Just had Bronchiectasis flare up. ? due to cold weather.. has that happened to anyone else ? are there temp guidelines for us bronchs?

[Phill1]

Have Bronchiectasis with colonized pseudomonas Just finished 2 weeks of Ciprofloxacin.. had my first flare up for 10 months .. 🙄

Thought I was doing well .. but then just started producing loads of mucus which was different consistency & also keeping me up during the night . Hadn’t had a cold or cough / not unwell … I can only put it down to the fact that I played tennis 3 days running… indoors …but when it was that very cold spell & it was cold inside ….? Caused lung inflammation?

Has this happened to anyone else? I’m now really wary of even walking outside with a snood ..but would like to keep my fitness levels up

Does anyone have /live by general guidelines on when not to go out ? .. hate winter.. roll on spring

[Hidden]

I have had bronch all of my life. I don't find that the cold weather causes exacerbations but being inside with other people and their germs does. You may not have been conscious of picking up a virus from them but when your body is trying to fight one off the pesky pseudomonas often takes the opportunity to have a party.

[Phill1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying LP.. It was a weird onset.. like I said.. was playing tennis /feeling fine apart from more mucus to expel. Was doing so well .. not had an exacerbation for 10 months 🙄

Think I’m a bit wary because I had a lung bleed after a long walk in 0 temperatures during Covid …all a learning curve!

I like walking but now getting to feel a little precious with my lungs & wondering whether to hibernate a bit more. Hate having to take cipro .. all knocks me down a bit ..

Bw’s.. Pat

[Hidden in reply to Phill1]

Perhaps you should talk to your bronch specialist. You really must have one. When we have a bleed it is usually a sign of an exacerbation going on. The trouble with us bronchs is that we can go quietly down the slippery slope and not realise because we do tend to soldier on. Also, if we have been exacerbation free for some time there tends to be an element of denial in recognising an exacerbation creeping up. I know I do it.You said that you had more mucus to expel at the time that you were playing tennis and then suddenly had an exacerbation. It could have been quietly coming on. I hate cipro too. Maybe your bronch specialist will give you some IV to knock it on the headIt is a difficult balance for us. We need to exercise to get the mucus out but we do have to be kind to ourselves and it isn't good for anyone to get chilled.If you aren't happy going out in the cold, do your exercising at home. I have just stopped mine to reply to you (any excuse) I don't like the cold either. From reading this forum I have learned that those with copd tend to have breathing problems in the cold and find that wearing a scarf helps. If it is that cold I don't go out in it but some people find the cold refreshing.

I do think that your exacerbation is due more to the bacteria breeding down there than it is to the weather but if it is cold your body will be working harder because of that and I think that you should do what you are comfortable with and not feel'precious'

[Phill1 in reply to Hidden]

Think it did creep up on me so I’m inclined to agree with everything you’ve said there …denial / not wanting to start the abx..etc.

. I’m just surprised that I didn’t feel ill & still was able to do things like exercising / tennis when it’s occurring..

I did speak with the respiratory nurse at the QE to get my sputum results & she did seem to imply the same ..

I’ll maybe try out Jo Wicks workouts on You Tube 😂🙃👍

[Hidden in reply to Phill1]

You ar.e with the same peole as me.😊

[Phill1 in reply to Hidden]

In good hands then 🤞

[Jack70 in reply to Phill1]

I’d be more worried about the Ciprofloxacin. You’ll not be playing tennis much longer if you take that poison. Read the gov warning.

To late for me.

[Phill1 in reply to Jack70]

What happened?

[Jack70 in reply to Phill1]

This antibiotic left me needing a wheelchair such was the muscle/ skeletal damage, burning tight muscles and joints, total insomnia, peripheral neuropathy in my face and legs, chronic muscle wasting and much more. Google Fluroquinolone toxicity syndrome or check out the face book groups. These are not RARE reactions despite what the gov warnings say.

Can’t seem to copy the link properly, best I can do.

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

[Phill1 in reply to Jack70]

That’s so awful.. was it the first time you had used cipro ?

I’ve taken it 4 times now without any major side effects. Problem is that there are no other oral antibiotics that can stave off pseudomonas 😟

[Jack70 in reply to Phill1]

I would double check that if I were you. Trust me you don’t want to reach toxic levels of cipro. Their own guidelines say it shouldn’t be given to over 60s only if all other options have failed.

[Phill1 in reply to Jack70]

thanks I will be asking questions at my next consultant visit

Did these terrible problems happen after your first time using cipro ?

[Jack70 in reply to Phill1]

I took cipro for 3 months. It was the first time of taking. After the 1st month it started tightening my muscles the, clever Consultant blamed all symptoms on the chest infection and I trusted him. I threw them in the bin in month 3 after realising what was happening to me. Some people have taken it 3 times throughout their lives and got “ floxed” on the 4 th.

It turned out to be useless against my infection anyway. Don’t trust Doctors question everything and for god sake don’t get Floxed .

[Phill1 in reply to Hidden]

Could I ask what type of exercises you do LP?

Wondering you having had BE from such a young age , you may have been advised / worked out which type are best for our BE lungs …x Pat

[Hidden in reply to Phill1]

Oh my goodness. Over the years I have done all sorts. I suppose that various forms of pilates and yoga have won out as I am very lazy when it comes to running around and I find that the breathing for both of those is very useful. I also watch You tube videos and I have just bought two books of stretching exercises for over 50s. If you call the helpline the BLF had a good video and book of exercises. I have the concentration of a gnat and so I change what I do all of the time. I used to walk my little dog around the village every day but very sadly he went over the rainbow bridge whilst I was in hospital last year. I have a treadmill which I force myself on to now and again and a little rotary stepper which I keep by my seat in the living room to do whilst I am watching Corrie.

