Brochiectasis cough

Posted by charisscurry @charisscurry, 2 days ago

My mom was diagnosed with bronchiectasis in December of 2024. She coughs frequently. She uses the sodium chloride and albuterol nebulizers. She also uses the vest. Any other treatments that may help her not cough as frequently?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Your poor mom. That coughing is exhausting. Is she bringing up a lot of mucus with the coughing? Has the amount or color changed which might indicate an infection? Has it been cultured recently including for MAC? Is she using a flutter valve device like aerobika or Acapella then huff coughing after she does neb and vest? That seems to help people who produce a lot. Answers to these might guide answers from those who’ve dealt with this a longer time.

If no sign of infection and she’s huff coughing already, think about post nasal drip or reflux as possible causes of the cough.
Good luck to you both.

REPLY

@chriscurry Have they done sputum cultures to rule out treatable infections?

REPLY

Yes, there was no infection found.

REPLY
@pacathy

Your poor mom. That coughing is exhausting. Is she bringing up a lot of mucus with the coughing? Has the amount or color changed which might indicate an infection? Has it been cultured recently including for MAC? Is she using a flutter valve device like aerobika or Acapella then huff coughing after she does neb and vest? That seems to help people who produce a lot. Answers to these might guide answers from those who’ve dealt with this a longer time.

If no sign of infection and she’s huff coughing already, think about post nasal drip or reflux as possible causes of the cough.
Good luck to you both.

Jump to this post

Yes, it was cultured for MAC and no infections were found. She has both the aerobic and Acapella. Thanks will look into the post nasal drip and acid reflux.

REPLY
@charisscurry

Yes, it was cultured for MAC and no infections were found. She has both the aerobic and Acapella. Thanks will look into the post nasal drip and acid reflux.

Jump to this post

@charisscurry, does your mom have allergies?
nasal rinses with Neil Med's salt packs and 10 minutes boiled water helped tremendously reduce my cough.
Best wishes of great health to all of us!

REPLY

Active Cycle Breathing technique might be helpful, as well as tapping on her chest and back with a cupped hand for several minutes once or twice daily. NAC and/or Mucinex might help as well. Good luck.

REPLY

As a guide, respiratory therapists percuss about 10 different places on the chest for two minutes each. It’s helpful to set a timer.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.