Airway management

[Dottie11]

Been told by my new Consultant to only use Ventolin when I wheeze? I have for Bronchiectasis . Previously I was told use four times a day to help with airways. Since changing to this new advice I have found my breathing has not been as good. Any advice please. Still quite new to all this. Diagnosed during Covid. Thank you.

[Ozzie3]

I also have bronchiectasis and asthma. I am on an inhaler that combines a long-acting bronchodilator, as an all day reliever, and a steroid, as a preventor. I inhale this each morning. On this preventor combination I never need Ventolin. Are you on a preventer like mine? Mine is called Breo Ellipta - but I live in Australia and medicines have different names in different countries. The ingredients are: fluticasone furoate (the steroid) and vilanterol (the long-acting bronchodilator). Before I was on this I also needed Ventolin at times during the day. Now I never need it. Of course we are all different, for me going on this was a life changer.

[Rattle]

Like Ozzie3, I have asthma and bronchiectasis. I use a preventative inhaler twice a day (Pulmicort) and have a reliever (Bricanyl) to take if I get wheezy/asthma problems. I hardly use the reliever at all except for around high pollen season.

The medication is all for my asthma, I don’t take anything for my bronchiectasis.

I have never heard reliever inhaler to be recommended for regular use.

Here’s a link to the British Thoracic society’s guidelines and recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of Bronchiectasis in adults with a lot of useful information:

brit-thoracic.org.uk/docume...