CT Scan

[gingermusic]

I have suffered from COPD/Emphysema for some 28 years now but been suffering from phlegm and cough for the past 9 months which nothing will stop or clear up. The doctor now thinks it may be bronchochitesis (Spelling probably incorrect) so going for a CT scan on 10th Jan. Does this sound plausible to others that after all these years I may now have developed something else? Thanks Ruth

[Katinka46]

There are many here with bronchiectasis and they are very well informed. I think it can happen as the result of almost any lung disease and can also be idiopathic. All the bestKate

[2greys]

Bronchiectasis More Common in COPD Patients with Emphysema, Study Reports.

The prevalence of bronchiectasis is higher among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with predominant emphysema than those without emphysema, according to researchers.

bronchiectasisnewstoday.com...

[jmsutt73 in reply to 2greys]

2Greys, Thank you for sharing the link. The article was very informative. All best wishes for good healthy in the coming year...Jan

[Hidden]

Hi gingermusic. Yes it does. Only the scan will show if bronchiectasis has developed. Don’t worry if it has. There are quite a few of us on here who have been managing this condition all of our lives. Once diagnosed you should be on the way to feeling better through proper treatment. If you do have bronch make sure that you get yourself a bronchiectasis specialist, not just a general respiratory consultant who can diagnose it but unfortunately most of them ( and nearly all GPs) have very little training in its management although they don’t like to admit it. Lots of help on here when you need it.

[gingermusic]

Thank you so much for your replies that has been most re-assuring Happy New Year to you all.

[Ticks in reply to gingermusic]

Hi GingerMusic, I have to say that you really inspire me with your positive attitude. I was wondering what stage of COPD or emphysema you were at when you were diagnosed? And did you stop smoking then or had you already stopped or stop later? I’m 39, been diagnosed with mild emphysema. Struggling to come to terms with it all so your advice and experience is valued... thanks, Ticks xx

[gingermusic in reply to Ticks]

I was 40 when first diagnosed working full time and smoking very much enjoying life and obviously very mild emphysema.. By the time I was around 46 I was put onto oxygen 16 hours a day. Then I lost my husband and I later found a new partner who is my absolute rock. His first words on knowing my history was I had to stop smoking and he watched me like a hawk till I kicked the habit but sad to say I left it far to long as things started to slowly get worse so that now I need the oxygen 24/7. Thank god for my partner as he willingly does everything I can no longer do. Had I given up smoking when first diagnosed the whole thing may have been a lot slower in attacking me. Now I have also just found I also have Bronchiectasis as well so now have to see a consultant for that. However I remain upbeat I plan to see 70 next year and at present am about to plan a holiday abroad for the summer, so life is not over by any means.

[Hacienda in reply to gingermusic]

You are an Inspiration Hun, Sound Like me pre Diagnosis. Ignored it all Having too much of a Good life to worry, Then "Wham Bam Thank you Ma'm" So now we are here, we make the Most of our Situation, I am on 16 hours 02. and Planning to go see my family & New Great Granddaughter in Spain, hopefully for April, So much to Prepare though, Oxygen, Insurance, Right Flight, I know with Determination I'll get There. Enjoy your Holiday my Love. Love n Hugs to you Strong Lady, Enjoy Every Dam day. XXXX

[gingermusic in reply to Hacienda]

Enjoy your visit to Spain and make sure you get the oxygen sorted both for your flight and for where you are staying.

[Hacienda in reply to gingermusic]

Hi Hun, Found your reply to me. I have this Morning Contacted Dept of Health asking about Oxygen in Spain, He gave me the web page address, to be Honest, I have found it very Complicated, whether in Spanish or English doesn't bother me. have you had to Go this way for your Oxygen in another Country ? Love n Hugs xxxxx

[gingermusic in reply to Hacienda]

Hardest part I find is having to fax all the information to where ever they ask you to, they normally want the full address of where your staying arrival and departure dates also a copy of your EICC and a copy of your passport. Then you sit and have to assume all is ok as you never get a reply back. Then I have found that in Europe although it is free against the EICC card which is great the duration of the oxygen is insufficient to allow me to go out on s ay a day trip or for over 4 hours of an evening so therefore I am not able to get what I want from a holiday. It is all so frustrating but best of luck.

