National Jewish Center Visits

You had a bronchoscopy while you were at NJH?

Yes. It appears you may be surprised that I did have the bronchoscopy while there.??? Are you??

I was told by my lead doctor that with doing it, Bronchoscopy, we could know what was going on inside my lungs...at least something like that was discussed. At the time I was there I had not found this Mayo site and was very overwhelmed with my diagnosis of BE and not knowing much about Bronchiectasis before going there. I probably would not have had it if I had had more information about it vs the fact that we did/do sputum testing to understand if we have an infection.
Thankfully all went well and it was a breeze during and after for me.
Barbara

Even though I wasn’t at NJH for Bronch/NTM, I always got my results immediately instead of at the end of my week visit. It was important, so we could decide on next steps.
We did a follow up based on one result (it helped us better understand what was going on with me). It was good I stayed longer than they planned (told me a week but I stayed 10 days so last day, could do follow up on results of earlier results).

NJH is not as anti-bronchoscopy as some facebook groups would lead you to believe. It's a valuable tool that may be used in a difficult diagnosis.

Yes "It is strange that different people have such different experiences." I wonder if each doctor is able to decide how to handle discussing the test results in the way they want to rather than a set way, policy, that requires each lead doctor do the same type of procedure and timing for the discussion of the results of the tests. Overall each of the testing departments etc. and the scheduling of everything appears to have a set way, policy.
I'm sure it also depends upon staffing etc. at the time or all times as it is with many things today.
Always much to learn and be aware of so we know what to request and ask for, if it is at all possible.
Barbara

I did have a bronchoscopy and saline lavage with some small tissue samples taken at one of my multiple visits at NJH, when they were trying to understand why my imaging of my lungs was showing new opacities. It was done under conscious sedation and it was uneventful. I could see the screen (as well as I could see without my glasses) while it was being conducted.

It is the only bronchoscopy I’ve had in the 25 years since my diagnosis with hs ideopathic emphysema.

Hi! I live in the Chicago area and had trouble with my pulmonologist as well. I went to NJH several times and was very happy I did. I am now much more stable and get my care from the Bronchiectasis Clinic at the University of Chicago Medical Center downtown. I have been with them for over two years. Dr. Naureckas started many years ago treating CF patients and saw the need to expand to bronchiectasis patients. They respond quickly to emails and I have had no regrets. The hour drive from the suburbs is a pain but right now I only see him twice a year. It's much less expensive than my trips to Denver. Maybe you could go to NJH for a full battery of tests and once you are in a good place, consider University of Chicago.

Pjas is the bronchiectasis clinic of university of Chicago where their main hospital is?

Lilianna, they are downtown at: 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. I see Dr. Edward Naureckas. I'm not sure where the hospital is located?

Thank you