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Hello please can somebody help me I'm so depressedBr

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jayne24241
jayne24241

two months ago I started having tightening in my right lung area I have now had a ct scan they have told me I have mild bronchiectasis I don't get any other symptoms just tightening in my back and feeling very breathless . I can't even get into see a chest specialist I really don't know how much more I can cope with this rapid breathing they have even put me under the mental health care pleases please someone out there please tell me if it will get easier 😂😂😂😂

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  • charles60050
    charles60050 jayne24241

    Posted

    There are a lot of people on this forum with bronchiectasis with a lot of information between them.Bronchiectasis can be mild and only affect a small section of one lung or be more severe and affect both lungs.Sometimes anxiety and fear can appear to make breathlessness worse. Anxiety releases adrenalin and this in turn constricts the bronchioles and bronchi (the tubes) which of course will cause you to have difficulty  breathing with a tight chest. The mental health team may help you to contol your anxiety(if you have anxiety) by teaching you how not to panic and relax.For now just try to take a deep breath and hold it for 5 seconds and breathe out slowly.It is difficult coming to terms with a condition that (if you have read information) is lifelong.I have had this condition for 50 years since I had measles as a child.It still frightens me sometimes but I was once met a chap in his 80's which helped me to understand that if managed you can live a long and useful life.I have worked in the health service full-time as a nurse with no sickness for this condition.I have a productive cough and I have a box of amoxicilin at home which I use probably once a year.I do not do physio but do cough and clear my lungs.Perhaps I am lucky that my bronchiectasis only affects my left lower lobe. I hope some of this helps and if it worries you then I am sorry to share too much info at this early time.Good luck with your breathing.Try hard to learn relaxation techniques it does help and dont be afraid.  
    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 charles60050

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply I should imagine everyone symptoms are different will be better when I go to see the chest speaclist and he can put me on the right road it like this tightening is there all the time I have a terrible time with my sleep even breathless when I lie down I don't really understand how I got this ... All the best 
    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 jayne24241

      Posted

      Hi Jayne,

      You will be ok;

      the specialist should be a bronchiectasis specialist, who will advise you on a physiotherapy nurse, do remember to ask when you go. The physiotherapist will introduce you to breathing techniques and the use of a 'flutter' device for bringing up the sputum from your lungs daily, which will help to clear them and assist breathing.

      Try and find out which way is best for you to sleep...maybe on your left side. I find that it is best not having anything to eat after 6.30pm, then there is no pressure from food in the stomach, and I just drink water in the evening.

      It is a learning curve, and do get a rest in an afternoon, it really helps. One of the things to manage is a little less energy than you would have without this chronic lung condition, fortunately it is mild, you will be ok.

      With Every Blessing,

      Lesley

    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 lesley05714

      Posted

      Thank you Lesley for you kind words and advice the only things I'm getting is the breathing problems and some pain in my back I don't see to have a lot of sputum from my lungs yet , I cry myself to sleep at night to think why do we get these things to contend with I am on depression tablets and they give me sleeping tablets , God bless 
    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 jayne24241

      Posted

      Hi Jayne,

      I think the depression tablets worry me more than the bronchiectasis! Be very careful...they can have serious side effects and wouldn't you be best just facing the challenge and finding the best solutions?

      This site is really good and many of the people are battling and finding ways through their problems and are more than willing to help. Try to think of something every day to be thankful for...it's Spring (although the weather feels like winter today) the tulips are beautiful, put your feet up and enjoy a good book with a brew, life is good, really!

      With Every Blessing,

      Lesley

    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 jayne24241

      Posted

      Hi Jayne,

      I think the depression tablets worry me more than the bronchiectasis! Be very careful...they can have serious side effects and wouldn't you be best just facing the challenge and finding the best solutions?

      This site is really good and many of the people are battling and finding ways through their problems and are more than willing to help. Try to think of something every day to be thankful for...it's Spring (although the weather feels like winter today) the tulips are beautiful, put your feet up and enjoy a good book with a brew, life is good, really!

