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New Member - need advice navigating disease management
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Aug 22, 2024 | Replies (9)Comment receiving replies
Sounds like your husband has a lot going on with chest stuff. Many others here have reported that it can take years to get to the bottom of what's causing lung illness. Bronchiectasis is uncommon and general pulmonologists look for more usual things.
If it were I at this point, I would make 2 plans. One immediate and the other longer term. Short term plan would be to visit the PCP, where both sputum culture along with repeat CT scan can be ordered. (You'll need these results of these tests for the longer term plan anyway.) And the PCP can listen to both your husband's story and his lungs. You can also discuss with PCP next steps and referral to an appropriate pulmonologist and/or infectious disease specialist, hopefully local (the longer term plan). If you cannot find a local specialist you might consider traveling to a bronchiectasis center. Emory was mentioned above. There are many others including NJH, Mayo, Tyler TX etc. Keep the appointment at Mass General just in case.
Since your husband is coughing up gunk and has been previously diagnosed with bronchiectasis consider airway clearance. To maximize airway clearance he'll need a compressor, nebulizer and hypertonic saline. All are available without a prescription. Below are links to nebulizer and compressor, both of which have been recommended by NJH. Hypertonic saline (3% or 7%) can be purchased on Amazon.
https://www.saveritemedical.com/products/ombra-120v-table-top-nebulizer-compressor-system
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNNV3JW6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Airway clearance info
https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy
I hope this is somewhat helpful.
Replies to "Sounds like your husband has a lot going on with chest stuff. Many others here have..."
Hi again. Hearing your husbands health story, my heart goes out to him. I am somewhat also lost with knowing for sure what causes my nearly constant need to clear my throat of what appears to be mucus. I have to somewhat assume that it is the hiatal hernia since my visit to NJH in October of 2023 and the gastroenterologist found the hiatal hernia with the endoscopy test that looked at the stomach area. I have read that one of the symptoms of a hiatal hernia is the need to clear the throat due to an overproduction of mucus caused by the hiatal hernia. The mucus/substance just clings to the back of the throat and is worse after I eat.
So, in reality the problem as I see it is the possibility of multiple health problems and it becomes difficult for ourselves and the doctors to distinguish what is truly causing our problem....logic tells me one health problem could possibly add to or make another worse.....?? I have BE, hiatal hernia and eczema. From what I have learned inflamation is related to two of those health problems. All diagnosed within the last two years due searching for answers to what I was experiencing. The constant mucus and the need to clear my throat limits activities involving time with others......not a pleasant thing for others to have to view or experience while eating....especially if one is in a restaurant. Wishing your husband relief and less frustration that comes with moments of relief. Barbara
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Thank you SO much. I appreciate the time taken to give me this information and guidance. I’m going to execute this plan. Thank you again!