I have been recently diagnosed with bronchiectasis and getting my head around managing it. I recently had to look after my little grandson while my daughter had her second baby. He was very poorly with a cough and cold. I did my best with hand sanitizer but I have now developed a sore throat and inflamed upper chest and slight bringing up of mucus. My chest is tight. I have started Doxycycline on advice of GP. Normally I do 30mins of exercise daily but am resting completely today and taken day off work. Please could someone advise if doing the right thing or should I be keeping as active as possible
Than you
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Poochpants55
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Oh our little darlings do pass their viruses on to us and bronch bacterial exacerbations take full advantage to ride on the back of any virus we get. The sore throat and sore upper chest are symptoms of the virus. If you are coughing up more mucus than usual and it has changed its colour, that is the sign of the exacerbation. Your GP is trying to head off the bacteria breeding and making you really poorly. How much exercise you do is guided by how you feel. The virus is probably making you feel rotten anyway. The most important thing is to keep clearing the mucus from your chest. The bronch guidelines say 14 days antibiotic for a bronch exacerbation. So make sure that your GP is aware of this. Otherwise any shorter course is fine for copd or a normally healthy person with a chest infection but does not do the job in bronch. I hope that starting the antibiotic pronto stops the exacerbation in its tracks.
Thank you so much for the advice. Being new to all of this and having been well and exercising regularly for quite a few weeks and doing all I can to stay healthy I just feel a bit low it seems to have taken hold again and worried I will be as poorly as before I was diagnosed which was 2 bouts of pneumonia and feeling so ill for 9 months. Hoping now I have the diagnosis I will recover from this bout quicker. I think if I’m up to it I will try a swim tomorrow
Thank you again. Really glad to have found this group
Actually, I wouldn't be going swimming with a virus, let alone an exacerbation trying to get going. Your body is under stress from the virus and if an exacerbation is not going to get a hold you need to take the pressure off. A walk in the fresh air followed by a session to clear the mucus that has moved is probably better. You need to stay warm. Now you have been diagnosed you will be able to manage your condition so that you stay well with good chest clearance every day and the right antibiotics when you have an exacerbation. More strenuous exercise can be re introduced when the exacerbation fails to develop fully or the antibiotics stop it.
Lovely. Keep an eye on what you are coughing up. If you finish the abs but the mucus still isn't right get back to the doc for some more. You also need to be under the care of a true bronch spevialist. They have extra knowledge to GPs and general respiratory consultants who do not have enough training or experiemce in it. They have their own physios to teach you proper chest clearance and will tell your GP which abs to give you in a rescue pack. They can usually be found at big teaching hospitals. Have a look at their websites and take the name to your GP and insist on a referral. There are members on here who will tell you that doing just that has increased their quality of life no end. There are quite a few experienced bronchs on this forum who will be happy to support and advise you on living with it. It is a complex condition and we are all different. So you definitely came to the right place.
Thank you I will. When diagnosed with pneumonia twice I had 5 courses of clarithromycin which didn’t work. I then got the diagnosis from a CT scan and got prescribed Doxycycline which cleared my cough finally. I just wish I had been prescribed this sooner and worry I wouldn’t be in this position if I did. I don’t have any specialist follow up but am now under the care of my respiratory nurse who had visited and said I am managing well and doing airway clearance correctly. I have started another course of Doxycycline and am hoping it is the right antibiotic for this flare up. I haven’t been asked to provide a sputum sample but am wondering should I do one anyway. Thank you so much for all your advice. It is so helpful and appreciated
You definitely do need to be under the care of a bronch specialist. The respiratory nurses are trained in copd which is very different to bronch. The cause and lung damage is different. They can be very supportive when it comes to clearance and recognising when an exacerbation is starting up. But do not know the complexities of bronch.You need to learn about your condition so that you can manage it. Yes doxy is used in bronch a lot but not for me. I have a heart condition and take digoxin so can't take that or clarith. Putting in a sample when you have bronch isn't always useful because the lab results in bronch are notoriously unreliable. As the clarith didn't work your doc is trying another drug which is effective against a lot of bacteria. If the doxy doesn't work it would probably be a good idea to take in a sample. You probably had bronch for a long time before you had the pneumonias and the bacteria wasn't being treated properly which led to the pneumonia, insufficient ongoing treatment and pneumonia again. Hopefully, now that you have the diagnosis and most importantly, if you get your self a bronchiectasis consultant, the management will be much better and you can get on with life.
