I always thought I had bronchiectasis. I see on a prescription given to me by the hospital consultant today, that COPD was the diagnosis.

I am now confused. I might as well sum up - a pair of dodgy lungs!!

[Toci]

Come on Annie, admit it; you were just jealous and wanted to join our club!

[Hidden in reply to Toci]

Not sure how to take that. Toci ??

[Toci in reply to Hidden]

It was a (not very successful) joke, trying to help you feel that no matter what the diagnosis, there were others who understood. Sorry for any confusion. x

[Hidden in reply to Toci]

Not to fret, Toci. All pals in this forum - love Anniexx

[Hidden]

That is confusing Annie, there is a slight difference with symptoms but to determine precisely differences between the two, BLF helpline I'm sure can advise what questions to put to your doctor to clarify your diagnosis. I guess there is always that possibility you have symptoms from both. It looks like on the information pages that Bronchiectasis has similarities with chronic bronchitis rather than emphysema (both the latter come under COPD)

Here is Bronchiectasis page:

blf.org.uk/Conditions/Detai...

COPD page:

blf.org.uk/Conditions/Detai...

Here's to understanding.

Best wishes BC

[sassy59]

Sound advice from BC Annie and hope you get the right answers from your GP. I would like to say how great it is to have you on this site as you have taken to all the new stuff without any complaints at all. Good for you and hope you are keeping as well as you can and thinking of you and your lovely hubby as always. Take care. Love, Carole xxxxx

[Hidden]

Thanks BC. As I say, my lungs are fast reaching their use by date. On all the appropriate meds, and first PR next week. All the best!

[rick1]

Hello Annie, c.o.p.d. is an umbrella term which covers all lung deceases so I've been told!

[Toci in reply to rick1]

No Rick, just emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The others are separate.

[sadie1951]

As Toci says, Mark BLF, confirmed this some time ago, BUT if you look at copd on the BLF website it says it covers a number of conditions!! So who knows, even the doctors aren't sure half the time, there have been numerous examples given by members of the foum where their gp's/consultants have said different things. I prefer to say I have emphysema, then it's clear. Sadie xx

[Hidden in reply to sadie1951]

A think sadie is spot on really my lung specialist said really its all the same thing ...

My new GP as been told by my lung specialist probable with my diagnoses

Don't think my lung specialist knows what to call my disease well apart from probable suppose thats incase a drop dead

Cheers all the best

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Annie

Your consultant could have had a lapse of concentration as one of my GPs did after we had just had a discussion about bronchiectasis. Doh! I would think it is very important for you to know for sure what your condition is hun. You might want to telephone cons secretary and request that your condition is clarified as being dx with bronchiectasis and this latest prescription of copd is confusing. It is important both you and your GP know. You need to know if you need to do physio daily and if you have bronch you will defo need longer higher doses of antibiotics.

Oh hun you really don't need to have to sort stuff out like this when you have a lot to deal with - still it does happen and from what I know of you you will sort it out.

Good luck lovie.

love cx

[Hidden in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I take your good advice on board, cofdrop. I have rescue pack of antibs. The cons. gave me antibs and steroids. I might have to bear in mind that I should have more steroids in future. I am starting PR soon.

There is a lot going on at the moment. I almost welcome other problems to take my mind away from the chemo. Lethal stuff but necessary for B.

I think it a good idea to ring the cons. secretary. Thanks a lot. love Annie xx

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Hidden]

Why do you think you should have more steroids hun? Just a thought (another option) someone from PR may well have access to your consultant and may well be able to check it out for you.

The chemo must be very gruelling for your hubby and obviously for you too.

Good luck Annie.

love cx

[Hidden]

Husband's treatment is being changed. He started in April, and now it doesn't worked so a rest and then oral chem as from October. This is why I like this forum and a glass of white wine to go with it.

[Hidden]

I totally agree. Talking about sad things, I went to a funeral of an old friend. She passed away and 3 days after, her daughter died. Granddaughter read a verse at the service and broke down. The things that life throws.