[Phill1 in reply to Hidden]

🤣 There’s no magic bullet then.. just impressed that you are still so positive & doing regular excercise ..

My favorites are tennis ( social, gentle not competitive).. and walking ..but am put off with this cold weather.. like to do a sort of aerobic activity

Will look at yoga & home video stuff for now methinks.. but like you I’m a bit erratic & have to force myself to doing anything

Thanks for answering

[Hidden in reply to Phill1]

I think it's just important to be doing something to keep those lungs working and work the mucus out. Aerobic is brilliant as long as you don't overdo it. Good luck.

[Alberta56]

I get very short of breath if I'm out too long in cold weather. Or in high winds. Roll on spring.

[Phill1 in reply to Alberta56]

The wind seems to catch my breath as well

Have got a snood which helps.. Agree..I sooo want warmer climes ☀️

[Patk1]

I'd keep up exercise but perhaps have a day off between exercise. Winter is hard on lung disease. If u felt well and mucous didn't look infected, maybe the cold,damp weather and lot of vigorous exercise caused increase in mucous x

[Phill1 in reply to Patk1]

👍 Will start taking it easier this time of year I’m now not looking forward to winters any more.. which is a shame.. used to love them x

[GintyFerguson]

All I can say is I believe sometimes we have more than one condition going on. I had bronchitis a couple of times in my 20s then late onset asthma in my 30s . A few years later I developed bronchiectasis . Cold air is my enemy . Anything less than 10 degrees and I wheeze then have an exacerbation. However , I'm never sure which of the conditions is really the problem! I take Fostair and Incruse. My sense is get to know your lungs and do what keeps them happy! It's a very individual game. Good luck!

[Phill1 in reply to GintyFerguson]

So right .. we all have differing symptoms/ diagnoses/ responses …I’m still getting to know my lungs …. . but this forum is so helpful for sharing our problems & getting advice

[Souielouie]

I’m now on antibiotics 3 days a week & use a Nebuliser daily this helps me clear the mucus . I was having one chest infection after another, so my Consultant prescribed the antibiotics & Nebuliser. 🤞 so far 2 in 9 months so not bad.

I agree with you I hate the winter roll on Spring. Take care 🥰

[Phill1 in reply to Souielouie]

Hope you stay well 🤞 There’s so many bugs around at the moment .. avoiding contact isn’t so easy but we need to be extra careful x

[Debbieingram6 in reply to Souielouie]

Hi I read your post and was happy to hear you are benefitting from a nebuliser. My husband is just waiting for a nebulizer assessment and is currently on an extended antibiotics course of doxycycline. Please let me know how you are doing now spring has sprung! Thank you

[Souielouie in reply to Debbieingram6]

Hi , I'm doing well Thank u still only 2 infections in a year now & so looking forward to hopefully warmer weather. I hope your husband is responding well to his antibiotics. 😀

[watergazer]

hi I have bronch was was pleased with myself as 9 months without antibiotics anyway on doxycycline now. Coughing is gut wrenching at the mo. I was also really tired x. Take care

[Phill1 in reply to watergazer]

I was feeling a bit smug that it had been 10 months since last exacerbation so was gutted that it happened…. Luckily no cough just excess mucus & abx made me v tired 😴

Hope you recover soon x

[watergazer in reply to Phill1]

Thank you x

[blueferret]

Anything below 5C and I struggle. Below that I`ll generally not go out. If I do go out when it`s cold I use a snood or a scarf and really take my time as the cold causes the cilia on the lungs to contract, reducing oxygen getting into the blood stream and causing what can be very frightening breathlessness. I`ve had a couple of very scary episodes. There`s no way I can exercise as much as you do tho so I`m prob a bit further down the road.

[Phill1 in reply to blueferret]

I’m certainly going to be more picky about going out in this weather now…. And wrapping up / covering my mouth ..

[BionicLady]

Most of us would have struggled with this weather, especially during that one week where my face froze off doing school run. I was layered up like an Eskimo, but the pesky germs made it through and am now very poorly with bronchiectasis flare up. I've had lot vomiting this time so can't touch my pills yet.

I wouldn't necessarily have chosen to go out certain days but had to get the children to school so lots thermals, hats etc!

Think you just need to be sensible and know your limitations as Clint Eastwood said in DH😁.

Do something from YouTube in the meantime, there is so much good, free stuff on there,

We have had a terrible Winter, but Spring is on the horizon....

[Phill1]

thanks for advice so sorry to hear your having a flare up too .. It must be so hard for you with young children to look after as well. At least I’m retired and have the option of not going out when it’s freezing …

[GintyFerguson]

Sme here, I'm a prisoner in winter. I found cold weather results in an exacerbation . My sense is the cold does cause inflammation. That might be to do with asthma or maybe I have some bronchitis. Who knows . I was a smoker for 12 years in my younger years and did used to get bronchitis but now, many years later, diagnosed with asthma and bronchiectasis.

[girl_DJ_b]

I find the cold affects me hugely and I have to keep warm. I'm recovering from pneumonia which I contracted in March and after 2 weeks of co-trimoxazole & 10 days of IV, I'm just about starting to recover. I'm going to be starting 3 days a week of prophylactic Azithromycin and daily nebulisers plus fostair inhaler- hoping I can be on the road to no more flare ups for some time xx

[Phill1]

you have been through a tough time .😣Thank goodness we’re seeing the back of winter . I’ll be hibernating next time. Also I have been on Azithromycin for 3 years .. I’m sure it’s helped ..