[Hacienda in reply to gingermusic]

Thank You Hun, I will see what happens as I am under the Spanish Health care,( I have a Spanish Pension|) and for many Years paid into their Social Health Care system. I may have to go a Different route with family there helping. I'll let you Know. xxxx

[Ticks in reply to gingermusic]

Thank you for sharing... And I know support makes the world of difference, and we are both fortunate to have loving partners. xx

[jmsutt73]

Almost 75 years ago, I had whooping cough & double pneumonia, and the effects of that illness just showed up two years ago in the form of "a perfect storm," when my vitamin-d level became (unknown to me) depleted. It has ntaken almost two years to get the diagnosis...Bronchiecstasis. It still amazes me that an illness that I had as an eight month old could show finally all its ugly lasting results Three-quarters of a century later. Best Wishes, Jan

[gingermusic in reply to jmsutt73]

I was wondering whether this stems from me having bronchitis most winters as a child and a bad case of croup as a baby.

[Boudica1 in reply to gingermusic]

Measles and TB can also be responsible as well. I had both as a young child after which I had trouble running and keeping up with the others. My COPD showed up via x-ray 3 years ago then earlier this year had a HRCT scan and was finally found to have Emphasima, bronchiectasis and a bit of fibrosis chucked in for good measure.

[jmsutt73 in reply to Boudica1]

Boudicca...That is so interesting! Mine, along with a very small spot, and some collapsed alveoli at base of both lungs also showed up on a HRCT.. My initial symptom was oxygen sat dropping when I walked. It took 1.5 years to get diagnosed. Latest tests early November were good. No progression, enlargement of spot or amount of collapsed alveoli. My focus now is keeping this old body in as good shape for as long as I can...All good wishes for improved health. Jan

[Hacienda in reply to gingermusic]

I thought The same, Pneumonia at 4 years old ? often wonder. xxx

[Corin1950 in reply to jmsutt73]

Found your post interesting because I've often wondered if my husband's emphysema was partly caused or exacerbated by his illness as a baby. He was in hospital for 3 months with pneumonia. There must be some research done on this subject.

Corin

[jmsutt73]

Prior to my health downturn and then my recent diagnosis, I had never known of a whooping cough epidemic occurring here. At an alumni luncheon a couple of weeks ago, I learned that four of the eight of us present indeed had had whooping cough during the 1943-44 epidemic. The most shared result was not being able to run as far or fast as other children when growing up. Jan

[Ergendl in reply to jmsutt73]

Interesting, Jan.

[Rosepetal60 in reply to jmsutt73]

This is so interesting and informative as I had my Whooping cough when I was approx 2/3 years old in the early fifties. It could have been avoided as there was a vaccination available, but there was also a scare going on to avoid having it, so I did not get the vaccination . My elder sister got the first one and was ok. I on the other hand, already a sickly child got the full force of it. And my mother also got it following me having it. Until the day she died, she blamed me for giving it to her. And so a lifetime of coughs for me nearly every winter. Last year being the worst ever coughing time since the whooping cough. I'm going for CT scan this week, hence me researching posts on this.

[jmsutt73 in reply to Rosepetal60]

My pulmonologist traces the bronchiecstasis that I have to a case of whooping cough accompanied by double pneumonia when I was eight months old. I find it interesting that an illness that occurred so long ago can come back to haunt a person more than seven decades later. Coincidence or something other, there does seem to be more than just a couple of us on the forum who had this illness as an infant.

[jmsutt73]

Hi Gingermusic, I am newly diagnosed, and so am in the learning phase. What I have learned is that excess mucous is a characteristic of Bronchiecstasis. Also, from what is written here, if one is easily expelling mucous, that is a good thing. When it remains in the lungs, there is more opportunity for bacteria to attach itself to the mucous and cause chest congestion and infection. Daily expellation is desired. I have very mild, so am not experiencing a lot of mucous as yet. I take a mega-dose of vitamin D3 daily, and I have read that elderberry syrup has a prophylactic component to prevention of respiratory illness, influenza. So have recently added that to my daily routine. Heather, my darling daughter and I were humorously referred to as the family "bag ladies." We were familiar with all shops in the southeastern U.S.. She is no longer with us, so with her went the entertainment aspect of shopping. Some supplements are pricey, so I transferred the shopping budget to keeping myself as healthy as possible. Hope this helps. jan

[gingermusic in reply to jmsutt73]

Thank you that is indeed helpful

[SparkySW123]

Hi Jan, interesting that you take elderberry syrup and Vit D3. Both of these were strongly recommended by a friend who also happens to be a an experienced health practitioner. I have COPD/emphysema and brittle/allergic asthma. Lovely concoction! Am still on steroids and antibiotics having not been well just before Christmas. A friend of mine has had bronchiectasis since birth - doesn't know any different. She is convinced I have the same but I've been told it's not easy to diagnose. Ages ago one doctor did hint that I may have it. Littlepom says above that it needs a specialist to diagnose it, not a respiratory consultant. Is there a specific test they can do to see whether you have bronchiectasis? Go well. Christina

