Hi, I have Bronchiectas and asthma. Having flare up every month, January I had a chest infection and was on antibiotics and Prednisolone, February just took the pred has no infection. Now it is March 25th and starting again bit of a cough, breathing ok and feel ok but the noise when I breath out is getting me down. Been prescribed Prednisolone again, is this what everyone has?
I would be fine if it wasn't for the rattle on breathing out, does everyone get this? Will it just get worse if I don't take the Pred?
Is this the noise of mucus that needs to be cleared?
I am confused 🤔
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Starstream
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The Preds are there to open up your airways so you can breath easier. The next issue is to clear the mucus, with Bronc you should be taking antibiotics for a min of two weeks and it is really best to put in a mucus sample so they can get the right antibiotics to clear it up.
Do you take NAC or similar to break up the mucus and do you know about huffing to bring it up?
Thanks for your reply, was like this about 8 or 9 time last year and was given antibiotics each time, then the Prednisolone which I always need to clear it up. Twice I have know it was a chest infection but not so sure the rest of the time. I know that many antibiotics are not good so didn't use them in February but I am ill again now but doc says just take the Prednisolone. Haven't tried anything to break it up, maybe this is what I need as very hard to huff anything up. Took a sample in in February but all they said was that it was clear. This is a very confusing illness 😏
Hello Starstream, I have severe asthma and mild bronchiectasis and have had miserable chest infections since August last year. I was eventually referred to a specialist and saw her on Monday. She’s checking my asthma meds to make sure that they are effective, referring me to physio to help with mucus clearance and checking my immunity to the particular strain of bacteria that keeps causing infection. I’ve had to wait a long time for this appointment and became a bit emotional when I felt that she wasn’t listening to me-at least it demonstrated to her how tired I am and how much my condition impacts on my mental health.
My advice is to take the pred, take sputum sample to Dr’s for testing, clear your lungs of mucus as best you can daily - get help with that if you need to from physio/internet/flutter/huffing, drink plenty of clear fluids, eat well, keep the stress to a minimum, ask for help. You know your body best of all and when you don’t feel well try not to worry and see a Dr.
I agree with all of the above from Elizabeth and Perce. I would add daily exercise to Elizabeth's list as it certainly helps with the mucus clearance and breathing.
I think you will notice an improvement in the wheezing and rattles once you have established a mucus-clearance regime - it certainly did for me, but it might not clear everything - I still get a bit of quiet wheezing on occasion, but it's much lower level than before I start my lung clearance and daily walk or swim.
If wheezing and/or breathing restrictions continue to be an issue you might need to consider with your consultant whether a long acting bronchodilator like doxofyline could be added to your pharma programme.
Hi, I have been to a physio for chest clearing advice and have just finished the Pulmony rehab course, nothing seems to help though. Drinking water, eating well and exercising it's so frustrating, feel fine for 4/5 weeks then I'll again 🙄
ElizabethK has given good advice. The prednisolone will only dampen down the inflammation. It is important to determine if there is any underlying infection so definitely obtain a sterile sputum pot, get a good early morning sample and take it to the surgery immediately so that it can be cultured. Your condition is a bit more complex due to having two problems so try to get a referral to a bronchiectasis specialist consultant if you can.
Hi, thanks for the reply. So you think the Prednisolone is just dampening it down for it to come back straight away almost. I took a sample in last month which they said was clear and had about 8 lots of antibiotics last year, which is too many.
I think maybe I need to try the stuff that thins the mucus. 😆
Yes, Prednisolone dampens down the inflammation. The problem is that sometimes the sputum specimens come back clear but there is an infection lurking. Recently my OH has had an infection which was only picked up due to blood tests - raised white cell count etc. Sputum was clear but he is on Colomycin twice a day plus Azithromycin three times a week. The latter is not effective against pseudomonas though and he is colonised, as are quite a few folk on here. He's just finished two weeks of Ciprofloxacin and the blood results are improving but the white cell count seems to be chronicaly raised, maybe because he is on long term steroids and has immune deficiency.
