New to Bronchiectasis

[KitKat1954]

Hi everyone,

A few months ago, my pulmonologist diagnosed me with bronchiectasis after I asked for a sputum test that found many strenotrophomonas. My pulmonologist tried several antibiotics that were unsuccessful. About a month ago, I took a trip to Florida and found myself hospitalized there for 3-4 days with pneumonia. In the hospital, I was being treated with vancomycin intravenously, and I believe it may have killed the strenotrophomonas, because I haven't breathed this well for over a year. There was also another sputum test taken while on vancomycin in the hospital which didn't show stenotrophomonas, but did show "scant aeruginosa, scant albicans and reduce respiratory flora". Is this another similar bacterium and if is scant, would it be expected to grow? I have found a new pulmonologist who specializes in bronchiectasis, but that appointment isn't until September. I would be very grateful for any input you have. I have found this forum very educational and helpful. Although I am on another forum, this one is my favorite by far.

Thanks much.

[Hidden]

stenotrophomonas is quite rare I think and resistant to most antibiotics. the other scant bugs that you have are normally found, except for pseudomonas aeruginosa which is the bane of bronchiectasis patients' lives. Many of us have that permanently in our lungs and from time to time it will multiply and cause an exacerbation.I don't know how things work in the US, but I wonder if your diagnosis has been confirmed with a chest CT scan which is really the only way of confirming it. If you really have bronchiectasis then you definitely need to be under a bronch specialist, have access to a respiratory physio and keep a 14 day course of rescue antibiotics at home at all times.

Good luck with it all.

[pink123floyd in reply to Hidden]

Hi stone you are right about the Ct scan i had one last year and the tesults was i have bronchiectasis and a small collasp of my bronchi after the results i had no further contact from my specilist and am wondering is it because i am on lifetime azithromycin due to chest ingections every month

[KitKat1954 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks stones. Yes, I had two lung CT scans in Feb. & Mar. for possible cancer reoccurrence this year, another one in hospital for pneumonia in April and I have another scheduled for June. Way too many, I think. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it!

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi, you have had an excellent reply from stones. I feel however as you are refering to bronchiectasis you will find more people who have bronchiectasis on ALUK Lung Conditions Community, formally the British Lung Foundation. I myself have had life long bronchiectasis and in more recent years asthma and usually post on Lung CC. Following their (BLF and Asthma Uk) dreadful new updated name and strap line I often find I click on the asthma part of ALUK on my feed by mistake.

Cxxx

[KitKat1954 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thanks so much for replying. I will check those out. Btw, I love, love, love Pink Floyd. I saw Roger Walters in Boston pre-covid, pre-bronchiectasis. Best concert ever.