was on combos of drugs for 3 weeks, then swtiched to a new combo for another 3 weeks cause the first set weren't working (one i got much much sicker on the meds and ended up with severe pneumonia). they basically were just choosing combos blindly. they should have done synergy testing at that time when everything showed Intermediate, no? not just stabbing blinding at combos and then, at the end of treatment, do testing to see what would work.

i do see your point in a way, amy, but even when i mentioned to my nurse today that they did synergy at the end of a course of IV meds, she laughed and wondered why.

i am not currently thinking i'll be going on iv abx for a couple weeks at least, so why not get a fresh culture in now and have it "cookin" for when i need it for THIS illness?

maybe i just can't wrap my mind around all this right now, and am extremely frustrated that my last 2 hospitalizations were 6 weeks cause they couldn't figure out the correct combo.

i've also been told by my previous docs, with regard to cultures, that generally, when you do a culture during or immediately after treatment with abx, the stuff you're dealing with often shows intermediate or even resistant to the med you're throwing at it. so, again, i ask how we'd get consistent results using a culture at the end of a course of abx? if the stuff i grow shows intermidiate at that time just cause that's the med i've been on, how do we even know it WILL in fact be intermediate and not sensitive or resistant next time the med is thrown at it?

anyway, thanks for the info....

i called the cf nurse and she will check with the doc about running synergy on this culture today. fingers crossed they do it. i know DH also finds it ridiculous to not run a test like this when i may need the results in a couple weeks if i get sicker, etc. i mean, i'd even pay out of pocket for it at this point!!! i just want it ordered!!

thanks....

 

[ladybug]

i was told it takes about 4 weeks to get back results from canada, but that if they send it to the place here in texas (which i didn't know they even do synergy in the US?), it can be faster.
<br />
<br />my cultures have actually changed A LOT... i generally grow p.a., but last culture i grew staph and MAC. this culture came back negative for staph. so, i would not want to treat staph with synergy drugs just cause that's what i had 3 months ago.
<br />
<br />this has become a problem for me. last time (and the time before that), i was on combos of drugs for 3 weeks, then swtiched to a new combo for another 3 weeks cause the first set weren't working (one i got much much sicker on the meds and ended up with severe pneumonia). they basically were just choosing combos blindly. they should have done synergy testing at that time when everything showed Intermediate, no? not just stabbing blinding at combos and then, at the end of treatment, do testing to see what would work.
<br />
<br />i do see your point in a way, amy, but even when i mentioned to my nurse today that they did synergy at the end of a course of IV meds, she laughed and wondered why.
<br />
<br />i am not currently thinking i'll be going on iv abx for a couple weeks at least, so why not get a fresh culture in now and have it "cookin" for when i need it for THIS illness?
<br />
<br />maybe i just can't wrap my mind around all this right now, and am extremely frustrated that my last 2 hospitalizations were 6 weeks cause they couldn't figure out the correct combo.
<br />
<br />i've also been told by my previous docs, with regard to cultures, that generally, when you do a culture during or immediately after treatment with abx, the stuff you're dealing with often shows intermediate or even resistant to the med you're throwing at it. so, again, i ask how we'd get consistent results using a culture at the end of a course of abx? if the stuff i grow shows intermidiate at that time just cause that's the med i've been on, how do we even know it WILL in fact be intermediate and not sensitive or resistant next time the med is thrown at it?
<br />
<br />anyway, thanks for the info....
<br />
<br />i called the cf nurse and she will check with the doc about running synergy on this culture today. fingers crossed they do it. i know DH also finds it ridiculous to not run a test like this when i may need the results in a couple weeks if i get sicker, etc. i mean, i'd even pay out of pocket for it at this point!!! i just want it ordered!!
<br />
<br />thanks....