Bronchiectasis and covid-19

[Frnikula]

Hi,

is maybe someone here with bronchiectasis and was infected with covid-19? If yes, how severe was infection?

I have mild bronchiectasis and interested to hear your experience.

Thanks in advance for answers!

[gardeninglady]

Hi frnikula, I have not had covid as I am 68 and also have mild bronchiectasis. I was shielding and more or less still am as I am afraid that if I were to catch Covid the least it would do is damage my lungs even more and I would be left with a much worse quality of life. In the meantime living alone like this is very isolating. Do u have similar concerns?

[Frnikula in reply to gardeninglady]

Hi gardeninglady,

yes, i am 40y old in very good physical condition but still concerned of severe infection because of bronchiectasis and it would be great to hear experience from others, specially if infection symptoms were mild :).

[Cade1]

Hi

I don’t think it matters if you have mild bronchiectasis or not - each person’s response will be different, but here’s mine.

I have mild bronchiectasis & in April came down with Covid symptoms- was never tested. I had a high temperature for 3-4 days (around 38.5C) & then had dreadful breathlessness for about 2 weeks. GP thought I may have had a secondary chest infection so took antibiotics. I seem to have recovered from that end of May.

As I say everyone’s experience will be different as it will depend on how much of a viral load you get.

[Frnikula in reply to Cade1]

Thanks for your feedback Cade1!

[gardeninglady in reply to Cade1]

So that is interesting Cade 1. May I ask what age you are please? It is interesting and encouraging that someone with mild bronchiectasis did not suffer long term lung damage from covid 19.

[Cade1 in reply to gardeninglady]

I don’t know if I have any long term lung damage, although I have just had a CT scan for something else & will be discussing that with the consultant on Thursday.

I do exercise a lot at the gym which helps.

But I am 62 - so not old, but not a spring chicken either😀

[Tetrazzini]

Sadly, most potential replies will not be posted for technical reasons.

[Izb1]

As we are all so different, nobody can say how our bodies will react to covid, whether your bronchiectasis is mild or severe. I am 68 with bronch and other health problems, I dont think I would fare well if i got this but who knows how your body would react. I am just making sure that I wear a mask, stay away from people as much as possible and wash my hands and everything that comes into the house x

[wheezyof]

We have some things in common, gardening and bronchiectasis.

However, as others have said, we are all different.

I also have bronchiolitis obliterans.

I have not had covid but was in hospital late August and Early September with an infective flare up.

Before then my stats were FEV1 30% resting oxygen 95%.

My resting oxygen is now anything from 88% to 92%.

Of course I can't say what my FEV1 is now.

My lungs are to paraphrase the intensive care doctor : too damaged and delicate for intubation. On the ward I was told my lungs were bad enough that I would not survive covid.

I'm 68. Apart from my lungs my only other health problems are side effects from when I was prescribed steroids.

Before I developed the bronchiolitis obliterans, so only had bronchiectasis my FEV1 was 56%.

As for how covid would affect us lung buddies, I don't think any two of us would react in the same way. Look at all the media, people with long covid, people dying, people only ill for a few days, people with no symptoms going about normally, some with a rash, some with affected blood vessels.

I just stay away from people, keep my hands washed and get on with life.

Stay safe xxx