I've been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis for a few years now, coughing constantly with lots of mucus each day.
In February I slipped on ice and fractured my wrist: it was a nasty break and needed surgery to insert plate, pins and screws. However while in hospital, and for the next 4 months my daily symptoms just suddenly vanished and have no idea why. So was wondering if there is such a thing as temporary remission for this condition. Friends and family have been commenting as I always seemed to cough more particularly when eating, laughing or talking on the phone and now I dont!
However, just recently have started to cough again, but only slightly, nothing like before and have been going over what could have caused this welcome change. While awaiting surgery it was cancelled three times so was practically fasting for 4 days, the temp was constant at about 23 degrees ( which I hated) and nose and lips were dried up with face like a tomato, because new hospital with windows unable to be opened. Inclined bed position the whole time too.
Therefore, it's been going through my mind, could this improvement been due to the long fast, the temperature of the room, the angled bed, all of them, or none of them. Aware there is no cure, only manageable but if what I've experienced could be due to any of the above I'll definitely replicate it at home as the difference is amazing and feel the healthiest I've been for years, and just keep hoping it continues. Had this ever happened to anyone else?
Hello Titian8. Bronchiectasis is a funny thing. The exacerbations come and go. It can be better in the summer or warmer climates but not always. The mystery is that you seemed to have an almost permanent productive exacerbation which cleared up totally in hospital for no apparant reason. Did you have any antibiotic treatment for your wrist whilst you were in hospital? This is the only thing that I can think may have cleared up the bugs in your chest. Maybe check up on that and if so, it may be that if your cough and sputum starts coming back, which is the usual cycle with bronch, that may be the antibiotic for your doc to give you. Do you have a bronchiectasis specialist? We all need one as bronch is so particular. NOT a general respiratory specialist because they usually know very little about bronch and GPs know even less. Look for for a bronch specialist in your area. They are usually at large teaching hospitals. Take the name to your GP and insist on a referral. Don’t take no for an answer.
If you start to cough when talking or eating when not in an exacerbation bad enough to require an antibiotic it is a sign that you have not cleared the secretions from your lungs. I know it is tedious and boring but it is what stops the bugs having a party and keeps us well. It also makes life more comfortable.
It’s great that you have been feeling so well. I hope that you find the key to keeping it that way.
Thanks for your reply Littlepom, much appreciated.
I didn't have any antibiotics while in hospital, only painkillers (I'm one of those people who question the need for everything). In fact haven't taken any antibiotics before or since my accident so it does also remain a mystery to me.
Was your bronch diagnosed by ct scan and bronch specialist? It may be that you don’t have bronch but as hypercat suggested, react to something which produces mucus and the absence of this in the hospital stopped the production.
Yes I have a bronch specialist and was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, followed by respiratory physio after a ct scan.
Thanks for this info littlepom... I have been struggling with GPs and 2 respiratory medicine consultants now for 8 years, but to no avail. I was initially diagnosed as having COPD but my spirometry was normal (at the time of diagnosis and again about 3 months ago).. I hope you don't mind my copying over an extract from your earlier msg, so that everybody can see it, as I believe this to be true, having been messed around for 8 years!
"We all need one as bronch is so particular. NOT a general respiratory specialist because they usually know very little about bronch and GPs know even less."
Thanks ever so much.....Margueritex
Just another little thought. During surgery they can give a high dose antibiotic injection to protect against infection. You probably wouldn’t have been told about this.
That's very interesting, and something I was unaware of, and you are correct because if they did inject an antibiotic during surgery it was unknown to me.
I'll make further enquiries to see if that was the case. Many thanks for this fresh idea, one that wouldn't have occurred to me.
Just a thought. Do let us know if you get to the bottom of it