7 replies to this topic

[Travelling Blackbird]

Can gabapentin (also called neurontin) really make you more prone to upper respiratory infections? I recently went down with bronchitis, and it was worse than I'd ever had it. The doctor said it was probably because of the gabapentin, but I feel like he's just trying to match a rare side effect to the illness to make everything "tidier".

What are your experiences with gabapentin and bronchitis / pneumonia etc?

[Scribbler]

Its strange that you mention this Derek, as I'm also on 700mls Gapapentin 3 times a day and recently had pneumonia twice.
The chest consultant didn't put the cause down to Gabapentin, he said its because I'm SI, C4/5 so don't have the muscles to fill my lungs with air.

He explained that everyone has the pneumonia bacteria in there mouth, but AB people can fill and empty their lungs.
Because we are SI we cant always fill and empty our lungs, which allows bacteria to trickle back into our airway, infecting our lungs.
He told me because my left lung has been so badly scarred I am now susceptible to pneumonia again, so I keep emergency AB's to take as soon as it flares up.

I've not noticed any side effects from the Gabapentin, its been of great benefit to me.

I hope your health improves Derek.

from old man scribb's

[Tetracyclone]

maybe it can make us more prone, but the influence off our injuries is much greater. Acupuncture stimulated my breathing the first time, after i find stretching of the torso and some chi gong breathing exercises help deepen my breathing, and therefore the health of my lungs. Good Luck TB, and I'm glad your mind is beginning to tick again.

[Travelling Blackbird]

Thanks to you both for the information and the welcome back.

I hadn't known about the issues with depth of breathing and chest infections. I must do some more reading. My diaphragm was damaged in 2008, I'm sure that could contribute too.

I'll also look into the exercises, with my injury level it'd surely be beneficial to work on my breathing and build up some instinctual level of "better breathing".

Thanks to you both!

[jenny407]

I didn't want to post on this thread as I clearly can't say anything about the original question.

As this has been brought up, however:
I also favour acupuncture and homeopathy (in Germany, Derek, there are also doctors "mit Kassenzulassung und naturheilkundlicher Zusatzausbildung" - while this is not the pure and best form, you won't have to pay; worth trying).

I also thought of breathing exercises when I read Mike's post but felt insecure about mentioning this.
Yoga breathing (prana yama) is the best for me, qi gong breathing (which I also do) is similar.
Absolutely recommendable - best learnt from a teacher, but also possibly from a book. Both focus on deep breathing (really using the lower parts of your lung) and breathing OUT completely (really emptying your lungs and filling them with fresh air). Done regularly (each day), they will improve your lung function generally in the long run.

[Scribbler]

Jenny. Thanks for your advice but as I'm a C4/5 I don't have the muscles under my diaphragm to help me fill my lungs. I don't know much about people like you with lower level of injury, maybe you can fill and empty your lungs better than us Quads.

I've been making an effort to make time to do breathing exercises each morning. I try to sit up straight and breath in and out as deeply as possible, so I'm trying and I believe I feel better for it.

Thanks.

[jenny407]

Tetracyclone, on 31 October 2010 - 02:58 PM, said:

Acupuncture stimulated my breathing the first time, after i find stretching of the torso and some chi gong breathing exercises help deepen my breathing, and therefore the health of my lungs.

Scribbler, on 02 November 2010 - 10:33 AM, said:

Jenny. Thanks for your advice but as I'm a C4/5 I don't have the muscles under my diaphragm to help me fill my lungs. (...)

Mike, I would be very shy to give advice as I don't know enough about SCI matters.

It was your post and it was tetra's answer (see quote above) that made me write.

I'm sure that trying to do breathing exercises - as much as possible in each case - is always helpful. Have you ever considered acupuncture? Good luck to you and Derek!

[Tetracyclone]

scribbs and Derek,

You guys remind us it is always possible to do better.