Bronchoiectasis? : The last four years... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

21,688 members24,469 posts

Bronchoiectasis?

energy1 profile image
27 Replies

The last four years been under slot of stress! I caught at least two or three infections which took me a while to get well again !

I am asthmatic and last week caught vocal bug went straight on my chest was diagnosed with chest infection given amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day too them for week never hardly touched infection ! Had to return now given me clairithromycin 500 mg to take every 12 hours!

Dr went by my notes and said if this carried on may have bronchoiectasis am so scared hope he’s wrong ! I got infection beginning of year have been ok since this can’t be right surely he’s scared me so much ! 😱

Written by
energy1 profile image
energy1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
27 Replies
Shellc profile image
Shellc

I have had bronchiectasis fir the last 30 years , what I would say is try to keep yourself as healthy as possible and exercise as much as u can. When u get an infection take antibiotics at the first sign . Make a point of coughing up and sputum u have as the infection lasts longer if u don’t . I take magnesium supplements and vitamin d with k2 and my infections have cut down to about one a year

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Shellc

Thank you so much I am so scared 😟 I shall take these you recommend. I experience so much sputum and my back feels numb !

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to energy1

Shellc where do you buy your vitamins from ? I feel abit better now you have managed yours for long time x

Shellc profile image
Shellc in reply to energy1

Not to frighten you , although I’ve had bronc for years I am on oxygen 24/7 and have been fir 11 years, when I was diagnosed I was told to give up exercise and work which looking back was wrong , not everybody with bronc goes down that road . Look on nature’s best fir your vitamins. I also cut out dairy where possible and gluten free diet , these are all things I’ve been doing fir the last year which has cut my infections right down

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Shellc

I have started to cut out diary but do have gluten free diet do you think this right ? You sound so positive and you are right drs not always right ! Thank you

Shellc profile image
Shellc in reply to energy1

You will be fine , positivity is a must in my book , I still do most things but at my pace. You will be fine xx

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Shellc

Thank you

Js706 profile image
Js706

Just make sure you take measures to clear sputum out etc like people have suggested for infections 😊

And as has already been said making sure you have good Vitamin D levels is important.

Also I remember a while ago my immunologist told me that there was a small amount of evidence for zinc + selenium supplements for helping reduce infections.

I know it can be worrying but having infections doesn’t always mean you will end up with bronchiectasis - I’ve had pneumonia 3 times since January apparently but a CT scan I had in June showed no bronchiectasis. But if they get concerned about it a CT scan will pick anything up quickly 😊

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Js706

Thank you 😊 I know I am looking into bigger picture ! I had some good advice from you both and thank you 😊 every time these infections makes me so ill with them and really drain me going some of these x

Js706 profile image
Js706 in reply to energy1

Yeah infections are never fun! And asthmatics always take longer to get over them than someone without it.

If you ever struggle to clear sputum with an infection this link has some good breathing exercises to help on it:

acprc.org.uk/Data/Publicati...

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Js706

Thank you 😊 so much for this link x

Choristermum profile image
Choristermum

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis back in December. Although I would much rather not have it, it has actually been a very positive experience. After 4 years of being very unwell with asthma and almost constant infections I am now on treatments which are proving effective and have not had a single day off work since I started them.

My Bronchiectasis was diagnosed after a ct scan. If your infections continue ask if this can be done. If it is Bronchiectasis, ask to be referred to a specialist so that you can be treated properly. I was already under a multidisciplinary severe asthma team and they have been amazing. Good luck!

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Choristermum

Hi Choristermum Thank you this is the plan any more then they are going to do CT scan the last two years been horrid with infections x

Graham07allen profile image
Graham07allen

Hi there, I'm going through same sort of thing, waiting for my appointment with the respiratory team to have a closer look. In between that tho had a appointment about 2 months ago with the ent specialist and he said I have silent reflux also known as LPR which seems to mimic asthma and other things. The doctor put me on fostair 200/6 for the last 2 months and my cough has gone down but I'm still clearing my throat and my voice still goes in and out. In the last 2 months I've taken up running and run every other day, and started eating real food, not that I didn't but making sure I do now like loads of veggies and no eating 4hours before bed. I've also lost 2 stone. So not really sure if it's the fostair or the life style changes that are helping. Thanks

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Graham07allen

Thank you so much all of this has really scared me and mad me look at my health in difficulty perspective! Take responsibility of my health ! Thanks

Graham07allen profile image
Graham07allen in reply to energy1

It is very scary but you have to stay positive. Thanks

Matman profile image
Matman in reply to Graham07allen

Can I ask please, does the ‘silent acid reflux aspect’ of LPR mean that you were not consciously aware of it before the doctor advised you had that problem - were your symptoms entirely Respiratory until your doc diagnosed that you had LPR?

Thanks in advance.

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Matman

Matman

I haven’t been diagnosed as yet ! Dr said it could be possibility ! This has caused so much anxiety, scared 😟 don’t think before any tests are don’t shouldn’t have suggested it may be possibility because he could be wrong ! I am not sure what LPR is Matman?

Matman profile image
Matman in reply to energy1

Think you’ll see question was for Graham, who’s name appears in it (at the top).