I have Bronch and have been given doxy as an emergency antibiotic. I also take digoxin for AF and am now concerned that you say you have been told you shouldn't take the two together. Could you say why please?
I have never taken doxy even before I started taking digoxin because my consultant doesn't particularly like it as a drug for me and as I am colonised with pseudomonas, against which doxy is not the most effective and can take cipro it hasn't been an issue with me. She only mentioned once that it wouldn't be good to take it with digoxin.I also had to stop azithromycin when I was diagnosed with AF and cardiomyopathy. I also take 3 other heart drugs.As we are all different I think that you should speak to your consultant about it to put your mind at rest.
u should have a Rescue pack from your Doctor/Nurse in case of a flareup when surgery is closed our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group Physio's recommend this
U do right to rest whilst ill,imo.hope u feel better soon.do u do dedicated lung clearance sessions twice a day? A member recommended an anti viral nose + throat spray - helps prevent/ lessen severity of colds etc by neutralizing the virus eg first defence - worth having x
Thank you. I did see another post where someone advised using a nasal guard spray and coldzyme throat spray and have ordered these from Amazon . Also ordered high dose Vitamin C. x
If it’s any encouragement I have now not had a bronch flare up for about 4 yea rs. It’s helped that the grandchildren are bigger. What surpises me is that you haven’t taken a mucus sample in to the GP. My consultant wrote to the Practice saying I was to take a sample in every time I had a flare up so they could identify the bacteria, and my goodness I had a variety of infections. Don’t despair. I used to be so ill with it and now the Brompton have signed me off and I just have a yearly consultation with my local hospital. I think the key when you have recovered is exercise and I make sure I get out of breath with some form of exercise every day. Then I do a bit of clearing breathing afterwards. I also take as much for my good gut flora as possible…kefir, natural yogurt, miso soup.
Thank you. So good to hear you haven’t had a flare up for 4 years. Yes it’s so difficult with my little grandson and now a new granddaughter. I love them with all my heart and have him one day a week. When I looked after him while my daughter was in hospital he was so so poorly. I tried my best to avoid picking it up with hand sanitizer and turning my head away when he coughed but all he wanted was cuddles so knew it was inevitable I would pick something up. All the rest of the family have been poorly as well. So many bugs at this time of year. I am trying really hard to keep my immune system healthy. I take echinacea daily although I have now read this might not be good to take long term! A daily multivitamin. Vitamin D and either actimel or Yakult for gut heath. I also soak 3 cardamom pods in warm water. Open out the seeds and drink this as have read an ancient remedy for lung health. If you can stomach them it also says you can chew as lozenges which I chew 2 a day. Not pleasant but I’m happy to try anything that will help. I have just ordered high strength Vitamin C and a Himalayan salt lamp. Thank you I will definitely get the kefir and miso soup. I like to do my regular daily exercise and look forward to feeling better and getting back to this. Thank you for your advice and I’m hopeful I will get a good grip of this soon xx
Thank you for reminding me re miso soup. As I also have a chest infection right now I don't have the energy to make much food but I could dissolve some miso in warm water.
good morning i am 58 had copd 9 years ago stated using a ebuliser 4 time a day reitiered 9 years ago due to ill health bronical problems trecky in my kneck / bad asma cramp in toes / broke both ankles i had to start using gym to get me out & about / keep smiling & take the tablet nothing can do with my health / all the best ghoust rider
Nice to hear from you and thank you for replying. I am 61 and recently diagnosed. As I was so poorly before my diagnosis I did little or no exercise for 9 months. Prior to this I was always fit and healthy and did a lot of regular exercise. I am gradually trying to get my life back as much as this will allow me to and exercising when I’m well. I am trying very hard to be more positive now and thankful for everyone’s advice and support x
Listen to your body and take things gently. It's annoying when your head says, 'get up and get going' but you really need to take it easy for a bit.Littlepom gave you great advice about a gentle walk in the fresh air. The swimming pool is a great place to pick up another bug if you're already a bit low so I'd leave that until whatever you have now has cleared up a bit.
You do need to move about, though, or the mucous can build up. Chest clearance is important, as is keeping well hydrated.
The issue of giving a sample is that sometimes it's useful but often comes back as 'normal flora' due, I think, to the bugs that are doing the damage being deep in our lungs. However, I like to submit one if I am able to get a 'good' one that's showing colour and feels as though it's come from low down. I have needed a change of antibiotic several times based on the results.