[jmsutt73 in reply to SparkySW123]

Hi Sparky, I had 2 ct-scans. The first was ordered by my primary care physician, and all that it showed was the minor amount of volume loss at base of both lungs (collapsed alveoli/fibrosis). This was not thought to be enough nor the lone cause of low oxygen saturation on walking, so I was referred to pulmonologist, who ordered pft, echo-cardiogram, and another ct-scan. This 2nd ct-scan showed a tiny spot at the bottom of my upper right lobe....not large enough to be relative to low oxygen sat, but has to be monitored. My pulmonologist then ordered a high-resolution ct-scan that showed the Bronchiecstasis. He called it mild, and said that he, another pulmonologist currently in his practice, and another, a most highly regarded, but now retired, pulmo, who they called in to consult, all agree that it stems from the whooping cough and double pneumonia that I had at 8 months old, and that the volume loss/collapsed alveoli is a result of the Bronchiecstasis. The Bronchiecstasis, though mild, he said has been lying in there waiting for the "perfect storm" and gravity of age. And, of course, the lowered immunity caused by a Vitamin D depletion. So, in my case and I believe in others', it takes an HRCT to make the diagnosis. It took a little more than 1.5. years to get it diagnosed. Since the HRCT, and after another ct-scan 8 months later, there has been no progression in the spot or the volume loss/alveoli. Best wishes for a healthy 2019...Jan

[SparkySW123 in reply to jmsutt73]

Hi Jan. Thanks for your reply. What strikes me about your explanation is the extent to which the medics have gone to get to the bottom of your health issue. As you are in the States, can I assume you have to pay for your treatment or does insurance cover it? Very different here in UK, of course. I would not be alive if it weren't for the NHS but I still feel the UK is not up to scratch when it comes to lung conditions etc. It does its best and at least I get my oxygen supplied free of charge, unlike Canada and the States. So much depends on the consultant you get here and his/her knowledge. What does HRCT stand for? There is another website called COPD recommended by a private consultant I paid to see a few years ago but this website doesn't seem to discuss issues like this in depth. Keep in touch and I pray that the bronchiectasis stays as 'quiet' as possible. Warmest wishes for the New Year. Christina

[jmsutt73 in reply to SparkySW123]

The Pulmonologists group that I am with is the group that cared for my daughter for over 20 years. The doctor who came into my case as a consultant provided excellent care for her for over 20 years. So there was a prior relationship. They were aware of our lose, and when I showed up as a patient so soon after her passing, I believe they were stunned and were/are determined to get the most accurate diagnosis and treatment. I have very good insurance, a Medicare advantage plan. An HRCT is a High-Resolution C T Scan. Hope this helps.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to jmsutt73]

I'm sorry for the loss of your daughter 💐

[jmsutt73 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you...She was a joy. We had a wonderful life together. Jan

[SparkySW123 in reply to jmsutt73]

Thanks for your reply, Jan. It seems you are in good hands, almost providential, as a result of your sad loss. A very happy and healthy 2019 to you and everyone on this site. Let's hope we all experience many 'feel good' factors!. Christina

[jmsutt73 in reply to SparkySW123]

I don't know how this You Tube thing works; if the same Vlogs are available across the ocean. I watch a vlog put out by our Ms. Kentucky 2009, Mallory Ervin. Young and cute as can be, she and her husband have a darling 8 mos. old little boy. One of her latest Vlogs is about Vision boards, a bulletin board on which one hangs pictures of what they want in their lives in the coming year. Once attached to the board, the "Universe" takes over and brings whatever is in the picture to you. Mine is full of "good health and energy requests to come in 2019. Energy is what I miss most..I have always had a lot of energy and I still do have energy, but not as I once did. Never a sitter, I feel that I do too much sitting now. Of course, I'm only 😊75. Jan

[Whitechinchilla]

I hope you find the answer.

I had 4 bouts of pneumonia as a child, including 2 of chicken pox pneumonia which was only picked up on an X-ray a year ago though it had been there all my life!!!

Do let us know when you get your results. Good wishes for a favourable outcome and wishing you a healthy New Year.

[gingermusic in reply to Whitechinchilla]

Thank you that is most kind and yes I will let you all know once I know more. Ruth