Sorry you're going through this. Like many of us you sound like you have an allergic component in addition to bronchiectasis. I have had lifelong allergies and also have asthma for which I take symbicort 2 puffs twice a day. I tried weaning myself from symbicort a couple of years ago and I was unsuccessful. Everything got worse -- bronchiectasis and breathing and well being in general. That said, symbicort takes a bit of time to fully kick in, maybe up to 2 weeks. It's not instant like albuterol. When I had a bronchiectasis/asthma flare (hard to determine how much was from what) NP told me that an oral steroid would help me get better sooner. Fortunately, I have not had to take an oral steroid in awhile.

Once you are stable, understanding what causes/triggers your allergies would be a good idea. Undiagnosed allergies/triggers can wreak havoc in lungs with bronchiectasis. In your case, it *might* be causing copious amount of mucus/phlegm. Have you had an allergy/immunology workup?