The dreaded pseudomonas - Questions

[LizevanBiljon]

Hi everyone! So I am also one of the lucky ones who have bronchiectasis with pseudomonas infection (31 years old)... I have two questions today:

1. What lifestyle factors can increase or exacerbate the pseudomonas bacteria and flare-ups? What should I avoid and what should I do/eat/ad to my daily life to fight this darn thing? (other than the obvious coughing up of phlegm and antibiotic and inhalation treatments)

2. Which weather conditions or climates and areas will cause worsening of the bacteria in my lungs? (We are thinking of moving to Panama in the future, and that is a hot humid country with alot of rain!) Will it be fine if I manage my condition and take extra care? Or is it a big no-no and I will be walking into my own death trap...

Thank you in advance and for all the people on this forum that give such good advise, tips and support! This is a great community!

[Hidden]

Hi there, 69 years old. Extensive bronch since I was three. Colonised with pseudo since I was 36. I have travelled all over the world, worked, raised two children and never let the condition or the pseudo stop me doing anything. I lived 4 years in Beirut, dry, hot, and two years in Florida, very humid in the summer. World cruise last year, every climate you can imagine. Two things which I can’t take, diesel pollution and smoke in temples.

Just be sensible which you sound as though you are. Have your maintenance plan and know which drugs you are having and how you are taking them. If possible find a good pulmonary doctor or even ( dream on ) a local bronch expert. If possible keep in contact with your con at home just in case of emergencies. Good luck and have a great time.

[LizevanBiljon in reply to Hidden]

Hi Littlepom. Thank you so much for your reply and the encouraging words. I try to not let this "disease" get to my head and to forget about the pseudomonas, but sometimes it's just overwhelming and a reality check of just how serious it actually is I am so glad you mentioned about your two children, as I have many times thought how the heck am I going to cope with kids and this constant feeling of sickness and fatigue and feeling just bleh. But this gives me hope to just live my best life and not let it stop me!

[Hidden in reply to LizevanBiljon]

A very famous man, Winston Churchill had a very good saying, ‘keep on b.......g on!’ And that is what I and many folks on here with very long term bronch have done all of our lives and are still doing.

If I had been allowed to think as a child that I was an invalid or that what I had was terribly serious I would never have done anything. Similarly if I had listened to docs who told me not to have children or go to the jungles of Thailand, I would be sitting here regretting it.

Yes we have blah days, lots of them and we do have to pace ourselves and make sure that we are the ones in charge, not the gunk or its goblins.

Oh yes and it is NOT a disease, that makes us sound less than valid and we definitely cannot pass on what we have to others. It is a condition, we live with it, we definitely do not ‘suffer’ from it. Head up girl, you are going to do great and I will allow you to be kind to yourselfon the odd BLAH day.😊

[LizevanBiljon in reply to Hidden]

Today and this week has definitely been one of the blah days (probably due to currently being on a cipro course and I'm questioning everything haha) Thank you I feel better already! Good night 🌸

[Hidden in reply to LizevanBiljon]

Cipro is a nasty little thing that you can bring you right down in spirits. Whilst it helps you it is worth it though. Goodnight. Xx

[noraskye]

Hi Liz

I too have the dreaded pseudamonas. My daughter is a vet care nurse and she gets dogs in with it. Apparently the pseudamonas live in the soil so not much you can do about it. I try to stay away from mould to.

I'm on nebulised antibiotics as the oral ones weren't helping.

Good luck, just carry on living x

[Neville33 in reply to noraskye]

What r u taking...I'm on Colistin every second month and nebulized saline, twice a day 7 percent