Bronchiectasis?

[Liberty82]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice? 2 years ago I started to hear a very mild crackle in my chest when I was lying down, and within 6 months I seemed to be coughing up thick very sticky mucus and at one point it was coming out of my nose as well, I thought it was post nasal drip so by the time I'd actually seen my GP he could hear crackling in my lungs. It was always OK when I first woke up but as the day went on my cough became wetter. I was diagnosed with asthma in May of last year and if I'm being honest I didn't feel it was asthma, I was never breathless but sounded wheezy when the mucus was loose. They gave me inhalers, and the brown preventive inhaler seemed to work pretty fast and after a few months my symptoms had disappeared. I've never needed to use the blue reliever one. But in the last few months the inhaler seems to have stopped working, my GP has doubled my dose its made no difference and my symptoms ie the wet cough, coughing up thick mucus seems to be getting worse. I've never really believed I've had asthma as I've never once been breathless and the mucus is my only symptom. I've read a bit about Bronchiectasis and this seems closer to my symptoms. Is there anything that helps? I guess the mucus is scaring me because it reminds me that there could be something very synister going on and this doesn't feel like a great time to have an undiagnosed lung condition or the wrong diagnosis. I'd anyone could even tell me what their symptoms were I'd be very grateful. Thanks. Take care x

[wheezyof]

Sorry but we really can't give you a diagnosis, only doctors can do that.

If the mucus is sticky, worse than before you really need a doctor's advice. Maybe a telephone appointment for now. (Push for more help when covid 19 is under control)

Meanwhile, as a bronchiectasis patient I can offer hints and tips, they are not medical advice.

Drink plenty of fluids, decaffeinated tea/coffee, water, fruit juice (pineapple helps) to keep your lungs moist and loosen the gunk.

Eat as healthily as you can but don't be fanatical about it. Try to avoid a lot of processed food.

Exercise gently, no going for the burn, but keeping active does help.

Look up the breathing cycle/chest clearance on u tube. The breathing cycle helps to loosen the gunk and huff it out.

The other advice normally offered is keep away from people with known illness but we're all keeping away from each other anyway.

If you get no help at all from your gp (they are obviously overworked) you could look at The British Lung Foundation website.

[Hidden]

What on earth is your GP up to! They are treating you for asthma/copd when you are displaying all the classic symptoms of bronchiectasis. You need a diagnosis asap. If you do have bronch, you need to embark on suitable drug treatment, usually the right antibiotic in the high enough dose for at least 14 days during an exacerbation and rigorous self management. This means learning to empty your lungs of the mucus every single day. In bronch, fluid builds up every day in the damaged parts of the lungs and airways and this is where bacteria grows. Unless you get rid of it, more bacteria, more mucus, a big cycle and you become very poorly. Even if it turns out that you do not have bronch you really need to get the mucus out.

It is possible to live a very good life with bronch but it is complex. GPs know nothing about it and general respiratory consultants very little more. They do not have the additional training or experience.

Your GP should have referred you to a bronch specialist for a diagnosis long before now. Look on the internet for a bronch specialist. They are usually at big teaching hospitals. Take the name to your GP and insist on a referral. Do not take no for an answer. This is your ongoing health and quality of life that we are talking about and your GP is failing miserably with both. The specialist will have a physio who will teach you how to get the mucus out. Given the virus and the time that it takes to get to a specialist there is nothing stopping you taking control of that now. There are breathing tecniques to help loosen and remove the mucus. You can find them on You tube and I am sure that some of my fellow bronchs will be happy to describe them to you. You need to do this for at least twenty minutes, several times each day until you feel comfortable.

Take charge, with bronch we have to be very proactive in our own interests and vociferous in sourcing the right treatment.

Good luck.

[Dietrech]

Hi there. I have asthma and Bronchiectasis plus COPD. THE FIRST THING IS TO GET YOUR SPUTUM SENT FOR CULTURE. You need the appropriate antibiotics for at least three weeks. Call your GP and ask for a sputum specimen bottle, then get a specimen in the morning and get it to the local hospital lab ASAP, or take it to your GP reception. The advice for clearing your lungs has been given so follow that. You will need an X-ray and lung scan for a definitive diagnosis when things ease up. Good luck, I hope things improve for you soon. 🥰