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

Oh Annieseed oh sad indeed. I watched a meditation video on You Tube about loving kindness [UNHHealth·] (not an advert!) which said: May I be well, may I be happy,may I be peaceful, may I be loved. This is for yourself, for people you love, people you might meet at the hospital, and ... for difficult people. I hope this might help

[Hidden in reply to helingmic]

Thank you for a thoughtful message. I feel other people will find comfort from it as well.

[helingmic]

Hi all, I didn't know the different attribute of bronchiectasis and COPDI was diagnosed in1994 for bronchiectasis at the Brompton Hospital. They still put this under COPD. so I'm a bit confused by the difference.

the first thing the nurse in 1994 asked me was "how long have you smoked". I never did.

I know I've got low white cells count as well, which makes it easy for me to get infections, and I do get them!!!

As explained a bit earlier, I had a good doctor who in 2011 diagnosed me with M.A.I (a similar bacteria to TB). The antibiotics (Clarythromycin and Rifampicin) made a lot of difference. I took this for 2 1/2 years. The doc thinks I'm cleared of it, On Mon, though, I was so cold, I thought I was going down with something. I phoned the Pulmonary nurse who asked me to "maximise " my drugs and have a sputum test.. I have started Colomycin which is a nebulised antibiotics. I'm extremely sensitive to the cold.It scares me. I was fit enough today (Wed) to go to the gym and enjoy it. I hope I can carry on.

[Hidden]

Thanks, all for the interest shown in my post. Food for thought - love Annieseedx

[appyalison]

Hi Annie, I don't know, yet another thing to worry about. I think it could be as others have said a misuse of the current term. However, cons should be precise so they don't cause such worry. Tke care. Alison

[Hidden]

On dear Annie,the last thing you need is to have extra worries.

So sorry to hear about Brians treatment,not giving the result you would have liked.At least the oral chemo,might not be as hard on him.

Do take care of yourself,& enjoy that glass of wine!

Thinking of you both,

Love Wendells xxx

[peege]

Just saying hello Annie as I can't add more than the lovely others.

I was just thinking what a helpful post and all the replies very useful for newbies.

All the very best to you and your Brian XxxxxxX peeg

[Hidden]

Thanks, peeg

[Hidden]

That message went before I was ready. Just wanted to say how nice it is of you to think of Brian! It is a painful time, but we will get there. Both of us have many happy memories.

[dukes]

I always describe my COPD as 'Bunged-up Lungs', explaining that they should be like 'Lace Curtains' but are now like 'Denim' !

[Mocarey]

Annie if I was you I wouldn't take to much notice of the script that said COPD. I have had sarcoid, fibrosis, bronchiectasis and aspergillus for years and years. The number of consultants that have told me none of the illnesses above come under the umbrella of COPD. However recently on leaving hospital the discharge letter stated I was a long time sufferer of COPD. One hand doesn't know what the others doing me thinks! M

[Hidden]

reading all these posts, I think I will ask my respiratory nurse. Thanks

[rick1]

My g.p. once told me that my lungs were like a wet pair of socks stuck together, they should be like a dry pair of socks though.

[lyndene]

Hi your COPD and bronchiectasis are to different diagnoses not one thing's .......

[helingmic]

Flibberti,

Don’t leave it till you can’t cope any more.

If you think the Colomycin doesn’t work, can you be precise and say why you think that it. Telephone your Pulmonary nurse to say your concern. She might ask you to take a sputum sample.

I’ve done that on Tuesday. She asked me a few question to see in which way I felt worse. It’s important to be clear about it, because you can say those points to the lung doctor.

Also, don’t let them fob you off. Say, for instance, that for x weeks you feel more short of breath, and …

The doctor should know when there is an exacerbation by the things you describe to him and the test he can run. At the very least, it makes him aware of your situation and why he should follow it up.

Don’t be shy about your health!

[rick1]

you've it the nail squarely on the head flibberti.

[BarbR]

My understanding from what medical professionals here in the U.S. have told me is that COPD is an umbrella term similar I guess to cancer or maybe dementia (?). Bronchiectasis, however, is a very specific condition. So, I guess in the end, you could have both.

[Marguerite2013]

I was told by the physio I saw that COPD is the umbrella term for various damaged lung conditions such as Bronchiectasis, Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema,