I browse this Forum daily but seldom submit postings. I had a useful exchange with Littlepom some 12 months ago. Just to recap, I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis 74 years ago. I also have pseudomonas and the heart condition, Pulmonary Hypertension. I survived a cardiac arrest 4 years ago. I am currently experiencing a classic situation where my body and my lifetime’s experience, tell me that I have an infection but the microbiologists, having analysed numerous sputum samples, cannot suggest an appropriate antibiotic for treatment. I am also experiencing increased breathlessness.
Over the years I have accumulated much Bronch related information, some useful but much of it useless. I am kind of hoping that this post might again, flush out a response from Littlepom in particular? From reading many of your responses to fellow Bronch sufferers Littlepom, I can fully endorse your core message to us all, that GPs know nothing about our condition and we all need to be under a specialist consultant in Bronchiectasis rather than a general respiratory consultant. My GP appears to have little or no time for me, probably because when I need to get some action from him I am like a dog with a rabbit and that seems to be counter productive for me because I think it annoys him?
To recap further, I have been under the same general respiratory consultant for the last 11 years. Notwithstanding his “general” designation, he does have detailed Bronch experience and for 8 years of our consultant/patient relationship, he was positive, supportive and I made good progress under him. In 2019 however, his attitude towards me changed almost overnight. In a face to face consultation he reminded me that I had a serious lung condition and told me to live life to the full on a daily basis because in his view, I would be unlikely to see 2021!
Because of my current “blip,” I have decided that the time has come to arrange for a review of my overall Bronch condition with a specialist Bronch consultant. My problem is, how do I seek out and identify such a specialist?
This is where I am hoping you, Littlepom, can help me? I have searched various hospital websites e.g. the Royal Brompton and Harefield, but it seems to me that this approach can be something of a lottery which is much dependant on an element of luck for a productive outcome. I find that most consultants appear to be designated as “Respiratory Consultants.” How can I refine my search to specifically identify consultants who have established an imminent reputation as Bronchiectasis specialists? Should I perhaps, look deeper into the individual CVs of consultants which my searches throw up, possibly under headings such as “Areas of Expertise,” “Conditions,” “Special Interests” etc?
In conclusion Littlepom, you seems to be extremely satisfied with your specialist, did you find him/her by luck or perhaps by recommendation from a fellow Bronch sufferer? Any detail of your own historic experiences in this particular respect which you are prepared to share with me, will be much appreciated.
Many thanks to to all of you who have read this lengthy post.
Life with bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis update
Bronchiectasis diagnosis
Bronchiectasis and Working 
