To Treat or Not to Treat?

[anonymous]

PA is just starting to show up in my cultures, At first I took alot of antibiotics to try to completely get rid of it however it is still there so reality is it is there. So the BIG decision is to treat on a routine basis or just wait and watch. I have no symptoms and my health is fine. I even had a bronc done and it did not culture PA and my doctor said it was a false negative. So I really dont know what to do or believe from here. HELP! I need advice! I want to to be conservative but also do what is needed.

 

[anonymous]

Do you have CF? This is something that happens to CF folks eventually. Listen to your Doctor. Risa

 

[thelizardqueen]

I've had PA since I was 14. Its colonized, so it will never go away and always show up on my cultures. It also doens't present a problem for me unless I'm having an active chest infection, so I simply treat when need be. I do take TOBI though continually, but any other antibiotic I only use when I'm sick. I'm so afraid of becoming resistant to a lot of stuff so that's why I don't always take an antibiotic unless I need to.

 

[anonymous]

Liz, this is the original poster and I want to Thank you for sharing I appreicate that! Like I said this is all kinda new for me and it is alot to deal with and many decisions to make and I do realize that everyone with CF is different but it is helpful to hear what others do for treatments.

 

[thelizardqueen]

No problem. Like you've said - every CFer is different, and new things popping up can be scary. Just know that PA is normal, and almost all CFers get it. There are even CFers on here who have had it since they were babies, and they're in their 20s and 30s now.

 

[JazzysMom]

I started culturing PA a few years after being dx & I was colonized rather quickly. Until my 30's I didnt do any maintenance drugs. I only treated infections with oral antibiotics as needed & if that didnt work I would go into the hospital. Now I maintain with Tobi & Colistin nebs alternating. I also am on continuous Bactrim orally. The Tobi & Colistin are for 2 different strains of PA & the Bactrim is for MRSA. I would try to avoid the iv & oral antibiotics as much as possible without risking damage. Tobi is usually a good alternative to keep PA in check. I understand your concern, but since PA can catch you off guard, I would be proactive!