New member

[Sandy-]

Hi

I'm new here and would just like to introduce myself, although I joined a few months ago. I enjoy reading the posts and replies and feel they answer a lot of my questions. I have asthma and bronchiectasis with hiatus hernia causing reflux.

Like a lot of people with chronic lung conditions I feel we haven't been supported too well and have to take control of our illness. This is why this website is so helpful, and it's great to hear the banter too.

Best wishes to everyone.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hello Sandy and welcome to the forum. Love Bernadette 😳 xxx

[Sandy- in reply to Damon1864]

Thank you Bernadette xxx

[Hidden]

Welcome Sandy ...here for the banter are we lol xxx

[Sandy-]

Thank you Angiecbr xxx

[Hidden in reply to Sandy-]

Sandy call me Angie please using words like banter are you Scottish at all xx

[Sandy- in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Angie. No but from the North of England, think of clogs and shawls 😉

[Hidden in reply to Sandy-]

Holland lol xxx

[mrsmummy]

Hello Sandy- and a warm welcome to the BLF community.

[Sandy-]

Thank you mrsmummy 😊

[Dawnsunny]

Hi Sandy, I have asthma, Bronchiectasis hiatus hernia and reflux, so the same as you .

My Bronch is only mild at the mo, so scared as to how it may progress.

How is yours?

I've found this group invaluable x

[Sandy- in reply to Dawnsunny]

Hi Dawn, I see we both have the same conditions, mine possibly from birth being born at home - a footling and being put in an oxygen tent. I then had whooping cough at 6 months old and was a sickly child with ear and throat infections, perennial rhinitis and always clearing my throat.

I was diagnosed with asthma after two bouts of pneumonia and pleurisy about 16 years ago, then bronchiectasis 10 years ago. I keep active and walk a lot, Two 5 mile walks this week. Clear my lungs in the morning and for a shorter period in the evening, but don't let it stop my activities. I'm 65 years old and retired three years ago. Staying positive, healthy lifestyle and importantly clearing the lungs has kept me well. I'm sure you will be the same.

Good to hear from you. x

[Amanda3011]

Hi Sandy and welcome , I have just recently joined too and have learnt a lot from this website and everyone is so friendly xx😜

[Sandy- in reply to Amanda3011]

Thank you Amanda, it's lovely to get all this support. xx ☺️

[skischool]

hello Sandy,Welcome there are many on this site with bronchiectasis who are very learned on the subject and will be able to give you valuable knowledge and experience of your condition,i do Emphysema and hernia's(inguinal)soon to be vanished(the hernia that is) irreverent humour and general disrespect and mayhem.My cat Scruffy does nothing but then again what more would you want from a cat.........................best wishes skis and scruffy cat x

[Sandy- in reply to skischool]

Thank you skis (and scruffy the cat😺). Looking forward to irreverent humour etc, it's good to laugh! x

[skischool in reply to Sandy-]

i will do the humour and specialised knowledge the others will supply in abundance x skis and scruff

[Pam1952]

Hello Sandy, and welcome to the group. 😊😊😊

[Sandy-]

Hello Pam and thank you. X

[Maureenclayton]

Hello Sandy, I too have asthma bronchiectasis hiatus hernia, plus I also have arthritis, for which I have had two full knee replacements , one just this year, I think so far has been a success, at least the second one has been. I also have fibro which is so very painful I'm on morpheme with. I have been only several courses of antibiotics and steroids for my chest infection, in four months, for chest infections which will not go away I still have chest infection now and I'm on another course what the hospital have suggested. I am going for another C T scan tomorrow morning because my last X Ray showed something my specialist wants to follow up, hopefully it will be ok, I am taking two of my grand children away on Wednesday with my eldest daughter who has no children to Majorca and I'm so worried incase I don't feel better than I am now, the children are my eldest daughter sisters children whom she helps out a lot with. I feel my condition has become worse as the time is going by. I realise you are not happy also with the way things are going for you, I hope you have a good specialist and lots of support from friends and family, cos I think a lot of people where I come from have never even heard of bronchiectasis, myself being one till I was told I had it. We all need more support, and awareness of this disease. Maybe then we might not feel so isolated. I wish you well Sandy. We need all the help and support from each other we can get. On this forum there are lots of people who are more than willing to help you. Good luck, and best wishes. Maureen x

