Bronchiectasis/fatigue/recovery time

[johngk]

Hi

Diagnosed with a mild form last november after 3 bad chest infections lasting 9 weeks on average for each one. put on carbocisteine and advice on clearing lungs daily. 7 months of good health until i caught a virus presumably on plane home from holiday. went onto emergency anti biotics and got over major symptoms after 3 weeks. the next 4 weeks, up to today, pleased to return to fairly normal active life though still dont feel 100% and still trying to shake off small cough. but better recovery time that last year

Now i know that everyone with this condition differs when they are ill but just wondering how long it takes others to recover. even when i am over the main symptoms it still takes quite a few weeks to get rid of my cough

also apart from fatigue in the first few weeks i also suffer from feelings of fatigue and lethargy. between second and third infections last year i was tired all the time but realised i could still do what i wanted with no effect to my body. i am now experiencing this now . possibly my body is still recovering from last infection. but most days i feel i cant do anything or have the enthusiasm, but i can still carry out everything. there is a possibility that this lethargy is connected to a possible heart problem as i have just had an echo scan which showed irregular heart beat and slow blood flow. just had mri cardiac scan to delve deeper.

would be interested in experiences of others here

[B0xermad]

Hi John it takes a lot out of me after an infection and a month or more on some occasions.to recover. The amount of infection times you have had its no wonder your body is struggling to heal and it may just need more time .I wish you better health soon

[johngk in reply to B0xermad]

Hi Boxermad

all 3 infections were quite bad but the third was the worse.i expected the next one to be 2 months after third but was pleased to get to 7 months. if i had worn a mask on the plane, which i will do in future, i might have been celebrating a longer period of good health!! yes as you say i may need more time.

thanks for your reply

[B0xermad in reply to johngk]

I don't fly anymore due to the recumbent air circulation causing infection in vulnerable people for that very reason because bronchiectasis is so susceptible to cause an infection for me .

[Alberta56]

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis 5 years ago. At first it took me a longish time to recover from the repeated infections which led to my diagnosis, but once I was stabilised I didn't get any bad infections for several years. This year things have been different. 3 infections in the winter, starting with covid, and then an accident. I just seem to take longer to recover- sometimes wonder if I'll ever be the same again, or it's old age creeping up. I tell myself I'm OK, but any sort of exertion seems to knock me out. I'm not sure whether trying to carry on as usual is the way to go. Sometimes I seem to work my way out of the fatigue, sometimes not. As you say everyone is different, so I don't know if my experiences relate in any way to yours. But best wishes in coping with it. I hope your heart is behaving itself- I too have heart concerns, which I hope will come to nothing.

[johngk in reply to Alberta56]

thanks alberta for your reply

it does seem we share some experiences. i sometimes think the same about age too!!

[Alberta56 in reply to johngk]

You're a spring chicken compared to me.🐓🐓🐓 I hope that your va va voom will eventually come back.

[Izb1]

It takes me a long time to get over an infection and I always end up with a cough. I suffer with fatigue alot and think it's a combination from my lungs and rheumatoid arthritis. I always use a nasal guard when I go out now and a wash when I come back home. Perhaps with so many infections your body is a bit run down, perhaps a good tonic would help. Good luck with your tests for heart problems x

[johngk in reply to Izb1]

thanks .its so frustrating with the period of time to get back to normal.but from replies here it seems normal so i understand this a bit more now.

[Izb1 in reply to johngk]

After having a really bad cold my sinus's got infected and wasn't treated properly, I suffered this a long time before getting treatment and had to have sinus surgery, I never got back to normal. I think this is why I am so paranoid in keeping away form any infections x

[Ilovedogs12]

Hi John,My story is similar to your own, I have bigeminy and bronchiectasis along with a couple of other lung issues.

I never know if it is my heart or my lungs causing me problems. I get chest infections regularly and struggle to get rid of the cough and fatigue, but my heart medication lowers my blood pressure and I don't think that helps.

I would love to see the cardiologist and the respiratory consultant together, to discuss everything between the three of us and know for sure that we're on the same page.

[Nula2 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

Hi I am so so sorry I pressed report button in error and don't know how to delete the report. not sure what to do only apologise. will try to work it out. I'm so so sorry

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Nula2]

Don't worry, sometimes my fingers behave like a bunch of bananas too.Maybe you could message admin? I don't know how to do it, and it would be no good me doing it anyway.

It's the only thing I can think of.

[Nula2 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

Oh thank you for your understanding❤️😊. I have messaged admin. couldn't find a number to speak to any one but have left a message. Hopefully they will sort it soon🤞🤞xxx

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Nula2]

No worries! Thanks for sorting it out. I'm pretty sure you won't be the first one to do it. X

[Nula2 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

😊. Thank you I will let you know when I hear back from them xxx

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Nula2]

😊

[Nula2 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

Hi, I've been given the contact number and the lady that answered said she would let the health unlocked team know that I pressed it in error and not to worry because as I didn't actually report anything nothing will happen . So my email and telephone call should sort it. Will let you know. 🤞🤞xxx

[johngk in reply to Ilovedogs12]

thanks for your reply

yes we do sound similar!! am waiting to see consultant about recent mri cardiac scan and hopefully find out if link between that and my fatigue

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to johngk]

It would be good to hear how you go on. My bigeminy is quite a problem as I had it constantly and the cardiologist wants to get it under control as long term it could damage my heart. The medication does seem to be helping a bit but it lowers my heart rate and blood pressure, so I get fatigue.I am waiting to see a respiratory consultant, I had a CT scan of my thorax which has thrown up the lung issues.

I was fine with no health issues until I had covid last summer, followed by a chest infection with a heavy growth of staphylococcus aureus. I have had loads of chest infections since.

I think the bigeminy and the bronchiectasis etc are linked to me having covid and my GP agrees. The cardiologist thinks it's possible.

[johngk in reply to Ilovedogs12]

my consultant thinks covid may have been cause but also i have had problems with reflux which i take tablets for

i will let you know about my scan results . i was put on beta blockers last year which have helped palpitations i was having and improved irregular heart beat . it would be good to find out if heart problem is linked to fatigue or bronchiectasis..or maybe bronchiectasis has led to heart problem and fatigue

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to johngk]

It will be interesting to see your results and how we both go on from this point.