I've been stressed lately cause I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis.

Hello Christine,

Don't be stressed because it is not contagious. There are many people on this site that have had it many years and it is manageable. Eating properly,  sleeping well, exercise are all suggestions to keep you healthy. Continue to ask questions on this blog and I am sure many of the people who have had it for a long time can tell you more.  Be sure to get a flutter device and nebulizer for Sodium chloride. This will keep you from getting infections by coughing out the mucus.  

Don't let anxiety get in the way of staying healthy.

Blessings,

Mary Ann 

Welcome Christine to our group discussions about this dreaded lung disease. We all share information on what has helped us and just maybe our experience will help someone else.  First, let me say that stress is not good for us with tis disease. I learned at National Jewish Hospital in Denver CO that stress can contribute in a negative way to us.  It's very rare that bronchiectasis (BX) will actually show up on an xray. Normally, one has to have an CT scan.  I have a regiment of treatments that I do daily. It's very important to keep our lungs clean. Over time you will get better at this and there are devices that will aid you in this area. It's important to be shown how to use these correctly in order for us to reap the full benefits of lung cleaning.  It is also important to keep up our daily routines and keep active as this will keep our lungs working and we wan them to be kept as strong as they can for all the times. Walking bristkly 3/4 times a week is good for at least 30 minutes. Even longer more times a week is better. Swimming is another excellent excerise for us.   Over time you will get familiar with your symptoms of not feeling well and when to seek medical treatments. It's also a good ideal to have good repore with your doctor as you should being seeing him lots. It's is not contagious as I was informed. However, it is very important for us to shy away from those who are sick because our immune system is at risk of getting infection very easy.  I was diagnosed back in 2009 and worked up until my retirement in 2013. Keeping up with our daily routine while working is hard, it can be done, but you have to get rest, rest, rest.  My doctor actually makes sure I have antibotics on hand at all times and I never, never travel without them. This is because we never know when we will get a flare up and need to start on them immediately.  There are just a couple drugs that will actually work for us and we do not want to take them everyday as preventive measure as our bodies will eventually become immune to them and then these drugs will not work. I will go back and find my treatment that I posted awhile back and send to you throug this site. There are out discussion groups that we are in and some of these discussions might be able to give you more insight to what we are going through and what helps us and by sharing this information, maybe, just maybe it might help others.   

Christine, I'm back with my routine.  I knew I posted somewhere, just took a bit to find it.  

Tussionex cough syrup will calm the cough a lot. Its potent and controlled by our DEA here in the US. It is very, very strong You must not drive while under the influnece of it and only a teaspoon, never, never more than that one teaspoon. It can be habit forming, so I only use it when I can't stand coughing any more and need to calm it down. Also, do not want cough to become immune to it.  I have a new doctor and he said he couldn't find a contradiction on using the first two neb meds together. I have not done this yet, will speak with my pharmacist about this. He also gave me a new neb med. This new med is listed at bottom and is NOT to be mixed with the first two listed.  I wanted to mention about that CT scan. It should be with contrast.  Take care and keep positive.   

My routine consists of the folling: 

Acetylcysteine 3mil in nebulizer 3 times per day

Saline solution 7% 4mil in nebulizer 3 times per day

Acapella Flutter after each neb treatment - there is a special routine that you do with this device and it is amazing how much mucus you can get out. 

The Vest 2 times per day - Neb can be used during this treatment, too. 

BiPAP machine - at night, which I cannot stand to use. As you know we sleep little as it is.

My new neb med (not to mix with other two listed above). This is very expensive.

Ipratrop/Alb 0.53/3MG Inhalation solution - 1 vial in neb once in AM and once at night and as needed in between every 6 to 8 hours (no more than 4 times daily)

Christine,

Don't let the diagnosis get you down.  It just means that you have to take medication and take care of yourself.

I started having lung/breathing issues almost 30 yrs ago (I'm now 67 and retired). During those years, I worked full time, took college courses part time, and (with my husband) raised 3 children.

There were times when I really had to struggle thru, but, I have learned to take care of myself: Take my medications, exercise, eat healthy and at the first sign of trouble, see my specialist asap. 

You mentioned that you are running out of money. So you must not have medical insurance. Check into websites from pharmaceutical companies for discounts, check with your doctor for samples of medications (by doctor started me on a new inhaler and gave me a 3 month supple of samples that he had in his office).

Don't let this illness get the best of you, Beth

Hi christine, first it is not contagious. I am quiet newly diagnosed but i have an Acopella device that i was given at the hospital to help to remove the mucus , i have also got myself a Flutter devise that i find works better for me off of the internet, it also removes mucus. if you goole each word , you will see what they are, imformation about them and where to get them from. If you can keep the mucus away , you can help stop infections, I hope this helps, im sure others will also give you advise, i have had so much help from people on here.

         hugs Pam

Hi Christine,

Just a suggestion: Watch your sugar intake. Moderation is a good thing.

Blessings,

Mary Ann

UPDATE

I'm done with CT Scan and my doctor just told me that it will be used to determine where the part was damaged and if the bleeding hasn't stop after the medication this will be the source to know which part of the lungs needed for surgery. Such a relief for me to know that I don't have to undrego any operation knowing how costly it will be. No medicine was prescribed just another test, sputum culture as my doctor told me. And I have to go back after 3 months for new xray test. I am praying that there's no other infection to be seen. Anyone gone through this like me? Thanks.