Kaylife, have lived with broncihectisis since childhood, 66 now and still fighting, like gym, swimming, films, anything that makes me laugh.

[Kaylife]

Would love to chat, to understand how anyone else deals with similar problems. I have one son and two grandchildren, like positive people.

[mrsmummy]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Kaylife in reply to mrsmummy]

Thank you😊

[claque]

Hi Kaylife

Welcome to the site

You'll find loadsa people on this site to chat to about whatever you want. If you're feeling up and wanting a laugh,if you're down and needing reassurance, If you want to discuss your problems or your treatment there will be somebody here willing and happy to oblige and to give you the benefit of their experience Keep on laughing , keep on fighting ,enjoy life as best you can and you'll be a shining example to others

Regards

Chris

[Kaylife in reply to claque]

Thanks Chris I have had quite a good response from people , very pleased, seems a good site.

Kay

[Tomcat98]

Welcome, I’ve also had bronchectasis since childhood, am now 77 so you’ve got lots of life left. Enjoy it!

[Kaylife in reply to Tomcat98]

Thanks for that Tomcat98 it has lifted me, onward and upward as they say, I am only 66 many years left!!

Kaylife x

[Shirleyj]

Welcome to the site kaylife, I have bronchiectasis and asthma, three children and five grandchildren.

There are lots of knowledgeable and friendly people on this site, you will get lots of advice and tips and general chat x x

[Kaylife in reply to Shirleyj]

Thank you that is so good to know x

[Dedalus]

Hello and welcome Kaylife

[Caspiana]

Hello Kaylife . So nice to meet you. Welcome to the forum. 🍀

[Kaylife in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you

[btown]

Hi Kay life and welcome, I have COPD but try to carry on as normal and know my limitations, I practice Tai Chi and meditation every day also 50 /60 sit ups and Cardio exercises, I am a keen gardener and love my greenhouse, also keen on wildlife photography.

So I keep myself relatively fit and enjoy my hobbies, I try not to think too much about my COPD and get on with living

Nice to meet you

T xx

[Kaylife in reply to btown]

Nice to meet you too, I did used to grow greenhouse p!ants myself once I loved it, especially taking cuttings and watching them grow, however I have never tried Tai Chi....maybe one day! X

[lKeith]

Kaylife

Hi. you sound like you keep plenty fit, that's a good thing any physio would be pleased with you, eat well and do chores at a slower pace, don't rush yourself. It's all a bit frustrating but you'll cope if you stay positive. You are very lucky to be able to do the things that you do.

IKeith

[Kaylife in reply to lKeith]

Thanks for the reply IKeith, I nearly died with pneumonia when I was 28 and vowed I would look after myself after that and I have.....pacing yourself is one of the most important things, also breathing technique which I do my best to control but not always easy!!....I try to stay positive but I am sure like me you find that you don't know what each day will bring!!

Nice to meet you

Kay

[Sandy-]

Hi Kaylife

Welcome, people are so friendly and helpful on the site. I too have bronchiectasis from babyhood and asthma. I will be 66 this year. Retired now but like to keep busy with two sons and 2 grandsons. Can’t wait for better weather so that I can go out walking again. If the sun shines I can’t stay in!

Sandy x

[Kaylife in reply to Sandy-]

Hi Sandy

Thank you for your reply it is so good to hear from someone with such a similar illness and the length of time you have had it, so many times I have felt as if my circumstances were mine alone!!!.....I still remember my first trip to the chest clinic when I was about 5 years old, and me being the only child there!!....I have just gone on oxygen now and I am hoping to get more walking done when the weather improves, makes the breathing so much easier.......Can I ask?.....do you struggle mentally at times having lived with it so long,.... I am a positive person and I maintain my health to the best of my ability and try to stay focused but sometimes it all crowds in on me, particularly the length of time!!

Kay xx

[Debbbruder in reply to Kaylife]

My problem

Exactly

[Sandy-]

Hi Kay, I had whooping cough at 6 months and up until my late teens suffered multiple ear and throat infections, and I was always clearing my throat. I had my tonsils and adenoids plus ear blockage removed aged 10 and had a sickly childhood taking a lot of time off school. I didn’t know any different. When I reached adulthood I was much stronger, although could never run or do much exercise. I was in my forties when things went downhill, first gallbladder, then reflux, asthma and finally after two bouts of pneumonia with pleurisy was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, caused by my whooping cough at 6 months old. Maybe ignorance was bliss and we had a very old fashioned GP who didn’t believe in antibiotics! Fortunately I’m lucky and have a positive attitude and don’t like being ill. I try to stay as healthy as possible but when I had a chest infection, the recent awful virus over Christmas, I can’t help but wonder if if I will recover my previous level of fitness, but I’m doing my very best to clear my lungs, drink lots of warm fluids and eat healthily. I have also stayed in and rested. Like you I’m never sure about the clearing techniques and and do positive active breathing, use a flutter pipe and postural drainage.

