New Bronchiectasis diagnosis

[Enable]

Is it still OK to fly medium haul ( 7 or 8 hours ) with this condition ? I'm worried about my cough disturbing people. It's terrible the first hour after waking up and I have episodes through the day.

[teddyd]

Bronchiectasis has never stopped me flying. But everyone's different. Since I have been on azithromycin and relvar my cough is only bad if I have an infection . But others will have different experiences .

[Enable in reply to teddyd]

Thanks Teddyd

[Porthy1 in reply to teddyd]

Hi, I’ve the same condition as you, plus asthma. Things have improved tremendously since receiving what appears to be the correct meds. Bronchiectasis causes a lot of coughing but I’ve controlled a lot of episodes following the advice of a respiratory physiotherapist. For example, placing my tongue towards the roof of my mouth and holding it firmly there reduces coughing. Enjoy your time away.

[Enable in reply to Porthy1]

Thanks, still waiting for my appointment with the respiratory physiotherapist. When I wake up I'm coughing uncontrollably for at least 30 mins with lots of mucus coming up. I've looked at breathing exercises on youtube but can't without coughing first thing.

[Izb1 in reply to Enable]

Perhaps take antihistamine the night before you fly this will dry up your mucus which hopefully will stop you coughing as much and use a nasal spray like Otravin which will help. I also like to have Jakemans throat sweets which helps calm the cough. Hope this helps and you have a good flight x

[Patk1 in reply to Enable]

Read up on " techniques for clearing mucous " on ALUK,while waiting to see lung physio.active cycle of breathing(ACBT) is a goto technique & helps give u some control over coughing.if u do b4 u go to airport,get lungs empty,thn nip to loo b4 flying and periodically during flight - to do brief version of it,coughing shld be less.ive not flown for 3-4 yrs and max 4hrs,but its helped x

[Enable in reply to Patk1]

Thank you for your advice

[djbctla]

Hi enable,

Nowadays I cough the odd time during the day.

I used to have an uncontrollable cough all the time, caused by Nasal drip and frog in throat (frog from nasal drip)

At that time I took 40mg Omeprazole per day for reflux.

Prior to my requesting an ENT appointment the GP put me on 60mg, as a result of the ENT report.

I also use a nasal spray.

Since then coughing perhaps once a day, usually caused by allergies.

Discuss reflux with your GP, request an ENT appointment.

Make sure u have no chest infection, check for symptoms.

Best of luck.

BERNARDINE

[Enable in reply to djbctla]

Many thanks

[rosco59]

I also have Bronchiectasis and need to clear my chest first thing with lung clearance exercises. Once this is done I cough much less. I personally feel we should be able to enjoy your lives as much as we are able to and if that involves flying, I would do so. If you haven’t already got a rescue pack of antibiotics at home I would ensure you get some to take with you in case of infection.

[Enable in reply to rosco59]

Thanks for your advice. I was only diagnosed a few days ago. I find I start coughing uncontrollably as soon as I get up so can't do the breathing exercises first thing because I can't stop for about 30 mins or so .

[1carus in reply to Enable]

Try to relax about it - not easy I know - but th more tens you are the harder it is - good luck with your appointment

[rosco59 in reply to Enable]

Yes I can remember being like that to begin with and also just feeling overwhelmed by it all. Hopefully you can see a lung physio soon which should definitely help, but in the meantime I hope you get to go wherever you were hoping to visit.

[B0xermad]

I wouldn't worry about the cough annoying others more likely getting an infection from the recirculative air flying for so long,that would be a reason for not to fly from my perspective.

[garshe in reply to B0xermad]

I agree about infections on plane. The reason I dont fly anymore xxSheila 💕⚘

[B0xermad in reply to garshe]

I have been cruising since diagnosis 9yrs ago

[garshe in reply to B0xermad]

I dont miss my trips abroad as my husband worked in the Middle East, Far East and Asia for 40yrs. I was with him on many contracts and lived in Dubai,Oman,Doha ,SriLanka ,Hong Kong ,Yemen,India and a few more Countries . We are relaxing at home now and holiday in UK. I have a fear of water so a cruise is definitely not on the agenda . Hope you are enjoying your cruises and wish you many more happy holidays xxSheila 💕⚘⛴⛴

[Lfcpremier in reply to B0xermad]

We took our first cruise in 3yrs.12 nights on big ship. 3/4of us came back with Covid😢

[B0xermad in reply to Lfcpremier]

Whaat no that's awful we came back from norway beginning of June all ok. hopefully you wasn't too unwell with it.

[1carus]

You will get over the embarrassment in time and I regularly do 9 and 10 hour flights. Have a good and brief explanation to reassure passengers it is not covid or infectious and I find sucking strong sweets can help limit the ferocity of the coughing - good luck and enjoy the destination

[Enable in reply to 1carus]

Thanks. Its the uncontrolled coughing when I first wake up I'm worried about. I'm thinking I will fall asleep the plane then wake up as I do every morning coughing non stop bringing up mucus. I'm going ( hopefully) in about 3 weeks. Still waiting for an appointment with a respiratory physio.

[Tala1 in reply to Enable]

I'm thinking that if you're sleeping on the plane in an upright position, it won't be as bad as when you've been lying down anyway. I have bronchiectasis too and find that doing my exercises, taking a high dose vit C powder daily, and doing physical exercise help keep my lungs clear. Masking with an N95 too.

[Pollyposh1]

Take some menthal cough sweets with you . They help with the dryness from the plane and the menthol in them help with reducing your coughing. I wouldn't be without them in certain places.

[Beshmeta]

Have you been prescribed carbocisteine? It helps thin mucus, so you can expel it more easily. This, along with chest clearance exercises and using an aerobika, stopped my compulsive coughing. Your GP can prescribe it. When I did a long haul flight 3 years ago, my GP advised me to start a course of antibiotics a couple of days before I went, to ensure I didn't pick up an infection while travelling. Hope this helps.

[Enable in reply to Beshmeta]

Thanks for your advice. I was only diagnosed a few days ago. I have carbocisteine. Still waiting for my respiratory physio appointment.

[PaulineHM]

Hi,

When flying the cabin pressure changes lots of things in the lungs, not least reduces oxygen levels.

I would check with your doctor that you are fit to fly.

Go well.

Pauline

[Karenanne61]

When I checked with my consultant about flying she said the biggest danger was infection. The other negatives can be air pressure and the cost of insurance! However, we're flying to Ibiza so short flight. You may need a fit to fly for your insurance too.

[BerryHead]

Buy some original Fishermens Friends cough sweets, they always stop my cough,some people do not like the taste but you soon get used to it and they really do help.

[Lutontown]

I stopped flying years ago after not handling the poor air quality found in aeroplanes. It was on the return journey from Madeira in 2014 that made my mind up. I believe there is a modern plane which has better air quality than most, but don't know which one it is.

[Maximonkey]

Hi Enable, I have been abroad 3 times in the past 6 months and have noted not many people wear masks. My husband and I have both worn them both in the airports and on the flight. Coughing is a problem but I use either mints or coughs sweets and I drink a lot of water whilst flying. Hope this info helps. Take care Maximonkey

[Videodragons]

For all the other passengers know, you could have caught a bug the day before. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Kristicats]

perhaps you could do a little lung clearing exercise before getting on the plane? Take some cough lozenges and have sips of cold water during your flight. Have a great holiday and don’t forget to take your emergency antibiotics should you need them.

[Enable in reply to Kristicats]

Thank you kindly