Dr Aksamit (Mayo) Bronchiectasis Education Series 9/30/24

I watched and it was really helpful. Thanks!

Hi Linda,
Thank you so much for being involved in the education program. I am so glad that you are in this group. Thanks for being here.
Listening to what you do to maintain your condition, I am wondering if you need to take anything like a steroid inhaler on a daily basis to control the inflamed airways? I seem to understand that with bronchiectasis, people generally have some inflamed airways. I use a steroid inhaler constantly because a lot of the time I feel my airways is congested , it seems that the inhaler helps to clear out mucus more efficiently. If you don't use a steroid inhaler, do you need to use anything in that regard? I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on that.
Many thanks.
Ling

Thank you for your kind words.💜
Eighty percent of people with bronchiectasis would probably not benefit
from a steroid inhaler. They have a neutrophilic condition and the steroid
is just going to lower their immunity and make them more susceptible to
infections. However, in twenty percent of cases, the issue is more
eosinophilic and these people might benefit from steroids. This is also
true for COPD and asthma cases that overlap with bronchiectasis. But, it is
a "risk versus reward" discussion because they, too, will be more prone to
infection.
BE well,
Linda

Thank you so much for explaining that most people actually don't need a steroid inhaler. How do people deal with neutrophilic being high? Do you do anything about it? My neutrophil is also high, and eosinophilic is normal. You mentioned you could even jug for a mile, probably you feel pretty normal. I don't know what my normal is now, sometimes I feel my airway tight, congested, other times I feel it is dry, and sometimes I feel mucus lining along the airways. Do you have these kinds of feelings?

Thanks again!
Ling

Hi Ling,
We are all different. If the new drug brensocatib is given the green light by the FDA, it will be the first approved drug for bronchiectasis. It addresses neutrophilic inflammation.

Hi linda, how do you know what kind of bronchiectasis of the two you have . I dont think i have any specific test even at NJH which would determine it. Thank you

There are blood and sputum tests. Also other indicators, such as an elevated IGE, A history of rhinosinusitis, allergies and as previously mentioned, asthma and COPD comorbidities.

If you listen to Dr. Chalmers’s talk, I believe it’s about 20 minutes into this particular recording, he’ll reference the two different types of inflammation.

Linda, the content you post has been invaluable in helping me educate myself and advocate for myself with my doctors. So grateful, thank you.

You are welcome! Sue, I and others do our best to pass along good information. It’s wonderful that you can use what you have learned to advocate with your doctors for best practices!💜Linda

Don't you just look at the Neutrophils and Eosinophils in the blood work? My Neutrophils are always elevated but not Eosinophils.