Guest guest Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Hi , sorry to hear you are not getting the back up from your pulmonologist. You are right to be concerned, my Bronch has deteriorated a lot in 2 years. Can I ask about your antibiotic regime, do you take them all the time or in rotation and which ones? I also cough up blood but find I am much better on anti b's. My big problem is keeping the mucus clear form my lungs, I really struggle with this despite lots of alternative things I do. I've heard of the Mayo clinic supposed to be very good so push for your appointment there. Good luck from June > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <l.gif> > > > > • > > > • > > > • > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 June wrote: My big problem is keeping the mucus clear form my lungs, I really struggle with This despite lots of alternative things I do. Hi June and , The best way to keep the mucus clear from your lungs is postural drainage. It is so important to do this, every day, even if you are taking antibiotics and doing alternative therapies. Our lungs are damaged and cannot clear the mucus as would normally happen in healthy lungs. Therefore the mucus just sits in pockets and becomes infected. Just lie over two pillows from the hip, for 10-15 minutes draining each side, doing deep breaths and huffs. If you are able to do your own percussion, or use a flutter in this position, that will help a lot. Love Bunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 , I'm so pleased you have your appointment at the Mayo, now perhaps you'll get your answers, but what a long wait till the end of March. That is interesting you have dry Bronch, I'd not heard of that, I am absolutely opposite coughing up junk 24/7 which is what causes the infections. I take Probiotic drinks when I'm on anti b's which do help a bit. That is an interesting regime you are on, do you feel that is helping because I would like to try something similar myself. I agree that some doctors are useless at dealing with this challenging condition, I am so fed up with being pumped full of drugs which don't make me better. I am much more interested in alternative therapies. It will be interesting to see what our new specialists have to offer, we'll swop notes then! Love June > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > <l.gif> > > > > • > > > • > > > • > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 > > HI KAREN, I have just enquired of this group, and am not sure I want loads of emails, but I was interested in the content of your email to someone else. I have had recurring periods of very dry hacking coughs - enough to cause a wee permanent thoracic disalignment, from quite long periods of this (usually at nights). The rest of the time, yes, it's the usual 24/7 coughing up yuck. I'm in Australia, I gather you're Stateside, but yes, I've had many years of GPs (doctors) not understanding this condition. 2 yrs ago I did find one who does. Unfortunately when bronchiectasis is active, antibiotics are the only means of having any life at all. With frequent a-b treatment candida (thrush, which is fungal) usually follows. I'm pretty certain it is the main reason I still felt unwell after a course of antibiotics. Indications of candida may be a change of colour in sputum, accompanied by a metallic taste and yellowish tongue. Until recently this was not recognised by doctors who prescribed more antibiotics, which increased the growth of candida. (It is treatable with Gentian Violet). > best of health, Joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 , never be afraid to ask any professional questions, as it is you and yur body that is being either cared for or neglected, and you who has to take meds, side effects, and all. It is of the utmost that you have the right doctors, ( GP) Specialists etc, and even pharmacicists. all must be open and honest and easy to talk to. Willing to answer ??? also willing to listen, and also happy for you to get 2nd opinions, when ever necessary or possible. The more you know about yourself, the REAL YOU, then the better you will understand your illness. We who have bronch, and a lot of the things that come along at some time or other with it, all have different symptoms, react differently to it, and the same goes for all the meds and appliances we use. For some, its clean and health living, for others its continued use of prescribed meds, for some its the use of home remedies, and all that goes with that. We are all individual. Not all suffer the same, some have had it almost all their lives and have a pretty good handle on it, others have had it for years and suffer more. There are many in this group, we all offer our experiences, but it doesn,t mean it will change the way others either feel, or think. But we are a very supportive group, and I think most would agree, thet the more you know about yourself, and what works and doesn,t work, and perhaps keeping a diary of events, meds , symptoms etc, is the best way to really understand and put you in the position to moniter your health. Self help. knowledge of self, and self discipline are all the key factors, I believe. Hope you keep posted, and if I haven,t already said it, WELCOME> Sandy PS, I am 59 next fortnight, have asthma, bronch, R/A, spinal tumor etc etc I have been diagnosed twice, mind you. Once over 30 years ago, then was told after the first 4 or so years, that I was wrongly diagnosed. But then again diagnosed about 15 years or so ago. My dad and his dad, had bronch, my mum had emphesemia, and so has another aunt, and 1 of my own children, but all 4 of my children suffer, sinus, asthma, and bronch, ears etc. And I have been told, as have they that it is a hereditry thing. Sandy. Australia( Queensland) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Hi again June, just to add this little bit, I had the really wet bronch right up to the last diagnosis, and all my treatments, and I was told that my condition had altered, at the time, I was told, oh you are just lucky that it is the dry type. I know my bronch completely changed when I came to Q, land, within 5 years it changed, as I wrote a few weeks ago, I thought I must be in some kind of remission, as I really do have greater control, but still get the cough, just not the muccous. etc Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Joy, gentian violet, and also glycerine work well with fungal infections ie thrush etc, so does yoghurt with acidophilis. So to are the meds-- mycrostatins etc. But the yoghurt works twofold, as used topical and also eaten or drank helps with reflux and stomach probs from meds. Sandy, Qland, Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2005 Report Share Posted February 14, 2005 Joy, Thanks for the advice. That is exactly what is happening. I take the antibiotics and feel good for two days and then my stomach hurts. After I stop taking antibiotics I feel bad with what I assume must be a yeast infection. Headaches, bad taste in my mouth, etc. Now, why can't they figure that out! Do you drink the gentian violet? Isn't it that purple stuff? I take acidopholus and eat tons of yogurt to try to counteract the antibiotics. But I am taking so much of it (three times a day) and such high doses that it is killing all the healthy bugs in my body. This is the fourth month of antibiotics so I have just been diagnosed and treated. I spend 10 of 30 days nauseous- it reminds me of pregnancy. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Del, Thanks for the information. I don't cough up anything usually - just blood from the infection. My former pulmonologist could be correct and the only thing that will work to keep it at all under control and from causing more damage is to stay on the antibiotics. Mayo will be able to give me clearer answers. I had a mild held cold and ended up coughing up blood, unable to catch my breath. I resisted antibiotics because I am in the middle of my 20 day cycle of being off of them. I thought I would just tough it out. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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