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Bronchiectasis - the good and the bad

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Guest
Guest

I had never heard of bronchiectasis until I was diagnosed as having the disease in both lungs at the ripe old age of 51. The consultant was very good and explained what the disease was and then dropped the bombshell that there was no cure!

However he went on to say that it was treatable and I have been on a regular regime of steroid inhaler, daily postural drainage, physiotherapy and oxgen therapy ever since i.e. for the last four years.

In addition to this he has also placed me on a short three day course of anti-biotics every month for life, to help minimise the risk of chest infections.

Whilst I still get breathless during exercise and still cough a lot and still tire easily, I am far less prone to infections than I used to be.

The thing I have found most annoying is the attitude expressed in some quarters towards bronchiectasis. For example I have seen it described on some web sites as just a 'embarassing' disease because of the phlegm coughed up. To those of us who suffer from the disease it is far more than this. It is dibilitating and can have a major impact on our quality of life.

7 likes, 22 replies

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  • Russell27NOLA
    Russell27NOLA Guest

    Posted

    To those who find embarrsing, the expressing of phlegm due to this illness, I would remind them that the expressing of feces would win by a long shot the "Embarring Gold Medal Award "in a contest.

    But of course, as can be said without much fanfare, it's their problem not ours. We are the people who have to deal with this disease and choose to live as normal life as we can.

    On the other hand, perhaps it just their fear and misunderstnding, so I would side on forbarence in hopes that they might someday undrsatnd that they to will have an illnes that might make them "scary" to others.

    No one get out alive as they say,

    Best to you 

    Russ

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