physio treatment to help cough up phlem

Hi Andrew, I've had the physio, just one session to show you some fairly easy manoeuvres. You should be able to self-refer to your local physio dept but if not it's certainly worth nagging your GP!!

PS I hear what you're saying about your GP!! ;0)

andrew - I really get that your GP is not being helpful with this - I am so lucky mine are all pretty good (we have quite a large practice).  You can change GPs really easily you know - you don't have to explain why either.  All you have to do is turn up at another surgery and ask to join the practice.  You have a simple form to fill in and they will send to your old practice for your records.  A bit drastic but it might help. 

All the explanations on this forum about postural drainage physiotherapy are spot on but there is a useful online leaflet from Papworth hospital giving the positions, etc. which might help you even more.  Google it!

Hi.

i dont understand your pain. But definetly know the pain yo loved ones undergoing to see you suffer. Just realising this. My friend has been diagnosed with this disease. He's just 24 & Its very hard for us to accept dis ,

i just hope u get well soon and lead a healthier life.

I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis about the same time as yourself. I'm on constant steroids, antibiotics, and Alendronic acid for this condition. I was also given mucus relief tables by my GP. When my consultant found out she hit the roof as apparently "they react with the other tablets". My advice to you is simple:

1. Get to see a chest consultant on a regular basis.

2. Educate yourself as much as possible, you've made a start here, but read as much as you can on the condition

3. Take what a GP says with a very large pinch of salt, my consultant and GP are constantly at logger heads over my treatment.

On the none chemical side of treatment I spoke to my Consultant regarding Physio and although this was not ruled out she did suggest I try a Flutter device. I have to say that although I found this difficult to master at first, now that I have, I find it invaluable for clearing that hard to shift sticky glue like mucus you never seem to be able to move.

Hope this is helpful

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link included in this post as we do not publish links to selling sites. Users can search Google for "flutter device" if they want further information.

Ask your GP to refer you to the hospital chest physio. In my area they do a 12 week physio rehabilitation session they are good.

Andrew I sympathise entirely with you. I am 63 and have had the disease since I was a child. Over the years I have seen many doctors and to be honest, most of them have been appalling. One thing I have learned is that you should NEVER, EVER take a GP's word on this illness, they are neither trained nor experienced in it. Many of them are arrogant and your's would appear to be of that ilk. Be firm but always courteous and stand your ground if you don't feel you are being listened to or properly treated. Despite your recent diagnosis it is likely you have had this disease for many years possibly back to childhood. I developed mine around the age 4 or 5 when I suffered a severe bought of measles and pneumonia. Over time, the lungs get damaged and cause varying degrees of obstruction and that would cause asthma-like symptoms. The Qvar Easi-breath is a steroid (betamethesone) and I would be a little concerned about the long term effects of taking this drug at the dosage you are given. I have similar problems but take Spiriva (Tiotropium) once a day and it helps without the side effects and problems associated with steroids. I have over the years been seen by so-called specialists who have told me I have asthma, one even offered this diagnosis without reading my notes and without x-rays or even a physical examination. He was dismissed. It is apparent that both your GP and your specialist are wasting your time and you really should seek help by changing your GP and finding a new consultant. I would suggest that you look for a consultant physician who specialises in treating cystic fibrosis because he and she will be fully versed in treating brochiectasis and will have access to treatments not otherwise available. It would be perfectly in order for you check with your nearest teaching hospital and ask who their cystic fibrosis/pulmonary specialists are. You can then request a referral to him or her. Remember that you are entitled to a second opinion on the NHS and your GP would have no reasonable grounds for refusing such a referral. However, given that your GP is apparently useless, seeking a new one might be better. One in their mid to late 20s would be best because they will have had some experience of bronchiectasis. As to physio-therapy, you should have been referred for assessment and treatment if necessary. The physio would also teach you some methods for use at home. Look up, 'autogenic breathing' and try that, it has helped me in the past ( autogenic drainage) and perhaps it might help you too. I would slightly disagree with Katherine02673 about having stand by antibiotics, blind prescribing is never a good idea and they should never be precribed or taken without a sputum culture suggesting it. The reason many of us have pseudomonas is simply because we have been indiscriminately over prescribed. Finally, GPs are not experts in anything, they are generally people who have not cut it in the hospital field and have taken the next best thing. They are extremely well paid for doing little more than writing prescriptions. Occasionally you find one who has some experience and insight but sadly they are rare. Read as much as you can, GPs hate the internet because it demystifies medicine and offers the layperson valuable information. Don't be afraid to contradict or ask them to read something you print off, if they refuse to listen to you or read the paper, drop them. As I said at the beginning, I truly sympathise with you, I have entered into a new phase where my illness is taking over big time. I can  no longer walk any distance and even the slightest exertion is impossible. I have a constant intractible cough with bloody mucous and I am in pain. I find myself blaming all those morons who crossed my path over the years including the ones I spent thousands on in the private sector. I have a wonderful chest specialist who does everything he can to help me but my GPs vary from imbecilic to average. I simply tell them what I want and they give me it, their advice I don't need. The very best of luck to you and hang in there, be assertive but always courteous. If you are subsequently met with discourtesy, walk out and make a formal complaint. Also it is a good idea to take someone into the consultation with you, sometimes you can miss a lot when there are details to discuss.

Patient Moderator Note: I have removed an URL (a link) from this reply as it was unsuitable for inclusion within these forums however I have provided a suitable replacement. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I am 55 and was diagnosed 10 months ago after 5 years of coughing, sinus surgery, asthma diagnose and allergy testing and a supposed pnemonia. I finally insisted on seeing a pulmonologist who didnt really think I had a serious issue. 2 years later I had a bad episode so went back to him and he diagnosed it. I was uneasy with that doc. so researched and found a pulmonologist that specializes in bronchiectosis. He is so awesome, got to the bottom of it. I now use a Vest airway clearance system machine twice a day after a nebulizer treatment that clears my lungs with the hope of reducing infections. I still have flareups mind you but I am learning to "liststen" to myself and deal before it gets bad. Keeping a log daily helps and watching weather conditions and environment factors helps. I do have asthma and year round allergies as well.  I remove myself from bad air conditions before hand rather than later. I have had many antibiotics through the last 5 years and also prednisone. I now have osteoporosis prob from steriods. I am now dealing with that. It is stressful trying to live with this and I am still trying to wrap my head around it as no one has even heard of it. I have never smoked but I feel like people think lungs so prob a smoker.  I try to lessen stress as like everything, that can trigger coughing. I never leave home with my tissues, water, Ricola and rescue inhaler as as you know, you never know when things may start up. Its been embarrassing as the world has become germafobic and its hard to make plans to go out as you never know if you will have a coughing spell. Best advise, surround yourself with doctors that believe in you and help you rather than waste your time. Each episode or flairup possibly does more damage to your already damaged lungs.  Hang in there, Mary