Fed up of being wheezy at 53

Hey sue, don't worry your not alone. I'm 33 and i only got diagnosed 2 years ago but i think ive had it all my life and it has just got worse as i have aged.

When i laugh i cough alot it's so annoying but it brings the mucus up atleast. Best thing for bringing it up. I guess the key is to be motivated and clear it first thing in a morning and send sputumn samples off regularly. They say alot of people mistake our condition for a smokers cough.

Hope you feel better soon. Keep positive and pushing on through

Simon

hi sue sue sue, I can sympathise entirely with you, I feel bloody miserable with my constant wheeze too, even talking can sometimes trigger a coughing wheeze that I think is going to kill me! scarey stuff! I have only known about this less than a year so it is early days yet, I'm a 60 year old male who until relatively recently thought he was in good health, suddenly I feel ancient. thank goodness for this forum because it helps keep me sane (ish) keep smiling girl 

Yes I've been in it for the long haul, from the age of 5 months 67 years ago, so empathise totally.

You're not being a misery.  I hope you are under the care of a respiratory consultant who specialises in cf/bronchiectasis, if not check out on internet for the best one in your area for one with a special interest in cf/be.  If you can't find one check out the adult cf centres.  Then ask you GP to refer you.  You have to be your own advocate to get the treatment you deserve.  If you have a problem just let us know.

cx

Hi, I always thought I was quite healthy at 68, except for getting pneumonia 2or3 times a year, and now have found I have this incurable disease as I get older it is harder to recover from these infections. I Will cough when I laugh too, or uncontrolablly on the phone, or lying down in a yoga class produce this horrible sounding cruddy cough, it is embarrassing. Airway clearence helps and now i can usually get through a yoga class without coughing!

Karyn

I really feel for you Sue, and for anyone who has had to cope with this all their life. To have managed so long is in itself an amazing achievement.

I am new to this complaint and brought it on myself via smoking, but I have found that a bit of positive advice from people on this forum so helpful.

I'm just emerging from a depression re my ill health.

You are a stronger soul than me, as are so many who have had a lifetime of this stuff,

best wishes.

I have had this thing since 1949. I cough when I laugh too and the worst thing when I was a young thing was the fear of coughing while snogging. My OH knew about my condition when we got married and has been very supportive but it is embarrassing and not romantic to be full of mucus all the time and having to dash to the loo for a jolly good cough up during a romantic meal for two!

However I am very grateful to be alive and pretty well after all these years. If I break the rules and don't do my physio and don't rest when I'm tired or drink enough water etc.etc. then I suffer. I was a rebel in my teens (my poor anxious parents) and didn't look after myself properly and suffered a lot as a consequence. There's much better help these days and I have learned what works over the years.

We all get down days, me included, but it is manageable and could be so much worse. I see the CF people when I go to outpatients and they have it so hard. Bronchiectasis is only part of what they suffer and they have to take so many drugs.

Hi sue

please ask your doctor to refer you to an expert in the subject. This will help you a great deal. Also you will get great advise on this site. Good luck and don't continue to suffer