Bronchiectasis and coughing

[Lebod]

Hi, I have bronchiectasis and coughs every single day, coughing up thick mucas....I am wondering is there any dignified way of coughing up that doesn't make my sister want to be sick, and is it normal to cough every day, is there ever a time when you get a days rest from the coughing or am I just gonna have to live with the daily bouts?

[corriena]

Unfortunately coughing and Bronkiestasis go hand n hand. You could try what they call sircle breathin. The huffing helps bring the mucus up so is easier to cough up. Look on the BLF website for vidio and proper instruction. Carbosistine can help somepeople. And drink plenty to keep the phlem from being to sticky. As for your sister maybe she can leave the room, its not like you can help coughing.

[Lebod in reply to corriena]

Thanks I'll take a look at the websites...she's actually getting more used to it now, she knows it's better out than in...it just sounds so bad sometimes when I'm bringing it up, but I guess it's something I have to get used to..... thanks again

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome. When you have bronchiectasis mucus collects in damaged pockets in your lungs and in the airways. You need to get control of how you manage this because it will dictate the quality of your future life and health.This mucus has to be emptied from your lungs every day. If it is allowed to sit there, bacteria grow in it, it becomes thicker and darker and there is more and more of it. This makes bronchs ill and is awful to live with.

If you get rid of the mucus you deprive the bacteria of the warm pools of fluid that they like to breed in. Also, if you allow it to lie there it will want to come out in dribs and drabs by itself. This makes you cough is really annoying and embarrassing. You have no freedom to enjoy daily activities.

This where your control and management come in. You decide at what time of day , every day, you are going to empty your lungs. 20 mins or until you feel clear, once, twice a day and also before bed, depending on how much mucus you have. There are breathing exercises to help you do this, drugs to thin the mucus and acapella devices to help shake it free.

If your mucus is dark and thick right now you probably need 2 wks of a high dose antibiotic of which your consultant should have advised your GP.

Take yourself into the bathroom and do your clearance away from your sister. The more you manage to clear from your lungs in these sessions the less you will cough around her.This is your life now and she will just have to get used to it. I have had extensive bronch all of my life. I am 70 and I very rarely cough except when I am clearing my chest.

I know that it is tedious but it is absolutely essential that you do it. Once your chest is clear you are free to enjoy your daily life.

You can have a very good life with bronch but as I said, you need to get control of it.

[Lebod in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou so much, I think that's what I need to do is try to clear as much as I can at a certain time instead of coughing continuous throughout the day...I'm going to watch some videos then try and get myself into a routine each day....thanks again

[Hidden in reply to Lebod]

Brilliant! You will really benefit from doing that. There is an 'active cycle of breathing' on You Tube. The doctors can give you a flutter device or you can buy one online. Experiment with what suits you best. My emptying tactics have developed over so many years 😂Today I went to Kenilworth Castle so worked very hard before I left home. I was able to walk around, laugh with the volunteers and have a good time there without coughing once. A good tip. Just as an insurance policy, cgeck where the loos are wherever you go. Then if the bugs are being pesky you can make a judicious detour to get the stuff out without people knowing.

Good for you, get it by the scruff of the neck and show it who's boss!

[Lebod in reply to Hidden]

Definitely...thanks for the advice, I have a new found positivity 😊

[Egpa in reply to Lebod]

Hi, I have been told by physio at the hospital to first take my ventolin 2 puffs, then take the nebuliser with saline, followed by my Foster. Now the funs begins lol, I do the breathing exercises with my AerobiKa that they gave in in the bronchiactisis clinic it helps to cough up the muck. You can also get a flutter from your doc that does the same thing. I still cough all night some times but this does help to bring up the muck that is causing the problem. Good luck.

[Lebod in reply to Egpa]

Thankyou...all advice is good advice, I'm going to try all things suggested hopefully I'll work out what works best for me 🤞

[Egpa in reply to Lebod]

Good luck, hope some of it works for you.

[Lebod in reply to Egpa]

Thank you

[Stratos20 in reply to Hidden]

That’s good advice Littlepom 👍🏼

[Alberta56]

My coughing was dreadful when I had an infection, but has calmed down very much since with help from an AeroBika I was prescribed. Hope yours does the same which will mollify your sister. But you must keep coughing as long as there is anything to cough up.

[Lebod in reply to Alberta56]

I will, t realise it's better to cough it up, no matter how it sounds...thankyou

[Babyboy12]

I would like to know. With anyone that's got bronchiectasis like I have if any one suffers from high blood pressure as lately my is high was high before but not like it is now. Waiting to have mu blood test back them the doctors will put my blood pressure tablets up again. I found out I got bronchiectasis in August 2020 and I never smoked in my life. Thanks all