Dry Bronchiectasis

@maggyc Here is a fairly recent discussion that might help you:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/dry-bronchiectasis-and-mac-when-to-treat/
The acknowledgement of dry bronchiectasis (little mucus, no productive cough) is fairly recent. I am not sure there is a consensus yet on whether treatment should be different.

Thanks. There seems to be so much overlap with NTM which I don’t have. This topic of airway clearance is really new to me. And doesn’t appear to be productive when I do it. Not looking to make treatments a task if no value. Will read article.

I’ve had dry bronchiectasis for many years with no symptoms and no treatment. It was only when I started with a dry cough and fatigue that my cat scans started to show suspicious for NTM. After confirming positive with bronchoscopy is when I started treatment with antibiotics. After three years of twice a day airway clearance I still get very little mucus production. It’s frustrating but my doctors still insist that’s the way to go.

Thanks. I’m concerned with doing anything that’s not productive, I won’t be able to maintain motivation. I’ve had my issue diagnosed differently so many times.

According to my pulmonologist, a dry cough, when done correctly, I still disrupting the mucus that is in your lungs, which helps prevent pockets or pools forming where bacteria can hide and grow.

Two things that help me when producing little sputum are vigorous exercise and yoga poses that get my head and chest down. Often after interval walking at high-medium-low speeds or 30 minutes of yoga, I do clear a little mucus.

According to my pulmo, it also helps keep the bronchi as flexible as possible. She just cautions me to cough from the lungs and not the throat.

I, too, have to work hard to get mucus going. Drainage postures seem most productive.
I feel like I work so hard at it that I’m damaging my voice box or lower throat. I’m not sure I’m getting the “using your lungs not your throat” thing right.

Exercise,ACB, postural drainage do not help producing anything except some clear mucus. When I nebulize with 7% sodium chloride, I cough, that regular cough and cough up clear, I guess , mucus. But that’s all. Aerobika does not change anything either. I do all this anyway because i should do it. Sometimes I do autogrnic drainage on my back and sides after 7% and aerobika but then my lungs and my chest muscles hurt bad. It’s too much? How long in all should we do it? What is enough for a session? Is there a rule?

Here is one good example of techniques -

Thank you!!!! So helpful!

I have mild bronchiectasis and have had little mucus since I got my post nasal drainage under control. I only do airway clearance daily since MAC cultures came back negative and I get nothing out. Mayo and my Penn doc are fine with daily. I’ve just made it part of morning routine when I read this site and emails. I know from CT’s that I have at least a bit in lungs and hope I’m moving it around enough to prevent further damage to my bronchial tubes.