[Sandy-]

Hello Maureen

Thank you so much, you seem to have more than your fair share of problems yourself with arthritis and fibromyalgia on top of the bronchiectasis. I take antibiotics normally three times a year for infections, but don't take steroids as I believe they are more helpful for COPD than bronchiectasis. My Respiratory Specialist doesn't have a special interest in bronchiectasis, but he has told me that on no account must I increase my dose of Symbicort for the same reason. I see him once a year.

It is an invisible disease and we can look well in ourselves which may confuse people. I'm lucky to be active and have had a 5 mile walk today with a friend. Yes I can clearly see that people on the forum are very supportive which is a great help.

How lovely that you are going to Majorca with your daughter and two grandchildren. Hopefully you will be well, and have a lovely holiday. I always take an emergency supply of antibiotics in case and make sure I have health insurance.

Best wishes and enjoy your holiday. Sandy x

[Maureenclayton in reply to Sandy-]

As your probably aware Sandy I'm not sure how to use this forum but I hope I'm getting through to people ok, you said about Majorca with my family, I'll be very honest with you I was very frightened for a number of days when I arrived I was poorly and I could hardly breath unless I was on my nebuliser, my daughter at one point thought of sending me home to meet my other daughter at the other end, but I stuck it out and was still taking my antibiotics, by the sixth day I finished them and the weight started to life and by the last few days I felt a lot better and wished I could have stayed a little longer to actually enjoy it. My grand daughters I made sure where not aware how poorly I actually was, I would say I would just prefer to sit by the pool and read while they went snorkling in the sea and things like that, on a night there was a lot of entertainment on for them which again my daughter took them to and they all would come in the bedrooms at about 11.30. I went twice to the beach which wasn't far, going was fine but getting back was terrible, and that was when I was feeling a bit better. I also went on one boat trip on the second of last day, my daughter wanted me to feel like I'd done something so I didn't miss out and I am really pleased I did that, it was a glass bottom boat so you could see the fish, it was lovely, the fact was with also having fibro I hardly date mention that I was in pain, cos I didn't want to be a pain lol if you know what I mean . The girls said it was the best holiday they had ever had in there life, to me that says it all. I've saved up for all my seven grand children a holiday wether it's abroad or not since they were babies, four of them have had there holidays now, although two of the boys my sons children don't see us as much as the others cos they live further away so I knew they wouldn't come with me so I just gave the money to the parents for them to take the boys instead and they wanted to go to lego land for a week last year , which they had a great time. So next Easter myself and my daughter are taking two more boys, Joshua he is 12 he's our youngest daughters boy, and Joseph he's our second eldest daughters son,!the girls brother. They are really hard work together, both very competitive and argue sometimes, oh we are really looking forward to that holiday (not) next Easter. Then after that the youngest boy is 4 and we will possibly wait till the following year to take him. Maybe we might take him on a short break for two or three days till then, we were taking him all over all the time and now he's gone and had to start school it's just not fare. Lol. Anyway I do hope you and all your family are keeping well. Sending my love Maureen. Xx

[Sandy- in reply to Maureenclayton]

Good to hear that you enjoyed your holiday with family Maureen although you struggled with your chest infection. How lovely to hear that the girls appreciated it so much. I'm sure you'll have a lovely holiday at Easter with your daughter and the boys, my two grandsons also argue as did my sons. Sibling rivalry! I just love being with them of course. I'm so pleased you improved and enjoyed the glass bottomed boat. Building memories with grandchildren is lovely and you have more to look forward to.

Take care.

Love Sandy.

[Hacienda]

Hi Sandy, Welcome to the Forum....Carolina xxx

[Sandy-]

Thank you Carolina xxx