Graham07allen profile image
Graham07allen in reply to Matman

Hi Matt, I had the clearing my throat problem for about 4 months before I went for a ent, it just felt like there was something in my throat and I couldn't clear it. My voice as well would go in and out, it may of sounded normal to others but I could notice it, that I had symptoms of for about 6 months. I remember seeing the nurse about 3 months ago and I was trying to tell her all she did was put me on a course of steroids, I said they won't work because I feel the problems in my throat. The shortness of breath has only been a symptom for about 10 weeks, it's OK at night and when I wake. I don't eat 4 hours before bed and iv followed all the other stuff the ent doctor said. Are you going through it as well. Thanks

Matman profile image
Matman in reply to Graham07allen

Thanks.

I’ve been on Fostair 200/6 for a couple of years. I get the ‘strained voice’ thing, which I find very embarrassing at times.

I frequently need to clear my throat (due, it seems, to mucus / post nasal drip) so have always assumed that the mucus I’m trying to dislodge at the top of my airways, is the cause of the voice thing. (Think I’ll need to increase throat-rinse efficiency after Fostair, as Inhalers are often said to be ‘suspect’ for the stained voice thing).

Since early this year my breathing has been very much better, which I attribute to life-style changes (very healthy diet, 16/8 Fasting five days a week, plus walking five miles practically every day - at pace - carrying a rucksack weighted with 12% of my body weight).

Main issues for me is now (coloured) daily chest sputum (low volume) plus lots of nasal mucus, but weirdly, little breathing difficulty. Only used my Ventolin about 6 Times this year (though, of course, Fostair includes a beta-agonist).

Some Med Professionals are now preferring the term United Airways Disease to Asthma. This points to the nasal microbiome as a major player / culprit, and ties in with a huge number of Asthma Attacks being triggered by one or other of the numerous rhino viruses (suggested as being responsible for up to 80% of Asthma Incidents by some Professionals).

Your Comment about LPR relates to an aspect I’ve never really looked into, because I’m not ‘conscious’ of any Acid Reflux. But when you said ‘silent’, it got me thinking about whether I too could have ‘acid reflux’ (but without realising it) hence my question.

I don’t tend to get nocturnal issues, but your point about not eating for 4 Hours before sleep, is really important (even if only a couple of times a week) for nocturnal Autophagy, and other positive factors.

Graham07allen profile image
Graham07allen in reply to Matman

Hi Matt, thanks for your reply. I think looking back iv had this silent reflux for longer then I thought. I god diagnosed with gerd about 8 years ago but didn't do much about it. About 3 months ago I started the keto diet and I think that made my ssymptoms worse. When the ENT specialist said he could of diagnosed me over the phone with the LPR symptoms that I have I started researching it and one person kept coming up Dr jamie koufman, she has spent the last 30 odd years studying it and I was surprised at how many people have it but yet not many doctors know about it. Do you have shortness of breath all the time or just at some parts of the day. Thanks

Matman profile image
Matman in reply to Graham07allen

Hardly any shortness of breath for last 6 months, thanks to Fostair plus (I like to believe) the fitness regime I described.

I’m not yet quite confident enough to start reducing the Fostair, though maybe I’ll make a move on that later this year if things stay the same.

Will look into the silent reflux thing a bit more, then decide if there’s somewhere to go on that.

Thanks for the info.

Graham07allen profile image
Graham07allen in reply to Matman

I'm the same. I think the fostair is really helping but I think the life style changes are helping just as much. Reading up on silent reflux and talking to all the other people going through it, I wished I payed attention sooner, but I keep telling myself if I didn't know then I didn't know. Please stay in touch if you have any updates or you find more information on things. Many thanks

Griffon profile image
Griffon

I'm sure you already know that antibiotics do not work for viral infections , don't you ?

energy1 profile image
energy1 in reply to Griffon

Yes I do, but with me it starts with viral infection then it actually turns in bacterial infection so end up having infection . My drs don’t just give antibiotics they do try the natural route first drinking plenty water, honey and lemon . I do believe in this way 😊

Matman profile image
Matman

Hi energy1

I’m considering a further CT (had one a couple of years back) to check - again - for bronchiectasis.

If you go down that route, you might want to ask whether you are being offered a High Density CT Scan or some other CT. Not entirely sure, but something I read a while back seemed to imply that a High Density CT was the kind of CT that could reveal it.

Recently asked my GP about this, and he’s written to my Consultant as he (my GP) was unable to tell me if the type of CT I ended up having earlier was the appropriate one.

Ideally you don’t want to end up having two CTs because the first one is (maybe) insufficient to clearly establish where you stand (Radiation Dose etc)

You may also like...

Respiratory Consultant wants me to come off asthma meds!

asthma for the last 7 years and had asthma since I was a child. The CT scan 7 years ago showed...

chronic infections and trying to be a primary school teacher

over 15 years now. I am sure that it has contributed to me getting more chest infections. Last year...

Asthma uncontrolled post covid

into asthma exacerbation and chest infections. Each time I’ve been given antibiotics and steroids...

Is there a life with severe asthma?

required. My fourth bad chest this year took me to A&E where I expected to be given some meds and...

peak flow best of 3 today ws 400

work for 3 weeks took viral infection which I think ended up as flu and went deep into my chest...