How to cope with a bronchiectasis flare up

Learning to recognise what symptoms are normal for you is a useful way to manage and monitor your health. Being able to spot a change in your lung health early means you can get treatment sooner to prevent a severe flare-up.

For some people, signs of a flare-up are a change in the colour of their sputum, an increase in the amount, or it becoming more sticky. For others, it can be feeling very tired, feeling feverish, a worsening cough or chest pain.

The signs to look out for are when, for more than 48 hours or two days, you:

*feel unwell

*cough up more sputum

*have a change in the colour of your sputum

*are more breathless

Agree a plan with your doctor about what to do. You may be given antibiotics to keep at home.

When you spot signs of a flare-up:

- clear your chest more often – at least twice daily

- take your regular medication as usual

- drink plenty of fluids

- collect a sputum sample and give it to you GP or hospital as soon as you can. If you can’t hand it in that day, store the sample in your fridge overnight

You may need to start your pack of antibiotics if you keep a pack at home. Get in touch with your GP or health care team for advice.

You can order or download our free bronchiectasis information from here: shop.blf.org.uk/collections...

[Lyd12]

Ihave bronchiectasis and have felt unwell for a week with irregular heartbeat. Today I coughed up some blood and perhaps more mucous than usual .I am undecided about starting my rescue pack of amoxycillin, mainly because I don't have a temperature. I am ok sitting doing nothing but exertion makes me exhausted. Should I start abs now or wait until I can submit a mucous sample tomorrow?