I'm 71 year old retired school teacher. Soon after retirement I became a yoga teacher.
I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called bronchiectasis a few years ago. As a child I had lots of lung issues, many bronchiatitis.
As time went on my immune system was weakened catching many colds, strep, and pneumonia. Toward the end of my teaching career conditions worsened due to mold exposure from moldy books that were stored in my classroom.
So here I am 7 years after retirement and my condition has gotten worse. Good thing I teach yoga and really take care of my self with healthy eating and cardio.
I've read alot about what I have and am interested in latest research . Currently I use a device called acapella, back tapping, acupuncture and massages. What else can I do?
I also take several lung supplements.
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MarilynSakkis
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Welcome to the forum and hail fellow educator. I don't have the same condition but there are many here who are very knowledgeable bronchs. I am sure they will be glad to meet you.
Hi Marilyn, Welcome to a Great Forum, There will be plenty of Bronch members to talk to you, Like Blackbird, I am COPD Stage 4. Enjoy being with us , We do talk about Lungs. amongst other Things, We are one big Lung Family. Enjoy. Love. Carolina. XXX
Welcome to the site, Marilyn. You could try learning to sing using the diaphragm. There are lots of videos on You Tube showing how it can be done. Singing exercises the weak muscles, helps move mucus, stretches the lungs, and releases the body's natural endorphins which will help you feel better. Even singing to the radio or your favourite music from your youth can help. Don't let 'not being able to sing' hold you back: it's doing the singing actions that help, not having a voice like Julie Felix.
I am a retired teacher too......forever using our voices which some say may lead to hyperventilation over time . I contracted double pneumonia years ago.
Check out Patrick McKeown gentle breathing exercises on You tube.
I practiced yoga until recently, but I have two spine fractures now due to osteoporosis.....but I found alternate nostril breathing useful ....I can still do that, and some very gentle yoga
I also take a garlic supplement ......but not suitable for all people ......please check contraindications .
Hi there. You are living in a good environment to have bronchiectasis (note spelling! Not to be confused with any sort of bronchitis!) Sunshine and fresh air is great for this condition. I was diagnosed in 2010 but live in a very polluted place in U.K. The most important thing you can do for this condition is exercises every day to get the phlegm up from your lungs. If not, it lies there in puddles and gets infected. Try to see a chest physio to guide you through these exercises. Diet is important and lots of walking, etc. You sound very fit already, so you are doing well. You also have to talk to a respiratory consultant about emergency antibiotics as everyone has different bugs to be treated if you should get an infection in future. It is useful to see if your GP surgery has a respiratory nurse available too. By the way, lots of websites describe bronchiectasis as rare. It certainly isn’t. I have met quite a few people in my life (not through forums or doctor surgeries) who happen to have it. It is just an illness which many GPs haven’t really spent much time trying to look into!
Welcome to the site. I too have bronchiectasis which was discovered 10 years ago after a bad bout of pneumonia that didn't clear for months and months and months. I too am a retired teacher and found that my chest illnesses were frequent during the winter months (UK) . I used to go to a gym, swim and take part in yoga but found these would aggravate my symptoms so I stopped. I now walk a lot and do the occasional yoga pose . Sorry I cant help about your own problem as mine seems to be under control now with my lifestyle and combined inhaler. Take care. Anita x
Hi Marilyn, vitamin d3 is an excellent supplement to take daily to boost your immune system. 1000 iu dosage. This will help reduce your number of infections. Take care.x
I have Bronchiectasis as well. I started having breathing/coughing issues in my late 30s. Was diagnosed with allergies, then years later asthma, then years later COPD, then over 15 years ago, after a CT scan bronchiectasis. I am now 70.
For the past 3-4 years I have felt good and in control of BX. Before I would have several bronchoscopies a year, high dosages of prednisone and still felt sick and dragged thru each day. I do have a nebulizer and a percussion vest that I use twice a day.
Then:
5 yrs ago I retired from a stress full job (but one I loved). I would put my job before my health.
4 yrs ago, we moved to an area that had a lot less air pollution.
4 1/2 yrs ago, I had stem cell treatment that used my own stem cells to increase the amount of damage repair cells in my body. It's considered research so insurance did not cover it.
I also have an immune issue, so I have an IVIG very 4 weeks.
Since moving from Northern Indiana (we lived in Elkhart County, the largest RV manufacturing center in the world, to central Iowa, open farm land), I have not had a bronchoscopy, ER visit, or hospital stay. I have also been able to stop taking prednisone (which I have taken for years).
So, look at your life style (stress), environment, what you eat (food allergies), and talk to your specialist. If what you are taking now is not working, maybe something else will.
Hi Marilyn and a very warm welcome to you although I am sorry it is because you have bronchiectasis.
I am the same age as you and have had bronchiectasis from the age of 5 months old, following double pneumonia and whooping cough. Later on in life I also developed asthma and other health issues.
I hope you have a good pulmonologist who has a special interest in non cf bronchiectasis and that they have referred you to a pulmonary therapist, who would teach you all the methods and gadgets to clear your lungs, which is the most important thing we can do for ourselves.
Steroids are not as widely used in the UK for bronchiectasis alone but are used when there is an element of asthma. Bronchoscopies are not widely used here either. It is an orphan disease and is on the list of rare diseases. However I think they have of late realised that it has been a neglected condition and has been misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed.
You sound as though you have a good handle on what you can do for yourself but I will put up a link to Patient Priorities - Bronchiectasis by the European Respiratory Society, which I was involved with for 18 months as one of the Patient Advisory Group. I hope you find it helpful.
Hello MarilynSakkis and welcome. I too have had extensive bronchiectasis since I was diagnosed in 1953. I will be 70 next month and have had a very full and ‘normal’ life. Thanks to having been given the treatment then that basically we have now and being taught how to manage my condition ( and later the ignorance of medics) by a truly amazing radical doctor when I was 6. I lived in Florida for just over 2 years in the early eighties and I did not have one exacerbation because of the wonderful air and climate. The Keys are still my favourite place for a ‘breathe easy’ holiday.
Cofdrop-UK has said everything that I could have.
I do have to stress that having bronchoscopies is not necessary for bronch. I wouldn’t let them near me with one of those things. Normally, all that is needed when an exacerbation raises its ugly head is a lab test of sputum to discover which bacteria is giving the problem and the correct antibiotic in a high enough dose for at least two weeks. Plus - scrupulous self emptying of the mucus from your lungs. If oral abs cease to be effective IV antibiotics can be used. This is why you need to find a good bronch specialist. Most general respiratory doctors have very little knowledge of it. In fact, when I lived in Florida I went to one to get my antibiotics and he told me that there was no such thing as bronchiectasis. In 1986 my British consultant, who was the formost researcher into bronch, went to a conference in Las Vegas and taught the US that it does exist and how we manage it.
You have a good and active lifestyle which is so important in keeping those lungs going and you seem to be doing very well. We are here for you so keep on keeping on.
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