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@spider109,@cwal,@pacathy,@brittany123
Yes when you google, as shown below, you can find two different understandings of where one would find what is called mucus plugs.
Ours, from the lungs.
@spider109 I would be interested in knowing why your pulmonologist said "Oh you don't have mucus plugs". It is a common known fact with having BE that we will have mucus plugs. If we have snake like tubes/airways with damages due to BE of the lungs. Mucus sits there if not cleared and forms a plug that we have to get up and out. My lead doctor at NJH and an excellent P Therapist at Tyler informed me of our having mucus plugs and I sure can see them with clearing it all out with the huff coughing.
Barbara
Replies to "@spider109,@cwal,@pacathy,@brittany123 Yes when you google, as shown below, you can find two different understandings of where..."
Yes Barbara I wholeheartedly agree, what else could it be!!! Those white small eraser shaped solid things in my sputum at times. I think my Pulmonologist that told me that (UVM not Mayo Jax) isn’t very well versed in BE. I know she primarily deals with COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and other ILD’s. Thank you for your reply Barbara
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I try to avoid general statements like "It is a common known fact with having BE that we will have mucus plugs" because everyone is different. My pulmonologist closely analyzes each CT scan to see if she can find any mucus plugs on the image. If they are there, it is a sign I need to up my airway clearance and/or saline.
Since this conversation began, I have switched from my usual paper towel for disposing of mucus to a specimen cup. Nope, no plugs - and none in the last specimen that went to the lab. I attribute this current lack of plugs to the effectiveness of the Symbicort in helping control both the spasms and inflammation in my airways, so I trap less mucus.