Hi I'm new 🙂

[Yvonne-S]

I'm 36 years old, married & mum of 2. I've just been diagnosed with bronchiectasis after a year of constant chest pain(like pleurisy) swollen lymph nodes in my neck, sinus infections & my asthma getting worse after being well controlled all my life. I got ref to a respiratory specialist who done some test & found this. My specialist was like you'll be fine but what I've read about it is quite scary. I'm only at the beginning of my journey, & although I'm feeling & being very positive, I'm also very scared!

[Lealee]

Hi Yvonne. I’ve just turned 36 and have been diagnosed after 4 yrs of trying to tell my dr that my constant cough (so hard I would get dizzy spells) glue like phlegm, breathlessness and constant chest infections had nothing to do with my asthma.

I was diagnosed in the summer and straight away my inhalers were changed, new meds, rescue pack and lung physio. My peak flow has went from 350 to 490 and touch wood my last infection was in March and I usually have at least 6 yearly.

I feel the best I have in years, still not great but working at it.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m scared sometimes. The thought of how I may be in the future scares the crap out of me but we can’t change it. All we can do is learn to live with it and adapt. On the plus side knowing what the diagnosis is is the first step to dealing with it. Also I ran up stairs for the first time in years and didn’t cough till I got dizzy, bit breathless but I felt like Rocky 😂

[loriLKI]

Hi Yvonne,

IM a mum of 2, and was diagnosed this spring. I immediately ditched all my inhalers (which i had been taking for 3 years after being diagnosed with asthma) . The physio taught me the breathing techniques and I went from not being able to hold a conversation because of coughing to only coughing when I’m doing my breathing exercises! Absolutely amazing. I did not believe the physio when she told me during my first session with her that I could be in control of my coughing. Of course occasionally I have increased coughing especially when I’m run down. but with lots of sleep, vitamins, exercise and eating healthy I’m able to stay on top. I also take carboceistine every day to keep the phlegm fluid. Although the 10 min breathing exercises on each side each day is VERY boring, it’s so worth it! Am now increasing my running mileage again to see if in future I can train for a marathon again.

I was scared at first, but now that I feel I can control this, I am not anymore.

Good luck!