Active breathing and bronchiectasis

[Fionafish]

Hello all, saw another physio this morning who gave me a really good method to shift mucus from the two bottom lobes:

Lie on one side with head on pillow ensuring top arm, lying along body, and shoulders are relaxed (I put my underneath hand on the top ribs to ensure breathing correctly - shout if this is not explained well). Take three slow, deep breaths ensuring you are breathing from the bottom of your lungs. Relax for a short while and then do three more breaths, slow and steady getting air deep into your lungs, trying not to cough (swallow cough if possible). Then do one long huff. Repeat process for ten minutes.

Then do the same for ten minutes on the opposite side - the lung on the top is the one that clears each time.

This method has been the best so far for me so keep some tissues handy as bought up loads. The physio said that if I clear properly I should not be taking antibiotics at all. She is also writing to the consultant to suggest he gets me a salt nebuliser to dilute the mucus and make it easier to bring up. Going to see her again in four weeks to check on progress but feel that appointment was well worth the money.

Best wishes

[RoadRunner44]

I wish each physio took the time to explain things and give alternative suggestions just like yours did. You must be delighted with he or she's support. Thanks for sharing your new method of moving the mucus.

[Fionafish in reply to RoadRunner44]

You are very welcome - it makes you think that it would save money long term if everyone was given a one to one session with a respiratory physio fairly close to diagnosis. So glad I spent the money now but wish I had thought about it sooner!

[Ergendl in reply to Fionafish]

Definitely!

[Patsy164]

Thank you I will try it and see if it works for me as well. X

[Kpacific]

Thanks, Fionafish, for the update. Interesting, because for the last year, I’ve been doing my lung clearance on the floor on my left side. I found this position by accident, and it has really helped me in lung clearance. Now I know to roll to the right side and add the breathing. (I haven’t had an exacerbation in the past year. The prior year, I had four.)

Thanks again. Hope this technique does the trick for you.

[Fionafish in reply to Kpacific]

Thanks - hope it continues

[Lyd12]

Will try this, find the mucous clearing quite tiring, and sometimes wonder if I should do it more than once a day because find morning and evening am coughing more.

[Fionafish in reply to Lyd12]

It's tricky isn't it - I'm finding that the first side I do I cough and cough but then my lungs tend to settle down. Definitely coughing less though using this method, cross fingers.

[Kpacific in reply to Lyd12]

Since my bronch diagnosis, I’ve been told to clear twice a day. It is very time consuming, but now just part of our lives. 🙃

[Fionafish in reply to Kpacific]

Hi Kpacific, agree, do you use any particular method?

[Kpacific in reply to Fionafish]

I replied to you earlier. I have been lying on my left side and then huffing and coughing. It brought up far more mucus than doing it from the seated position. With your new advice I’m adding my right side to the mix. My problem is that I do puzzles whilst clearing my lungs. Sometimes I’m so involved in a crossword that I forget about my lungs!

[Fionafish in reply to Kpacific]

I do that too - crosswords or sudoku, which I am addicted to now. I often have to give up to focus on breathing but even then can wander off into dreamland. Hope all is well

[House1]

Thank you for explaining that I am going to do it today x

[Guitarmac]

I will try this This last year it is really giving me problems at night.I am 72 now still quite active in the daytime it's no problem but at night I just can't seem to clear it

[Fionafish in reply to Guitarmac]

Know the feeling - I read at night if I am kept awake otherwise I can feel disconsolate. Touch wood the method has been working so far.

[Izb1]

Thanks for this Fionafish, my respirstory nurse advised me pretty much the same, put my arm up in the shower, hand on wall and lean to one side, then breathe in slowly through your nose, getting to the bottom on the lungs and exhale slowly through the mouth, do this a couple of times then the other side. I find this works quite well as the heat from the shower somehow helps . I will try this in bed as well now you have explained this x

[Hidden]

That's all very well but with two types of arthritis and Osteoporosis, I can't get that position.

[Fionafish in reply to Hidden]

That's rough - poor you. The aerobika (recommended by the first physio) still hasn't arrived but once I have tried it will let you you know if it helps, take care.

[Guitarmac]

I have now tried this method for a few days now and it works very well I actually went through one night without coughing it was great to have a good nights sleep

[Fionafish in reply to Guitarmac]

So good to hear this