Hi - my name is Ray. I too have been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis. I have a good team of Pulmonary specialists at Concord Hospital / Laconia NH. I have a regimen of liquid form meds for my at home nebulizer - Ipratropium Bromide / Albuterol Sulfate, Budesonide and Acetylcysteine. I only take the Albuterol in the morning or midday because it gets me hyper - like drinking large amounts of coffee. At the Pulmonologists recommendation, Budesonide is my go to medicine and does not make me hyper. It gets me expelling somewhat but I can cough up lots of gelatanous green gunk in the morning before inhaling anything. Its the Acetylcysteine that really gets me expelling but I typically use late in the day or early evening. I'm also on low dose of Azithromyacin on odd days [M-W-F]. Kind of a maintenance dosage. So my attacks come in cycles - early AM, noon and again late afternoon. The late ones are vicious at times. It can cause me to pull over if driving, Coughing so hard that my throat hurts and I get raspy, I can get very light headed, chest hurts but in particular my lower right lung. It can incpacitate me for 5 - 10 minutes while I recover. I tried to combat this with portable nebulizers but the quality of them is marginal at best. I am now looking for yet another one. Are there any reputable organizations that really test these things? Its not uncommon for them to die after a few weeks - good luck on support!

Finding this group is a life important event. I live in what can be described as a frigid area for 3 - 4 months out of the year [like now]. Nobody ever mentioned that the cold can have an impact. I felt relief almost immediately upon coming inside today from walking the dogs. I regulate my temp at 68 and most importantly - I regulate my humidity at 38% - 42% in the winter. I just thought the cold was normal for anyone. Its all making sense now.

I'm retired but volunteer at a homeless shelter. I try to keep my distance to avoid transferable sickness - it rarely works. When you are surrounded by 40+ people in from the streets during mealtime it is impossible. I run the kitchen breakfast program. I find myself having to go home to use my nebulizer to help my breathing and within 30 minutes I'm coughing out a lot of gunk and then return. I try to step outside to get some air periodically. What I really need is a portable nebulizer that just flat out works - dependably. I welcome suggestions. I am boarding a plane in a month and want to have one with me as the air becomes very stale.

I guess the best way to describe Bronchiectasis for me is that it is very random and can set upon me with little predictability. OK - enough from me. Thank you - Ray