the good and the bad breathing problems

Hiya David- I know what you mean. Very breathless right now with PEF about 20% below its usual low level, and yes tired, tired, tired. And that as we all know leads to down, down, down...

But, clear your chest, grab some calories, have a drink, watch some telly (while not moving much!) have a chat on patient.info ... and all is fine again. Oh and get some sleep. It's not much of a prescription for improving your PMA, but it works for me. TV - man in the high castle on Amazon Video: totally the mutt's nuts. Whisky: still got some Bruichladdich my family gave me for birthday. Calories: crisps, cheese, salami. Nom. Job, as they say, done. Then tomorrow morning, a walk. But don't forget to take time to clear chest.

On the other point, virus vs carnivorous bug: simplest difference is time. Virus will burn out, zombie flesh eating bug not so much. For normal people, quacks often wait 2 weeks before admitting that you're infected with ZFEB. For us ... Give it a week max and monitor symptoms. To be honest I can generally "feel" the difference between virus and ZFEB as it gets a hold.

but then that brings us back to your doctor issues. Man, you have to educate his arse. NICE, BTS guidelines ... Hell what about Chest Heart Stroke Scotland? Google them + bronchiectasis and you'll get their pamphlet. It is very clear. Stick it in front of him. If no joy, you will have to go to a consultant specialising in Bx and get him to write to your dimwit doctor.

Good luck David and keep in touch

Sam

This is awful! I go through the panic and wondering what is happening in my lungs too. As soon as the smothering feeling sets in my hands start to sweat with nerves. I get very depressed by this whole situation. If not for my children and husband I would have given up. Terrible way to live. I get out of breath doing the littlest things. I used to work out 3 hours a day and now taking a shower leaves me short of breath. I do cry pretty often too.Good luck to you and I will pray for you.

Hi David . I know how you are feeling I too have Bronciectasis for around five years now. And it horrid. Have you been show the breathing techniques to bring up the mucus . And also  asked to be referred to a physio therapist who will show you and help you with these techniques. If the mucus is not bought up it will become infected and cause infections.But you are probably aware of all this. Hope that you are able to go forward with this. Also ask your GP if you can be under the hospital (chest clinic ) for this . As they will help you more . 

Hey David, I have found the guys/girls in the forum very helpfull, they recently gave me the best advice following an infection and feeling really down and sorry for my self. I am fairly new to knowing I have bronciectisis but my guess is I have had it a longgg time.

​I have found the relvar inhalor to be fairly good and as advised by the lovely people on here I am transfering in the new year to a bronciectisis specialist as my specialist was just lungs and not condition specific. That's one thing, secondly I have found my G.P's reluctant to prescribe antibiotics also but I have recently just said to them, look, it's my lungs and I don't want further damage so I will be sending sputumn samples to the hospital where the specialist is located whenever I feel I am unwell etc. Sure enough I got results back in 3 days (pestered the specialists secretart) got my prescription faxed to my G.P's of 3 weeks doxycyclin. The antibiotic do suck, but when your free of bugs I think clearence, positive attitude, support, and lot's of cardio go a really long way. It is twice as hard for us to remain well as people without bronciectisis but it can be done, as when I am well I can go round after round on the punch bags and jog fairly descent distances. I think getting depressed, drinking too much alcohol, and general stress is something we have to control more than others.

​And yes I feel like I want to give up sometimes, and I feel like i'm some sort of freak for coughing up clumps of mucus some days, but once it's off I think my lungs function fairly well, you just need that mucus off of there. What is your peak flow like? I think your G.P can increase your inhaled steroids to get that up and control your infections with whatever antibiotic is effective against the bug that grows in your sputumn sample

Good luck and stick with these guys, they know what they are talking about. All the best

​Sy

David, I'm searching for many answers too. I understand your feelign about to "give up". Right now I have the same feelings. I have for sure depression about our common problem. Here you can find good people that support each others. I wish you to feel better.