I was diagnosed with bilateral bronchiectasis this summer. I had a bad car accident 4 yrs ago, until then I had asthma that was under control and was quite fit, I went gym regularly and boxed. I had mainly chest injuries including fractured ribs. Afterwards (until I was diagnosed) had a severe cough and would cough till I heaved. For almost 4 years my GP blamed asthma etc despite my contrast visits and begging. I would have at least 6 chest infections a year, I had to fight for tests. A week before my diagnosis I was admitted to hospital with pleurisy. Since the. I have been put on fostair, montelukast and mucodyne I have felt so much better!!
Has anyone else been told how or why they have this condition?
I have never had pnemonia etc
Hi Lealee,
From what I understand a lot is still unknown about how you get this. In my case I think it's something that runs in the family as my mother and grandfather were always coughing. It seems that the ability (or having difficulty with) bringing up mucuous and having think mucus can be hereditary. I also have the sneaky suspicion that my coughing and increased mucuous production gets triggered by house dust.
I was put on asthma medication (including fostair, which gave me the shakes) for 2 years before I insisted on getting allergy tested and seeing a chest consultant who diagnosed me and I immediately ditched the asthma meds. Seeing a chest physio has really helped me and I now am "in control" of the coughing - can highly recommend it if you've not seen one yet. Before seeing the chest physio I could hardly hold a conversation without a coughing fit.
I'm also taking max dose of carbosisteine which really helps me get the mucuous out.
Interested to hear what others have heard about causes.
Thanks loriLKl, the consultant tested for sickle cell and allergy’s and they were negative so apparently it’s idiopathic. I didn’t have the cough till the accident. I’ve just started physio and Mycodyne. My GP spent years giving me different drugs (which cost a fortune) one gave me severe night terrors which I can laugh at now but at the time it was awful.
How do you explain to people what bronchiectasis is?
I’ve told my family but don’t feel they realise how this effects me.
As I understand it Bronchiectasis is the scarring, stiffening and dilation of the bronchial tubes. Each infection worsens the damage which becomes permanent. So, in the end, it is the Bronchiectasis that gets us. But prevention of the infections and clearing the mucus which helps breed the infections goes a long way to preventing the Bronchiectasis from getting worse.