Does this sound like Bronchiectasis??

I have had a very bad rattly chest cough with dark pleghm production for 5 years non stop. CT scan showed no bronchiectasis. Pleghm is positive for bacteria, but antibiotics have only temporarily helped. I do have asthma, COPD and allergies, but my pulmonologist has not been able to come up with a cause or a cure for he horrible cough, which is very disruptive to my life, especially at work. I know this doesn't really help you, except to say you aren't alone in your symptoms, worry, confusion and frustration. Good luck to you, I hope the docs find something to help.

Hi I cough  a lot day and night I have pet allergies my mild asthma I spent years at the hospital with respiratory trying to find out what was wrong then he said he was ready to discharge me and then he said I think before I discharge u I should do  a CT  scan and there it was it also took them 13 months to get round to telling me

Have you been to a gastroenterologist to check for GERD?  Coughing is one of the symptoms.  

Yes, it could be what is known as non-cf Bronchiectasia. Normal chest X-rays usually will not show bronchiestasis. I was also told I had allergies to my cats but systems never let up when I was away from them. You might ask for a bronchoscope, which would tell much more than just chest X-rays. Not sure which part of the world you live in but here in America there are a couple great hospitals that are known for their treatments on lung diseases. I lived in Alaska when my lung specialist said he needed help on finding out more and sent me to National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado. They put you through every test imaginable.

My lung specialist in Alaska first put me on some meds and after 6 weeks no improvements, he did the scope of my lungs, he then grew a culture. From this culture the bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa which had colonized in my lungs. There is no cure for this, however, there are daily treatments that can help cut down the times thus bacteria raises its head. You will become more familiar with what’s going on with your lungs as time go on. The most important thing we can do is our lung cleaning and treatments on a daily level. This bacteria is everywhere: food we eat, water we drink, air we breath, BUT, folks that have a normal immune system is not at risk, those that somehow, someway, have compromised their immune system can pick this up. There are three types if this bacteria and I have the most sensitive of the three. This means that my bacteria reacts better to the antibiotics when it rears it’s head. I’ve kept it this way by asking how docs how to keep it from becoming the other two and was told by them to make sure I do not take antibiotics on a daily basis, just when I am having an exerbation. You will be able to tell when this happens. 

Incessantly coughing is the most common system of Bronchiectasis.

There are not many antibiotics that can treat this bacteria and one might need to have IV treatments at some point. I’ve had this disease for many years now and have managed to stay out of hospital and have not had any IV treatments, which I thank my lucky stars for. Normal OTC cough syrups will not help the cough, I’ve found tussionex which is a narcotic cough syrup will calm the cough but will not stop it. I find if I use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon st night I can actually maybe go 4 hours sometimes withou waking up from cough. Tussionex can be habit forming and you do not want your cough to become immune to it, so one should only take it when one needs a little calming of the cough to get rest. Do not take more than prescribed by doctor because it can be habit forming and cause constipation and you don’t want that!

There are a couple other lung diseases that should also be ruled out and those are mycobacterium, MAC for short. 

I have attended a couple online web Town Hall conferences on bronchiectasis that you might find informative. One was presented by Dr. Daly whom I saw while at National Jewish Hospital. These Town Hall are by registration and you can join via online or by accessing their recordings at a later date. You can find out more information by going to Bronchiectasis and NTM Initiative website. 

I hope some of the information I have given you will help finding out what is causing your issues. 

Oh, yes, i wanted you to know that by daily treatments I use The Vest, three different liquids in my nebulizer and another breathing devise called acapella. These breathing devices should be shown how to use by a respiratory therapist.

I always sleep on a slanted pillow. That helps with herd and helps with coughing

Hi all

My GP has sent me for blood test to check my allergic reactions towards cat dander and some other stuff including a full blood count - wish me luck - I feel so nervous but I really want to get down to the bottom of this!

He also gave me Symbicort inhaler 2 weeks ago and it has worked...still cough but about 50% less!