      With Every Blessing,

      Lesley

    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 lesley05714

      Posted

      It's really the quick breathing that's getting me down I don't seem to get no other symptoms I get a ache in my right lung area .what medication on you on ! When you lie down at night do you prop yourself up I find if I lie flat my breathing is so horrible 
    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 jayne24241

      Posted

      ...It sounds to me as if you have a lung infection, which is usual for us bronchiectasis people at some time or another. I have just finished a course of antibiotics and now I am off them until the next infection. You need to ask your doctor if you can do a sputum test to send to the hospital...which may be difficult if you can't get any up...and they will recommend the correct antibiotics for the bug that is causing the ache and pain. I have some tablets in stock (amoxycillin) for emergencies, but I have just had a course of Tetracycline which were rather strong, but I got through...although I didn't stray far from the bathroom, wink

      Try a lay down in the afternoon with your feet higher than your head and see if the sputum makes its way up. Mine does after about 10/15 minutes with some breathing. I also tell my lungs to send it up (sounds daft but it works) let me know how it goes, and don't worry! There is lots of advice on the site, look at some of the other bronchiectasis threads, there are quite a lot of conversations going on.

      Blessings, cool

      Lesley

    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 lesley05714

      Posted

      Thank you for your lovely support , I don't really know that my doctor really knows much about this condition at least I'm going private to see the chest specialist and just hope he will put me on the right road bless you 
    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 jayne24241

      Posted

      hope all goes well, get ready with your questions for the specialist, you will only get around 10 minutes. Make sure he lets the doctor know about the recommended treatment as most doctors appear to only have a vague notion of bronchiectasis problems...
  • BookNut
    BookNut jayne24241

    Posted

    I have a few sugestions that I hope will help.  I agree with the person who thought you might have an infection.  I am sure when you get to the doctor that will be sorted out and you will get some meds that work.  If they don't work...keep after your doctor.  Everyone is different and there are many different meds. I often have to be on nebulized medicine...but recently am finding that nebulizing plain saline solution sometimes works better.  Also, medicines that thin your mucus will be helpful.

    you mention you don't know how you got this. I don't think anyone really knows.  I don't know your age or other details.  They do know that, for some unknown reason, one population that develops bronchiectasis at a higher rate is women over 60 who have never smoked.  That describes me perfectly and really helped me understand how this came to be.  I had always associated lung problems with smoking.  Though there are many lifelong non-smokers who have lung diseases.

    The other thing that struck me is that you memtion being on sleeping pills.  Many dangers there.  Check with your doctor and find out if he or she would approve of you taking Melatonin.  There should not be a problem.  It is an OTC herbal supplement and it works very well.  When I was in the hospital recently I was having trouble sleeping because of the prednisone I was taking.  i asked for Melatonin and was given it immediately.

    I hope my ideas will help you.  Mostly, I would suggest that you try very hard to relax.  I have found that there are many thing I can do to improve my condition.  Besides medications, there are breathing exercises.  Also, getting physical exercise every day is very helpful. When I am short of breath, it is not possible.  But there are many good days, and I make sure I get out and walk 20-30 minutes on those days. It ALWAYS does an amazing job of clearing out my lungs.  The best of everything to you! 

     

    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 BookNut

      Posted

      Thank you for your kind messages I'm very grateful for all your support 
  • charles60050
    charles60050 jayne24241

    Posted

    I had measles as a child and developed a chest infection but probably with sinusitis.With a chest infection and with pleurisy it is painful to cough and you can develop atlectasis which is a partial collapse of lung distal to a plug of mucus.The alveoli become bigger and damage occurs.It can be localised or all over the lungs.

    I now have a sub chronic sinusitis and I know years ago I had surgery for sinuses.I now have a PNP (post nasal drip) which means the snot/mucous runs down into lungs at night. I am sorry it sounds not very nice. Can you remember having a bout of flu that did not clear up?

    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 charles60050

      Posted

      No Charles nothing no colds I have my flu jab every year so I'm absolutely gobsmacked but I did smoke up until 10 years ago so maybe it my wickness coming out for smoking 
    • charles60050
      charles60050 jayne24241

      Posted

      Smoking does tend to paralyse the little cili that clears mucu so may have been a build up.I smoked for 20 years even after diagnosis but I gave up about 20 years ago.If I remember correctly during the smoking years my cough was not as productive as it is now.I dont like having a productive cough because it appears socially embarassing but other people have much more to suffer.Is your bronchiectasis limited to one section or general to both lungs?
    • jayne24241
      jayne24241 charles60050

      Posted

      I'm not sure but I think it's both sides but will let you know when I have my next ct scan .
    • lesley05714
      lesley05714 charles60050

      Posted

      Hi Charles,

      There are videos on you tube for doing physio to bring up the 'stuff' making it less embarassing when you are out (I still get caught out)

      Blessings,

      Lesley

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