after recent diagnosis of mild bronchiectasis i am waiting for physio appointment for exercises to clear throat. i have been on carbocisteine for past 4 weeks. i have been doing daily drill to clear throat from internet videos. . but nothing coming up. should i continue if nothing there ? i go for regular brisk walks and only once or twice has this resulted in being able to clear my throat of some mucus.
4 weeks since finally got rid of last infection. my body has been through alot with 3 long infections this year . nearly back to full fitness but occasional aches top half of back when breathing deeply.
at least i now have the diagnosis and medication and i know my limitations and to be very careful with regard to contact etc
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johngk
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You're doing the right thing in walking regularly, as long as your lungs can tolerate this freezing weather. It's possible you have nothing much to bring up. I have mild bronchiectasis and do not usually bring up much. I keep doing ACB exercises to bring up any mucus that is lurking and deprive any nasties I may encounter of a chance to settle down and breed. I hope you won't have to wait long for more expert advice than mine.
thanks alberta56..very cold here over last few days so have gone onto treadmill in gym. i have read that mucus can still be lurking even though very little being brought up
Treadmill sounds an excellent idea. You're right about lurking 'bad guy' mucus, as opposed to the 'good guy' mucus which everyone produces. I last produced thick mucus after my covid jab.
Hi John, I find that if I have a mucus build up it is present on waking in the morning and if it doesn’t clear then it’s very hard to shift it during the day. Carbocistine and saline nebuliser can help, I can’t use one myself due to lung bleeds but a flutter device is supposed to be very good for chest clearance. The Aerobika is very popular and is available on prescription from your GP. The physio should show you the “huffing” technique, and don’t try too hard otherwise you will have a very sore chest and run the risk of minor bleeding ( pink sputum is the clue)
I use a salt pipe. For me it really works. The huffing technique is great too. I also use olbas oil on a tissue and sniff. You can use it in hot water to use as an inhalent
Your actually not clearing your throat but your lungs, tho you may have mucous in your throat. Have you watched the videos on lung clearance on You Tube? There are some great ones.
I very rarely bring anything up, but do the exercises to stop and gunk lurking around and getting infected. Think of your windpipe as having little "pockets" in the sides that collect the sputum. If you can stop the collection you will reduce the infections. I just do 1 set of chest clearing exercises a day, unless I am bringing stuff up (very rarely!) Keep going, you are doing well!
This was me and my OH on Friday on the way across Beeley Moor to do a condition survey of Hob Hursts House! I don't let my bronchiectasis stop me! it was -4℃ The road is the white line-up left!
Hi, Not sure if mild bronchiectasis exists. You either have it or not. Once you have it, it is there for life. My wife has had it since being a young teenager, she is now in her 70`s so don`t worry too much. Exercise is obviously very good but talk to your doctor about the anti-bio Azithromycin. my wife has taken this for over 4 years now, 3x per week as it acts not only as anti-bio but also anti-inflammatory. Wishing you a good Sunday and best of luck with treatment. Chris.
I used to bring up mucus but very rarely since I’ve had pleural effusion I can’t but some people rarely if ever have mucus and some have a lot, it depends we all vary. You are doing everything right I wish I could but unfortunately I can’t exercise at the moment. Be careful in this very cold weather though as it can affect your breathing.
hi wendy..very cold at moment so just exercising indoors.
had some good advice from specialist and from this site
3 infections this year. if follows a pattern then my next infection is due in january..but at least i now have medication and am aware of the condition and how to improve chances of avoidance...so see what happens
In bronchiectasis the mucus is settled in the pockets in the airways and the alveoli at the bottom of the damaged part of the lungs and this can be difficult to get up, leading to the misapprehension that there is nothing there. Any in the throat is more than likely coming from sinuses. When the mucus is allowed to stay in the bottom of the lungs the bugs eventually have a party and this results in an exacerbation. ( infection in your words).I would question your diagnosis. Bronch can only be diagnosed by ct scan and a bronch specialist would not need a bronchoscopy to diagnose it. If the consultant you saw is not sure that you have bronch this could be the reason for a bronchoscopy to discover if it is actually another condition. Otherwise I think that you should check whether they are truly a specialist in bronch. Most general respiratory physicians know very little about it.
In the meantime, well done for keeping up the exercise, crucial to loosening the nasties.
I am new in this forum no much experience in bronchiectasis. I was diagnosed 4 years ago, but I just used to produce mucus in my throat 3 times a day, I am not asmathic, but after an exarcebation in December 2023 I am producing mucus during the whole day, I feel miserable and depress.In my little experience I have found that pure organic olive oil helps to thin the plhegms and moisturize your throat, I take one tsp after food twice a day. Also suck slowly a piece of ginger or lycorice root till flavor is gone helps to reduce inflamation of the coughing and help to clear for a while mucus in the throat.
Another natural remedy that I have tried is syrup that contain lycorice, sell by natural practioners, this is a good one, it really stop the cough after a couple of days, the only thing is that you can not use it for long time, in my case gives me heart palpitations , because the side effects. At least you will have some time relief
Also bend down to spit after the huff exercise and keep at bay bromhexine hydrocloride syrup and bromhexine guaiphenesin syrup to thin mucus, the last one is stronger than the first one. I use each one of them pediodically. Drink plenty water at least 10 glasses a day.
I will sudgest to change diet, no sugar, no bread, no dairys, lots o vegies and fruits, fish 3 times a week, only cook with good quality olive oil, cut all oils like canola, vegetable, etc. Try not to eat processed food or drinks. Diet help to reduce inflamation and it does because have suffer RA for about 25 years and I keep it in remission with diet.
Some good quality probiotics that contain probiotics for lungs will help to your gut and lungs function, because of so much medication, also some good quality vitamins and mineral periodically to give strength to your body, because this illness can cause depression and lost of weight. Take at least 2k units of vitamin d, research has found that people with lung decease has low levels of vitamin D, besides is a powerful anti inflamatory. If you can take sun early morning or late afternoon.
Find a good pulmonologist, research of him, and try the ones that one of their main interest is bronchiectasis
Try to relax yourself and find God in your life if you believe in Him.
I pray for all of you and your suffering we are in the same boat, I though I was alone in this ordeal but I am not.
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