Lady Windermere's Syndrome. Another way to describe bronchiectasis?

[Cateran]

How often are we faced with baffled incomprehension when we mention bronchiectasis at GP surgeries or in general discourse? We try to explain the constant cough and the embarrassment that goes with our wheezing and breathlessness. Well, it is precisely this discomfort and possible self-consciousness that, when in public we try to suppress the unsightly phlegm production by swallowing or by handkerchief depositing.

Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windermere's Fan is the first mention of this awkward condition, when the lady frequently coughs into her handkerchief gracefully to disguise her chronic cough and copious phlegm production. What a social gaffe it would be to cough for all the nice company to see the outcome of her disease, hence the constant disguising.

It seems that people prefer a "syndrome" account of an illness to the plain facts of bronchiectasis, so why not give them one? Food for thought...

[cofdrop-UK]

Do you think some may still be scratching their heads or ‘knowingly’ offering 250mg Amoxil Terry?

Love cx

[Cateran]

Cofdrop, I take your point about the Amoxicillin and over-prescription of medicine by GPs when in the dark about BE (or at least I think that is what you meant). Sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick.

Perhaps Wilde's point of his satire is that "manners" and minor aristocracy are synonymous with the charade of covering up that which is unlady-like and bad form about exhibiting an embarrassing lung infection. Given that probably the majority of bronchiectasis sufferers are women (though that may be wrong) then a sizeable number of GPs are themselves embarrassed about their lack of professional knowledge of BE, and that may include female GPs,

Perhaps I am wildly (no pun intended) unfair here to doctors. It is taking the likes of skilled practitioners, such as Prof. JC who are doggedly spreading the knowledge,as well as the European Respiratory Society, to where it ought to matter, namely the front line.

The likes of yourself Cofdrop need no lesson of BE and its emergence from the Dark Ages of respiratory treatment and general practice.

Terry.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Cateran]

Yes thank goodness for James and all the European Bronchi Specialists within ERS and of course ELF, who all work so hard on our behalf. I have huge respect for medics who put so much into research and enligtenment of chronic conditions, especially those of orphan status.

Don’t think I go back as far as the Dark Ages sweetheart but I know where you are coming from😉

Cx

[Hidden]

You learn something new eveery day on this group. Do you think Osar Wilde was au fait with Bronch?

[Cateran in reply to Hidden]

I am guessing that Wilde did not know about the current profile of bronchiectasis, nor of its genesis and specific clinical impact, poemsgalore1. He did appear to be aware of the female awkwardness of having to disguise the condition as exhibited in the character of Lady Windermere and her ultra polite behaviour and fastidiousness with her fan, which hides more than it reveals. He has utilised the theatrical device of a prop linked with dialogue to highlight certain mannerisms of passing, so that her cough and swallowing could go unnoticed.

However, BE sufferers may similarly not wish to draw attention to their condition, ironically, by drawing attention to this particular syndrome and having to account for, and explain, or elaborate, the allusion. Best perhaps simply to stick to something less obscure, such as Lelac's disease as a synonym for bronchiectasis. but that's another story!

Terry.

[Hidden]

I can relate to that Cateran having once been embarassed by a "gentleman" in our GP's waiting room complaining about me spreading flu germs about with my raucous cough. When I said I didn't have flu he shouted across the room (as he and his wife) had moved as far away as possible "I don't care what you've got, we don't want it." I was mortified.

[Cateran in reply to Hidden]

That sounds like a very obnoxious and alarming encounter for you poemsgalore1, and in a GP surgery at that! Exactly the kind of repellent reaction that we bronchiectasis folk have to put up with, though mercifully not of that kind, loaded with rage and venom. That guy and his wife have a heightened sense of their own selfish importance. It must have been very embarrassing for you.

[Hidden in reply to Cateran]

It was Cateran, thankfully I don't cough as much now. Don't know if that's a good thing or not.

[Hidden]

Sorry to be awkward but I don't have a constant cough because I wad taught to make sure that I had emptied my lungs before I go out and never to cough into a tissue in public. My mantra is ' always know where the loi is' and when in there ' do what you have to and ignore funny looks'.

Another GP story. The day before I came away was feeling very breathless. Went to a GP at my practice to find out results of blood tests and suspected I was having a type of exacerbation which manifested itself differently to a lifetime of usual. 3 blood tests abnormal. GP said they were actually normal, never listened to my chest and suggested I take a multivitamin. YOU COULD NOT MAKE IT UP. 2 days into holiday decided to take cipro. Now doing most things that my family is doing- except fir the 12 mile hike in The Rockies.

I do agree that bronch must have been around long before it had a name and was probably diagnosed as consumption or TB. In the absence of management regimes people like poir Lady Windermere hid behind their fans.