Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Nona, Thanks for the information on steaming for humidity. I remember that this was not just the old fashioned way of getting sinuses open or chest congestion loosened but it is still recommended today. What a wealth of information we can share via this medium of the computer--more information than I ever get from my pulmonary doctor. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Elaine, I have not used mine for several years and not since I have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis. I do know that it is important to keep it very clean as we do not want to be breathing in bacteria. They have included instructions for cleaning it. I used distilled water in mine since we have a water softener that makes our tap water salty. I bought mine at Wal-Mart a few years ago, but they have them at drugstores as well. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Norma...I feel sad for all that you are going through these days, as well as some of the others. I am fortunate to be feeling pretty good and able to get my Christmas shopping done, despite the fact that I got bad news a few weeks. The pulmonologist reviewed the catscan results again and told me that the bronchiectasis had spread and was "diffuse". It was diagnosed as mid-lung bronchiectasis , but there were also small scattered areas of infection throughout the entire lung.(Pseudomonas ) Well that was depressing enough! However, I have been feeling really upbeat and have increasing energy. Could it be my defiant nature?? . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Norma...Thanks so much for all the info. It must be hard for you and all those people who are battling asthma as well as bronchiectasis. I have allergies that appear during the summer months, most of the time, and the main problem for me is air pollution. Since we both use the Vest and mucomyst treatments, feel free to write to me directly anytime you wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Thanks , I will. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Hi , You sound something like me except I am still trying to recoup from that awful Prednisone. I was not able to finish all the medication due to the side effects. Now I am trying to cope with too much mucus. I just finished a breathing treatment and am ready for postural drainage. Before that I irrigated my sinuses to get rid of excess mucus. I have not been able to eat much due to the side effects of the antibiotic and Prednisone. I am glad you were able to finish your Christmas shopping but sorry to hear about your CT scan results. I have never had another CT scan after the initial one that showed the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. I suppose with Medicare, they do not think it is medically necessary. I definitely think you have the most positive attitude, and I believe that helps. I know that it helps me to hear from you, and you seem most upbeat. Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 The catscan I had was probably ordered because of the coughing up blood. Sometimes I think that no news is good news when it comes to health. In other words the less you know the less there is to worry about. Like you, I am still trying to get rid of a sinus infection that has been hanging on for several weeks. The e.n.t doctor offered antibiotics but I decided to try and get by without. I am irrigating with saline and use Flonase, one puff each nostril daily. Just when I think the infection is gone and the nose is dry for several days, I blow out some of that icky green mucus again. It is that darn pseudomonas hanging in there. What a battle! Do you ever stop and consider how maddening it is that we are all captives of those microscopic little brats? How dare they attack us like this !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 , I have not coughed up blood yet. What does your ear, nose and throat physician treat you with when you do have a sinus infection? My sinus infections are always pseudomonas bacteria. I am now using Tobramycin/Clindamycin nasal spray after irrigation and the saline water finishes draining. I use Rhinocort nasal spray first and then the Tobramycin/Clindamycin. You are right about that pseudomonas pest. Let's all gang up on it and beat it up! Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Hi, Each year on my March visitation my specialist she does a "blow test" and orders a CT with iodine. In November we do a regular x-ray. This November she saw a little something that she wanted to watch and check it in February. Because of the cancer history in our family I ask i"if it is something how much damage can it do by February", to which she replied she really did not believe it was anything to be concerned about - most likely mucus or scar tissue but if it would make me feel easier she would do a CT now. Did it and it was a bit of scar tissue. But she is quick and if I have the slightest concern about anything she is right on it for me. I think the most important thing about this "nuisance" is having a good, knowlegeable pulmonary specialist by your side.......................Nona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Norma...My e.n.t. man did a culture from the nose and called me on the phone to say the culture shows both Staph. and some Pseudomonas. We talked it over and decided not to use an antibiotic because by the time the report came back I felt that the amount of drainage was decreasing and the sinus discomfort not too bad. As usual ,I put off going to see him in the first place, because I just did not feel up to getting showered, dressed, and driving over to his office. I am blowing out very little from my nose now. The pseudomonas in my lung is resistent to antibiotics but the pseudomonas in the sinus is still sensitive. Both my doctors have discussed my health problems with one another over the phone, and have agreed to avoid using antibiotics so that I will get a better response in a life threatening situation such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis. I use Flonase each morning. one puff for each nostril but was advised only to do nasal irrigation once a day when necessary. I had been doing it three times a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 Norma ...I always cough up some light yellow mucus and have done so since I was a teenager. It is the increase in quantity and change in colour that you need to look out for. A lot of harmless bacteria live in these little miniature cesspools we harbor in the bronchial tubes. One pulmonologist described them as happy little fellows that reside there and do no harm. It is the invading strangers that stir things up and cause trouble that we need to be concerned with. Such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, staph. and strep. Most of these will cause a rise in temperature and indicate a flare up of infection. I work at staying as free from stress as I possibly can. My favourite thing to do is find radio station that plays the "oldies " music. You know ,like Sinatra, Bobby Daren, the Beach Boys, etc. I dance around the house, sometimes with my little grand kids, to the point of being out of breath and totally exhausted. We usually end up falling on the floor laughing. That is the best stress release I know of. Anything to make you laugh is great therapy and is so beneficial for anyone with bronchiectasis. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 2003 Report Share Posted December 21, 2003 , What a wonderful idea. A friend sent me an email last week with some oldies that made me want to dance. I took the carpet out of the bedroom a few years ago due to my mold allergy so will find a mop, and we will have a good dance. At least the mop won't step on my feet; however, I may step on its feet but it won't say, "ouch." Thanks, Norma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 The other day something really tickled me and I could not stop laughing. My husband was so happy! " Oh my gosh, you're laughing! " I realized I hadn't laughed in a long time. Then it started a coughing fit and he jokingly said that maybe I shouldn't laugh after all. But I coughed up so much stuff. It was great! Laughing is definitely a good therapy. Maggie On Sunday, December 21, 2003, at 08:08 PM, BCSCOFFMAN@... wrote: > Anything to make you laugh is great therapy and is so beneficial for > anyone with bronchiectasis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 Hi Clausen, I hope you are well. It was nice to see you yesterday, however briefly, and I enjoyed meeting your supervisor. Could you please tell me the spelling of her last name? Thank you. Sincerely, Molly Gage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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