My consultant dishes me out three pots and labels whenever I see him and always advises me to drop one in to the surgery if in doubt. The best time to collect it is before you have started the antibiotics, but if they don't seem to be hitting the spot and making a difference, why not drop one in anyway?
My bronch was out of control for a long time while my (then) GP tried to manage it and I was very ill. Now, I am able to get on with living again!
You will get the hang of it and soon know when you need to support your body with the meds, but don't rush your recovery. It will take time at first.
I know the 'grandchild with a cough' scenario only too well. Sometimes, we have no option but to step in and help, but I urge you to keep your distance when the little darling is bug ridden as keeping clear of the bugs is better for you. My family always warn me now so I have the choice to take a chance or avoid.
Good luck and hope you feel well again soon. Xx Moy
Thank you Moy. Such helpful advice. I so enjoy my exercise and like you mentioned frustrating when you know you should rest. I will move about a bit today though and go for a gentle walk to try and get this mucus moving. Can I ask does anyone experience a pain in their upper back and like a fluttering bubbling sensation when having a flare up? If the Doxycycline doesn’t help I will hand in a sputum sample and pick up some extra pots. They couldn’t give me any last time I was at the GP surgery as said they were unable to get hold of any as in short supply. My cough does seem easier today xx
Thank you. It is helpful to know what is happening and that I am not the only one experiencing these symptoms when poorly. A very strange feeling when the fluttering starts x
Do u do" postural drainage" as part of lung clearance? If not,I would.i think when we cough etc,the tissues on both sides are " jarred" and strained...my lower back suffers too.even tho yr bronch is in rt lung, there may still be infection +/or inflammation in both sides
Yes it feels like there might be inflammation on the left lung. I had pneumonia really badly just over 30 years ago which was on my left lung so probably scar tissue there. No I haven’t been taught postural drainage but I do have an idea how to do it
Morning Poochpants55, I have bronciactsis and asthma, my rescue pack at present is co-amoxiclave. It changes with the sputem sample I send in some times. If you are still feeling ill after you have finished your course of antibiotics and your sputem is still clear or pale green, it is worth taking in an other sample to be sent off, in the summer mine was pale green but I had a bad bug that took some time to clear up. Good luck, take care and stay safe.
Sorry just noticed your reply. Co-amoxiclav tablets 500/125mg one to be taken 3 times a day for 14 days. That's what my consultant says I need to clear infection. Hope that helps and you get better very soon.
Welcome to the club - it took nearly 20 years and then C***id in 2020 for me to be diagnosed. I used to have 5+ chest infections every year that was classed as "asthma"! I am now on Amoxiycylin Mon/Wed/Fri and so far 🤞🤞have not had one for 2 years! I do ACB most mornings physio-pedia.com/Active_Cyc...
Oh my gosh such a long time to get a diagnosis but glad you have your diagnosis now. I was so ill for 9 months before my diagnosis. I suddenly became very poorly and was fit and healthy prior to this. Right in the midst of covid. My PCR was negative but not sure I still didn’t have it. I’m learning all the time and hope to get a good grip of this and avoid flare ups as much as I can. Thank you for your advice and reply x
Hi, I have bronchiectasis and the same thing has happened. I took my grandchildren out before Xmas but I wasn't warned they were coughing and sniffing. After that I had a slightly sore throat for several days, got through hosting Xmas but now have a chest infection. So frustrating as I haven't had one for 3 yrs as I was shielding. I am on doxycycline. I have learnt that when my body is fighting infection I need to rest. So I am sleeping more and watching some TV. That is about all I can manage just now. What I should have done is treat the sore throat as an emergency as I have done with colds in the past, gone to bed and that way have avoided it turning into a chest infection. I would say listen to how much your body wants u to do and the valuable exercise can be done when u r better.
Really nice to hear from you. Sounds exactly the same as my case. I too managed to get through Christmas and hoped I had got away with it but then a couple of days ago started with a sore throat glands up in neck and feeling really tired. Hoping the Doxycycline will do its job. Resting too and moving about gently. I wish you well and let’s hope we both recover and feel a lot better for the New Year xx
Thank you so much for your positive advice. Yes will be kind to myself and rest for a couple of days. I tend to be really hard on myself and think I should be doing more as I’m sure a lot of us do
doxycylin does not seem to be the right antibiotic. Azythromycin, a mild antibiotic and antiinflammatory would be better. If high fever fluoroquinolons are good.
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