Bronchiectasis and low immunity

[Treed12]

I feel like I've had a light bulb moment receiving my immunity blood test results today. I have low level of IgM and low levels of antibodies for haemophilus and pneumococcus. Having a quick Google it seems to make sense that I have developed bronchiectasis. My consultant has requested I get vaccinated for haemophilus and prevanar. Are low immunity levels something that is common place with this type of lung condition? Does anyone else have a similar situation? Thanks!

[2greys]

I believe that all of us that have a chronic lung disease have compromised immune systems, which is why having a healthy diet is so important to us and why we are so prone to getting infections.

[Hidden]

Hi Treed. Low immunity can be one of the issues which lead to the repeated infections that result in the lung damage which is bronchiectasis. I have the opposite problem. My immune system has been going like a train all of my life, looking for the bugs trying to take over my lungs. This has given me problems associated to that. We can't win.

[jackdup in reply to Hidden]

If you don’t mind me asking what types of problems do you experience with your over active immune system?

[Hidden in reply to jackdup]

Well, it’s a variety of symptoms which have crept up on me and given me various degrees of discomfort during my life. Only my chest original, very knowledgable consultant ever acknowledged it until recently because people are understandably more fixated on a suppression of the immune system leading to infections.

I have had almost constant soreness in my mouth which moves about, a battle to keep weight on because my body is burning up energy all of the time and over the last few years, hair loss along the front of my hair. The dermatologist immediately identified this as a type of alopecia caused by the immune system attacking the body. Eventually, when I saw a mouth specialist she also said that my problems were a condition caused by the immune system

You can see how these symptoms can be confused with other things , and as doctors can only offer topical help they are not interested.

I just have to live with it.

[Hidden]

I am immunpsuppressed due to treatment for RD, Vasculutis and Sjogren's Syndrome. But I believe I have Bronchiectasis because I had Pneumonia as a child The Pneumonia was caused by my having measles aged 5. I was very ill and the doctor was called out. I can't remember his visit as I was completely out of it.

[Bella395]

Treed12 - I don't know whether immune deficiency is common in bronchiectasis but my OH has it secondary to asthma/bronchiectasis - it was diagnosed as panhypogammaglobulinaemia. His could be due to long term steroid use. He had a number of vaccinations as challenges to ascertain the status of his immune system. He responded to two out of three. He didn't mount much of a response to the pneumococcus but the immunologist said that sometimes even healthy people don't respond to it.

We were told that there is treatment for it but it is not without risk as it is a blood product. Not sure if I have this right but I seem to remember that it involves three weekly IV infusions. These can be administered at the hospital although some people do it themselves at home.

In the long term you need to manage this by reducing infection risk - it isn't easy unfortunately. To avoid hospital acquired infections it might be helpful to receive treatment at home if at all possible.

[teenieleek]

I didn’t know there was a haemophilus vaccination. I often get that infection but vaccination has never been mentioned. I’m going to ask. Why aren’t we told about such things I wonder?

[Kristicats]

I was told that I had similar low levels as you at the same time my bronchiectasis was diagnosed.🤔

I had to have all my childhood vaccines Re done plus meningitis , pneumonia etc as well as the two you had.