Take care. It sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Sandy xx

[Kaylife in reply to Sandy-]

Hi Sand

We have a lot in common, I am not sure how young I was when I had Whooping Cough but at 8 years of age I was sent to a special school were I was taught and did daily postural drainage excercises, I used to have to leave whatever class I was in at certain times of the day to do them, not much fun!!....there were a lot of disabled children at the school with all different levels of disability. I hated it left at 15 and went off the rails a bit, married too young (18) and had my son at 20, it was better you were not diagnosed so you had a normal life..I turned my life around at about 28 contracted pneumonia and nearly died, that's when I learnt to swim and started going to the gym to strengthen my muscles, I didn't need a second warning!!.......like you I still do postural drainage ever day, can't stand the stuff and maintain myself to the best of my abilities, I have also suffered this last year and struggled at times with my positivity, (not like me) but hey ho life goes on, Like you I hopefully will get my fitness levels back up, they have taken a bit of a battering this last year but I will get there.

You take care and keep doing the good work, it's been a breath of fresh air talking to you.

Kay xx

[Debbbruder]

Hi kaylife welcome it’s great to hear that your fighting this and your do right kids and grandkids make it so much more to fight for,

I recently was diagnosed with COPD and have suffered asthma all my life, I have to admit I didn’t handle it at first and panic attack and anxiety took hold. But just having someone to talk to about it helps so very much, I am so very thankful I found all of you guys stay well all xxxxx

[Debbbruder]

I could use some advice on sleeping problems I haven’t slept for more than a couple of hours a night since diagnosis and I haven’t yet found theatre that settles my mind any advice would be greatly appreciated xx

[Kaylife]

A difficult one sleep!! I find the hardest part is overcoming the rattle and the wheeze and getting off to sleep!!.....normally start sat up and eventually slide down, just wait for sleep to come to me now, keep my mind occupied till it does, play games, scrabble on ipad, go on you tube, the best thing is not to worry about it, you'll sleep eventually.

Hope this may help

Kay xx

[Phil36]

Hi!

You're a breath of fresh air (so to speak.....no pun intended there.)

It's fabulous to hear someone who has Bronch being so positive and getting on with life, it can be so demoralising and depressing. I feel inspired.

It is possible to manage it and you're the proof. Thanks for sharing.

Phil.

[moodygirl]

Hi Kaylife

I'm 67 and like you have had bronchiectasis since I was a child; caused by measles according to my consultant. It's been a constant struggle; a merry go round of chest infections and antibiotics, and a lifetime of embarrassment at my yucky cough. However since retiring six years ago followed by a diagnosis of pseudomonas, I was determined to be more proactive with my health. I nebulise daily with a saline solution and clear out as much gunk as possible. Oh how I wish I'd made more time for that years ago! My diet now is extremely healthy and I take lots of supplements. I'd go as far as to say that I feel healthier at 67 than I ever did. I've always been sporty; badminton, squash, aerobics etc when younger, and my passion now is golf.

Re the rattle at night, that was something I also struggled with but not these past few months. It could be one if two things... someone on here posted about Inclined Bed Therapy, and the head of our bed is now supported by four books! It's meant to be between 4-6". I've also recently started having treatment with a herbalist. One or both has helped; it can't just be a coincidence that I'm not rattling any more, and I sleep like a log.

Don't get disheartened; it's possible to live a full life with this condition.

Irene 😊

[Kaylife in reply to moodygirl]

Hi Irene

Thank you for your reply.....I can't believe how many of us have had this illness since childhood.....I am certainly going to raise my bed it sounds like it works, don't know why I never thought of it myself!!!......glad you are feeling good, being positive does help but not always easy to maintain.

Keep well

Kind regards

Kay x

[Titian8]

I'd second that: re raising the bed head by 6" as recommended by Zube. I now rarely cough during the night ( though still do during the day) therefore better sleep and an added bonus now don't go to the loo in the night either. I was sceptical about it but it has definitely worked for me.

I also recommended this to a friend who said it had no effect but she only tried it for a few weeks and I think you have to persevere as chronic conditions didn't suddenly appear, it took months and years so I didn't expect instant improvement but, for me, the benefits didn't take long to be noticeable.