Issues sleeping, and other things

[PW_R]

Diagnosed with chronic bronchitis 2 years ago. I had some sort of flare in Jan that never settled. Two weeks ago I started doxy followed by azithro & 10 days of steroids. Some mild SOB on incline walking in the last month. Normally I clear my mucus with sea swimming (fit & active 40 yr old M). A week ago I did an extra long sea session, to clear as much as I could. That night I had air hunger & couldn’t sleep, leading to a&e a few days later. Admitted to hospital for a few days - consultant pretty flippant saying asthma exacerbation (non-obstructive chronic bronchitis often gets dismissed despite burden of symptoms). Most tests didn’t show anything HOWEVER, LFT shower fev/fvc ratio dropped 13%. DLCO & LCO dropped by 26% - pointed this out to consultant but he said ‘still within normal range so so noting I can do’. At a total loss - waiting to see my regular constultant but could be a couple of weeks.

[Mellywelly]

They are so easy to dismiss certain things. I still can't get my head around when they say blood oxygen 97%, lungs sound clear. So why am I so short of breath. Can't tell you I'm afraid and that's it. It's hard enough being short of breath, but not getting any answers is so frustrating. So I feel your pain chook 😉 I hope you see your normal consultant soon.

[knitter in reply to Mellywelly]

A and E twice recently , one visit to GP , one phone call to asthma nurse with my sats readings etc .

One set of Doxy for sinus ….nothing else as Sats OK …..but I am still so breathless walking a few steps .

Now waiting echocardiogram….how long will that be I wonder.

[Ern007 in reply to Mellywelly]

I had same experience - My 02 was a rare 96 - I had no infection but was breathless. I was diagnosed with Dyspnea - (Air Hunger) - There is no answer to that.

[PW_R in reply to Ern007]

How do you manage it? Or there is literally nothing you can do?

[Patk1]

Have u tried recommended techniques to clear lungs eg aluk website acbt with huffing technique,postural drainage,percussion etc? U really should not be pushing yrsrlf harder,when u are unwell.

[PW_R in reply to Patk1]

I’ve got an online lung physio appointment this week - this is the first time Iv been made aware that this is important. My understand is that we should be cleaning our lungs daily like bronchiectasis patients? At the moment it feels like nothing will shift cause the lower airways feel very irritated

[Patk1 in reply to PW_R]

Maybe worth reading up,watching video and see how u do.its very effective.ive severe bronchiectasis+ severe asthma,among a long list of lung+airway probs.it shld help while inflamed+ producing excess. BTW steroids r notoriously for sleep probs - I take as early as possible to avoid it.hope physio is helpful 4u x

[Ern007]

I have been diagnosed with Dyspnea - That is apart from COPD, and has several causes. Thing is at the time my Sats was 96. So what caused the breathlessness I don't know, nothing like a COPD Flare up which has wheeze - Dyspnea no Wheeze just short of breath.

Good for you seeing your regular specialist. He will know you best,

[Alberta56]

This sounds very frustrating. You know your body best, so quite obviously you know something isn't right. Patk is right- you need to be gentle with your body till this is resolved. Obviously you decide what is gentle for you. I'm afraid the aftereffects of nasty lung diseases take longer than we would like to completely go away.

[MV77]

hi, I have the same health issue.. 46yo male, sportsman, since last summer after cold and insufficient recovery... completely changed my life, no active sport since then, permanent mucus, rhinitis, bad sleep, depression...

[PW_R in reply to MV77]

I’m sorry to hear that mate - sounds like we’re in similar positions. Have you had tests? When this first started (May 2022) I was pretty depressed for a year. Now it’s situational depression - because of the situation of being ill. Once a flare up impacts me beyond a month I starting dipping quite a bit - by the 2nd month Iv lost hope.

[Patk1 in reply to PW_R]

Don't lose hope,you'll get over it, with correct management but bad infection/exacerbation takes time to get over,so start slowly,pace yrself x

[Patk1 in reply to MV77]

Do u have any diagnosis or treatment MV77 - have u had xray,chest ct scan x

[Alberta56 in reply to MV77]

Sounds rotten- try to get back into gentle activity. You never know where it may lead to.

[SimonJJJ]

Infection from swimming in the sea?

[PW_R in reply to SimonJJJ]

I think it was the same horrible virus that everyone seem to have at Xmas / Jan which hit people’s chest pretty hard. But perhaps cold air of sea swimming continued to irritate things. Up to this point I had no issues with cold air. Maybe I have no issues when my CB is stable but when I flare perhaps cold air is quite bad

[Cookiemonsterr]

Hi PW,

You know best what feels normal and what does not. I wonder where you swim, the atlantic is freezing and that may cause irritating of the airways

[PW_R in reply to Cookiemonsterr]

Of the coast of Ireland (which isn’t warm!). I think it further irritate things when I’m flaring up because of infection