Anyone with Bronchiectasis who has had Covid 19? How great is the risk for people with mild Bronchiectasis?

[BelindaRuns]

Have you had or heard of anyone with Bronchiectasis who has had Covid-19? How did they get on? I’ve seen one European research study on Covid 19 that mentioned Bronchiectasis but it only had one Bronchiectasis patient - who recovered and was no information about whether that person had mild or severe Bronchiectasis. I am 45 and fit enough to run for 30 mins and have mild Bronchiectasis (diagnosed 4 years ago and managed through exercises and a rescue pack of antibiotics only when I have a chest infection. I’ve been discharged by my Lung consultant). I’d really like to know more about what the risk of Bronchiectasis making Covid-19 very severe and also of Covid-19 making Bronchiectasis more severe. At the moment we’re shielding as I’m being treated for cancer, but fortunately the worst of my treatment will be finished soon and we’ll need to decide about whether to let the kids go to school.

[Amkoffee]

I'm pretty sure that no one knows the answer to that because it such a new virus. Those that be don't even know how long the antibodies can protect a person once they get it.

[Hidden]

Hi, this is also something I'm trying to find an answer to. My company & the government have said that anyone with mild asthma can go back to work but I haven't seen any reference to bronchiectasis (of which I am also a mild sufferer of). I have read articles that say C-19 can cause damage to air sacs in the lungs (at the end of the bronchiole), so hopefully will not cause further damage to the actual bronchi. I hope the risks will be made clearer to us in time as it would be reassuring to know whether we fall in the moderate or high risk category.

[Glynshem]

Hi Belinda, that sounds very similar to me, I was diagnosed with it 10 years ago but I believe I only have it mildly compared to most, my doctors never seem sure if I'm honest. I've even had to remind them at times it's not asthma! I played rugby up until getting the symptoms and then it took almost 2 years to be diagnosed. I've never got back to that fitness level but can generally run for half an hour, albeit it relatively slowly!

I was shocked when I got the text about shielding as I'd been signed off from the hospital years ago! Since then I've had 2 conversations with my doctors, the first one said I needed to shield, the second one, more recently said I probably didn't need to shield but to remain careful! It's all really confusing because like you I cannot find anything relating to our condition in the government guidance. Technically I'm still on their shielded list but I think as the most recent advice from one of my gp's was that I do not need to shield I plan to head back to work in July. That said I wouldn't suggest that to anyone without speaking to their doctor, even then, as I found out the advice can be conflicting...... Sorry, this isnt really helpful at all is it. Good luck and only do what you feel comfortable with.

[BelindaRuns in reply to Glynshem]

That is helpful to know there are others in similar position. I’m lucky as I can work from home and our offices are likely to be shut for months. I guess we wait and see and hope more becomes known.

[SezBF in reply to BelindaRuns]

HI I also have had similar advise from consultants and GPs saying initially to shield and then to just stringently socially distance. I have been trying to get a clinical placement as I am a Physiotherapy student and need that to qualify. So I have been taking the approach that I can socially distance and still try and get a face-face placement, because without it I won't be able to complete my course and qualify. I agree I think it is all quite trial and error as C-19 is so new. However, as mild sufferers of the condition it seems that there is no overt risk of us having to strictly shield.

Hope that you are all coping ok during this time.

[Intothegreen]

I have been diagnosed with mild bronchiectasis.

At the beginning of March I had my first chest infection for about 4 years! Great timing. I had a week on antibiotics (Dimoxycycline) and seemed to recover well, aside from associated oral and skin thrush outbreaks.

A week or so later I started with a persistant dry cough. I should have realised immediately it was probably Covid, but I was on treatment for the oral thrush that I thought was irritating my throat causing me to cough. The cough was weird and weezy, but it didn't really bother me and I didn't feel ill in any other way.

After about a week, I had a massive coughing fit (prompted by choking on some soup for goodness sake)! During this fit it felt like the healing that had happened in my lung when I had the antibiotics was pulled apart, if that makes sense?

Anyway, the cough largely stopped after that, and I lost my voice for over a month.

We realised it must have been Covid when my husband got ill soon after and he was affected worse by the virus than me. Neither of us ever got tested as it wasn't available then, but the doctor said it sounded like we both had it.

So the virus didn't land me in hospital or anything, so I hope that is some comfort to others. But it does seem to have worsened my Bronchiectasis. I have another infection at the moment, and I don't feel like it's healing as well as it did before.

I'm a bit depressed because I'm worried I'm facing the rest of my life on antibiotics every few weeks.

[Rattle in reply to Intothegreen]

Only just came across your post, how are you feeling now a few months on?

Hope you are back to pre-covid level of lung function again and managed to stay clear of any new chest infections

[BelindaRuns in reply to Intothegreen]

I’m really sorry to hear Covid has worsened your Bronchiectasis. That’s just what I worry about. I hope you’re doing ok now?

Do you do the chest clearing exercises? I’ve found they’ve really help me reduce the number of times I’ve needed to take antibiotics in recent years.