1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Bronchiectasis

Breathing problems

Posted , 5 users are following.

marion49836
marion49836

Hi all. I've always found this forum to be a Godsend so I hope someone can help me. My last post seems to have gone into space. I've always been able to clear my chest with excercises but now there doesn't seem to be any phlegm so my breathing is so bad has anyone experienced this change? I've always felt very positive but not this time

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • jojo40
    jojo40 marion49836

    Posted

    Hi Marion, I go throw just the same sometimes I bring loads up and then I can go for a while and can't get any up but I can hear it's there just won't come out which makes me feel so weak, I also notes when I gets streed and had not much sleep it's harder, I'm sure most of us who have bronchiectasis are just the same good and bad days . It will come just try and relax I know easy said than done. X

    • marion49836
      marion49836 jojo40

      Posted

      Thanks jojo. I think I'm just a misery as it's the first time in twelve years that I have experienced this difficulty. I'm on the 5th day of no clearance so I'm feeling a bit rough

  • steve62514
    steve62514 marion49836

    Posted

    Sorry to hear you are uncomfortable Marion. I think members will need you to define "breathing is so bad" if they are to relate any experience they may have to your change in condition - are we talking wheezing, shortness of breath, all the time, worse at certain times; what about coughing? any other changes like tiredness, heart rate? What meds are you currently on?

    If your breathing has suddenly started to put you under stress you really need to get this checked out straight away would be my advice though. I say that because I've seen on self-diagnosis websites (official ones like the UK's National Health Service one) about lung & related conditions in general that if you start to develop "breathing difficulties" or significant increase in heart rate that does not go away you should be getting to see a doctor pretty darned quick. Emergency room if you can't get to see your general practitioner same day.

    • marion49836
      marion49836 steve62514

      Posted

      thanks steve. My breathing problems are defined by not being able to breath well when I have to go upstairs or anything really.  When sitting or lying down I am fine.  Only exertion.  This is part of  bronchiactesis.  Not being able to do any form of clearance  is the worse. Thanks again
  • elizabeth49611
    elizabeth49611 marion49836

    Posted

    Marion,

    Sounds to me that it could be that the mucus in your lungs have gotten too thick.  Do you use a sodium solution in your nebulizer to help thin the mucus? Drink a lot of water to help thin the mucus. Do you use a flutter valve often? Keep doing your postural drainage exercises. Try a decongestion OTC med, like Mucinex (the blue/white tablets).  And, as always, if in doubt, see your doctor.

    Good luck, Beth

    • marion49836
      marion49836 elizabeth49611

      Posted

      Thank you elizabeth   I can normally do postural drainage very easily, but I do have some mucus thinning capsule which I have started taking today but no luck yet. It may have something to do with the fact that I am just reovering from a slipped disc which means that I have not been so active.  Thanks for your suggestion of sodium solution I will give that a try.  I have had Bronchi for over twelv years and this ist he firsttime I have met a brick wall.  Thanks so much
  • marion49836
    marion49836

    Posted

    Further to my last post. I gave in and made a doctor appointment.  As jojo said I need some help with mucus which is thick. Today I saw a doctor whom I had never seen before he told me prednisone is actually bad for broncheactesis!!!  When I was first diagnosed with this it was the hospital consultant who gave me the script for prednisone with antibiotics and I should keep a supply at home ready for any further chest infections. Has anyone heard of this before ?  I am quite confused about the use of steroids.  All I know is that the antibiotics do not work in their own
    • jojo40
      jojo40 marion49836

      Posted

      Hi Marion Gald you went to see gp , but like you my hospital consult as always told me sterrode are not good to take with bronchiectasis so I just take mucus simple to hospital every time iv got infection and get it tested for right antibiotics and keep a pack of 2 weeks at home for next infection. I hope you feel better soon I'm sure you will good luck. X

    • marion49836
      marion49836 jojo40

      Posted

      Thanks jojo. There seems to be different ideas even in the medical field if steroids are bad for bronchi. My doctor said they are bad but my consultant at the hospital wrote to my doctor to give me a script for prednisone to keep at home with antibiotics. Who knows.
    • elizabeth49611
      elizabeth49611 marion49836

      Posted

      I have been on prednisone for years.  I feel it's the one thing that keeps me from having  so much mucus in my lungs that I end up in Intenive Care on a respirator for days (that happened in 2007).  Since then I have tried to wean off, but I can't get below 30 mg a day. My specialist doesn't seem conserned about me being on it for so long.  I understand the long term effects, but like I said, it's the one thing that keeps me going.

    • elizabeth49611
      elizabeth49611 carol66580

      Posted

      Yes, I have a percussion vest that I use 3 times a day. It does help. I also have a flutter valve that I use daily.

      Presdnisone is an anti-inflammatory steriod. With having bronchiectasis, the airways get inflammed causing them to narrow and by narrowing, breathlessness increases and mucus is harder to cough up.

      Albuterol, by nebulizer or inhaler, helps open the airways and steriods help keep them open.

      Beth

  • steve62514
    steve62514 marion49836

    Posted

    I've had 3 pulmonologists (2 different in the UK and 1 in Thailand) recommend the use of Prenisolone (steroids) for a specific stage in the development of my bronciectasis in recent years and none have said it should not be used for the condition. 

    It does of course have potential side effects from long term use so it would not be my first choice to jump to in my now self-management regime (but I don't get thickened or nil mucus problems .. yet!)

    I use acetylcysteine ("NAC Long" - one 600mg dissolving tablet daily) for mucus thinning. Carbocysteine is a very similar drug - the UK seems to go wth that whereas Thailand goes with acetylcysteine. I've taken both and find no difference between them in effect. Both seem low impact for me when it comes to side effects* and if I cut them out of my drug regime I notice a deterioration within a few days, so I have taken it consistently for the last couple of years.

    *Actually, having written that I checked Wiki for the spelling and noticed a reference to occasional red itchy skin as a potential side effect; ok so that may explain why I have developed occasional redness/itchiness on the inside of my forearms in the last year or so! Tolerable and easily controlled by using E45 cream after showering though.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.