The hypertonic saline is good but you can't have it without a test dose at the hospital because it can cause bronchospasm. The GP can prescribe normal saline nebules though. I do hope that you can get to see a specialist because it certainly sounds as if you need better management.
Hi, have the same diagnosis and it is hard to know which condition is causing problems during flare ups. Advice from a specialist made a big difference to me and my regime of daily lung clearance with 7% saline via a nebuliser and prophylactic antibiotics 3 times a week drastically cut the number of infections.
Many experienced people on this site have a wealth of knowledge to draw on and I have learnt we have to be very assertive and persistent with the doctors!
Hi starstream- I was like yourself in that for a couple of winters I was always ill right up until May and taking lots of antibiotics and prednisolone - I too have asthma and mild bronchiectasis along with ulcerative colitis. However a couple of years ago when I was coughing my insides up and feeling really low I demanded to see a chest consultant who had lots of tests done including an up to date scan and then she decided to change my inhaler to fostair as she thought the finer particles would benefit me It seems to have worked (fingers crossed) No extremely bad flares ups the last 2 winters. Reading on the forum here -I also take vitamin D3 as quite a few mentioned taking it . Hoping you're in a better place soon x Anita
I too have asthma and bronchiectasis, when I get exacerbations I take prednisolone and amoxicillin, I use a flutter valve and take Carbocistine tablets daily. To help reduce the amount of infections I get my respiratory consultant put me on azthromycin 3 times a week. It's definitely worth trying these.
Thanks for your reply. Could you please possibly explain a exacberation?
These must be what I am getting every 4-5 weeks but I don't really feel ill as such, I start with stuffy nose, sence of smell goes, peak flow goes down and then the noisy out breath, which is when I end up at docs and on my rescue pack.
Is this how everyone feels or is everyone different?
I have had bronchiectasis all my life and latterly asthma.
You don’t say if you are under the care of a respiratory consultant with a special interest in cf/bronchiectasis, who will also be specialised in asthma.
I try to stay clear of oral steroids but that hasn’t been possible lately, as like you I have had constant infections from doing self administered IVs at Christmas to being on a course at present. I do have a steroid inhaler. Unfrtunately I am intolerant to may medications but I feel there is more that could benefit you.
Some people with bronch have prophylactic medication eg Azithromycin, usually 1 3 timesa week. I wonder if you nebulise or inhale a bronchodiltor and saline, be that 0.9% or hypertonic - this helps to loosen the mucus. You would also need to do lung clearance every day (the most important thing we can do for ourseves).
Bronchodilator are to open up the airways and steroids are to reduce infammation.
Please mae sure you get referred to a good consultant.
You might find this Eurpean Respiratory Society link helpful. I was lucky enough to be involved with the Patient Priorities - Bronchiectasis as part of the Patient Advisory Group. (Not that I am biased or anything). Best to dip in and out as it has info for newbies through to clinician to clinician interviews.
Hi Starstream, so sorry you are feeling so down. I agree with everything everyone else has said, although during the last 3 weeks I have been on a steep learning curve with my Asthma. I thought I knew what to do when I had an infection but we are all constantly learning new rules. I took my sample to the surgery before beginning my emergency meds and was told to take the steroids and antibiotics and all would be well. Well of course we all know us Bronchs need more. 7 days into the emergency antibiotic I was told to change to another as they had found a new bacteria. Ok I went along with this but I was still breathless even though I knew I was not infected anywhere except my sinuses, I rang my asthma nurse and she told me to take 16 puffs of my Salbutamol inhaler per day, I was staggered, it sounded a lot to me, but yes she was right I am now into my 3rd day and my peak flow has risen and no wheeze. I was in your shoes 6 yrs ago until the consultant put me on to Azithromycin 3 times weekly. It was a life saver, I went from a weak, grey looking old women back to myself within 6 weeks. It was great. I have had some good years and some not so good years since but we all learn to help ourselves and when in doubt we ask each other. This site is a marvellous way of swopping ideas and information. I love the people on this site they have saved my sanity more than once. So, good luck, take care and share your anxieties. Love Maximonkey
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Really confused and scared......
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