Fed up

[Elaiworthy]

Hi everyone, this is my first post about my condition.

I have Asthma and Mild Bronchiectasis. I was first diagnosed in 2007. Although I had chest infections I alway had extended spells of feeling well until three years ago. I had I struggled to get rid of infections so GP referred me to the respiratory clinic at my local hospital. Fast forward to October last year I started feeling unwell by November I had chest infection. Then in December and January too. I haven’t been well since. Consultant in January suggested I wait to see if infection goes away but gave me a rescue pack of antibiotics. When home handed in a sputum sample to GP and lo and behold I had H I again. I’ve not been well since then really. By May/ June coughing up green sputum. Consultant rang 10th June and told me. You’ve have got Bronchiectasis this is normal, you can’t keep having antibiotics, wait til phlegm is dark green. Green is not my normal though. July I was worse antibiotics needed. Again end of August. GP keeps giving me 7 days antibiotics instead of 14 days. I tell them on phone and when I pick up prescription it’s 7 days!

So now I’ve decided I need to change to a Bronchiectasis specialist. There’s one in my area at Manchester University Hospital I understand. I would appreciate any views.

[Hidden]

Your present consultant is displaying a woeful lack of knowledge of bronchiectasis and worse, pretending that they know what they are talking about!

Your symptoms are not the ‘norm’ for life with bronch but a signal that it is not being managed properly. Don’t wait, find the name of your local bronch expert and insist that your GP gets you to them asap.

Enough time has been wasted. It is your health and quality of life which are being neglected here.

As bronchs we have to be very proactive in our own interests and vociferous in sourcing the right treatment.

Good luck. You deserve better.

[Elaiworthy in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Littlepom.

[watergazer]

Hi. I too have the same diagnosis. You don’t mention if you’re taking inhalers. I was ill quite a lot until my inhaler was changed to fostairnexthaler and now I hardly ever have flare ups. I saw a chest consultant at Salford royal who changed my inhalers. I have never seen a bronch specialist in 12 years so I can’t comment on that. Xx Anita

[Elaiworthy in reply to watergazer]

Sorry yes I’m on Seretide 250 and have salbutamol

[watergazer in reply to Elaiworthy]

Seretide didn’t help me at all. Nor did qvar. X

[Elaiworthy in reply to watergazer]

I’ve tried Fostair and needed to use my reliever much more. Also tried Relvar which was same result.

[watergazer in reply to Elaiworthy]

Yes inhalers work differently for us all x hope you get sorted soon x

[Jaybird19 in reply to Elaiworthy]

I have had clenil for few years and rarely get infections and also continued with the ipatropium and salbutamol that i had been given by a previous consultant. The clenil is the one that works for me but on max dose. I'm told.

[sassy59]

A great reply from Littlepom as one who knows what it’s like to live with Bronchiectasis. A specialist is a must. Good luck to you. Xxxx

[Vanner]

I too have asthma and bronchiectasis, and was in the same position as you with repeated infections with pseudomonas for several years, and little help from a respiratory consultant. I was then referred by a new G.P. to Dr. Z. Borill at North Manchester General, with the words "She's a bronchiectasis specialist and knows what she's doing". She started me on nebulised Colomycin last November, and I have had no real exacerbations since. As you live in the area it might be worth trying to get referred to her.

Trevor

[Elaiworthy in reply to Vanner]

Thank you Vanner

[Blue58]

I know the feeling. Spent the best part of the last couple of years in and out of hospital with repeated chest infections. Littlepom is right as usual. You need to be under a bronch specialist. I was up until a couple of years ago and then they left and went to another hospital. Now under a general respiratory consultant and never been the same since. My previous specialist would always say, any discolouration of the sputum is a sign of chest infection, never mind dark green. All bronchiectasis patients know the importance of sputum in controlling this disease but rarely am I asked for sputum now, it's all down to blood tests and whether anything shows in your blood but my GP told me that there is always a time lag between the start of a chest infection and it showing in your blood and the trick is to catch the infection as early as possible because I am living proof that the infections are incredibly difficult to get rid of if not treated earlier enough and for long enough. My previous specialist Consultant understood that whereas that is not always the case with a general respiratory Consultant.

Good Luck. I hope you get things sorted soon.

[Elaiworthy in reply to Blue58]

Thank you Blue58. I was told by a previous consultant as soon as you see green get antibiotics. Which is what I’ve always done. When this present consultant spoke to me I was a bit shocked to be honest and actually doubted my knowledge of my condition. I’m so pleased my knowledge has been confirmed at right. It’s given me the confidence to get this sorted.

Thank you