Anxiety and stress with Bronchiectasis

@jjudah I use the Aerobika that incorporates a flutter chamber into the nebulizer. I do that in the morning and then use the aerobika nebulizer cup in eve, so I sterilize 1/day. I am really tired of this as well. I'm seriously thinking of making an investment and buying 7 Aerobika's and 7 aerobika nebulizing cups and boil just 1/week. Just curious, have you done the methylene choline challenge and Nitric Oxide test to confirm asthma? I am hearing more and more people saying their bronchiectasis was confused for asthma. My pulm dr had me on inhaled steroids for years, got MABC, went to NJH and they told me I didn't need any steroids. It took me a few months to wean off of the inhalants, but I did.

@kathyjjb when I was first diagnosed in March of 2021, my 1st pulmonologist told me I had sleep apnea!!! Not asthma, he told me quote: “you have enough lungs for two people”. And yes I did do a methelcholine challenge, and the Pulmonologist still insisted it was sleep apnea!! He had me do 3 sleep apnea sleep studies. I finally got tired of it and insisted on being sent to another hospital and they did only ONE test 1, a HRCT scan and told me I had Pulmonary Fibrosis with Traction Bronchiectasis. I too in recent years hear many medical professionals of course including doctors, say “Bronchiectasis hs been under diagnosed. I disagree I think it’s been MISDIAGNOSED!!! To say under diagnosed is just a play on words. Now I know that makes no difference whatsoever in my condition, I only would’ve been able to start the anti-fibrotic medication 7 months earlier, therefore slowing the progression of the disease more. Anyway in closing I know there are countless great and wonderful Doctors that mankind desperately need and want. I only wish the ones who might have “Tunnel vision” or egos so big they can’t or won’t refer you to someone who might be able to correctly diagnose you. Thank you for allowing me to vent some, I truly do wish anyone and everyone with this disease blessings and well wishes.

A suggestion, if you haven't tried doing the Autogenic Drainage while lying on your back, it's been very effective for me in being able to bring up mucus. It's the only way I've been able to produce enough mucus for the sputum culture tests. (Don't try it if you have reflux though.) My routine is to neb 7% saline, wait 15 minutes or so then do the Autogenic Drainage while lying on a bed. I often don't make it through the whole 2.5 minutes before I get results. I rarely use the Aerobika now as this method has been so effective for me. I also find that often 15 minutes or so after a meal (especially lunch), I'll have the urge to cough. If this happens when I'm home, I'll lie on my back and can produce sputum. I too worry about future infections and that there's bacteria out there to get me with any activity I do. It seems to help me to just focus on keeping my airway as clear as I can, getting vaccinated, doing what I can do to educate myself - webinars from NJH, this site, seeing the doctor. Then get on with life not just living. I have not had severe exacerbations though and have not been living with bronchiectasis for many years as a lot of people on this site have. I guess all any of us can do is try to stay informed, do what we can, and focus on making the most out of each and every day. As Dory from "Finding Nemo" says "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming." Hang in there.

@avalr I too have found the Autogenic drainage to be the best way for me to expel the mucus, although I don’t lay on my back. My routine is: levelbuteral (bronchodilator) wait 10-15 then 7% saline and I sit up while nebbing the saline & every few minutes I take a small sip of water, I find that really helps thin the mucus and makes me want to cough. I try to do the 4 minute one but find I can’t make it thru the whole 4 minutes because I would choke on all the mucus I cough up. Usually every 5-7 minutes while nebbing the saline I stop the compressor and do a round of 4 minute AD, then start back in again. My whole A.M. routine takes about an hour. The mucus is the worst in the morning because it has settled overnight and is dehydrated. Has your Dr. told you where the worst of your BE is? (Lobe location). I commend you for being able to lie on your back and do the AD. I don’t believe I would be able to with the amount of mucus I produce. I totally agree with you about keep living life, I think we all just have to do the best we can for ourselves and each other. That’s what makes this forum so special to me.

@spider109 I think I'll give it a try - nebulizing saline, stopping for some AC then nebulizing some more. Thanks for sharing what works for you. I know all I've learned about AC has come from NJH on YouTube or here. The respiratory therapists here have done almost nothing in the way of AC education. Just showed me how to use a nebulizer and flutter valve and said what a huff cough is. The worst of the BE is in my middle right lobe. That seems typical with BE and MAC? Here's the specifics from my most recent CT in October. I don't mind sharing them. Ignore though if you aren't interested in details.
"Stable bronchiectasis and volume loss in the lingula and right middle lobe. Stable bronchocentric nodules in the right upper and right middle lobes. Stable hyperdense the nodules in the lateral left upper lobe measuring up to 1.3 cm"

@avalr my Pulmonologist at Mayo told me the worst of my BE is in both lower lobes posterior, and right middle lobe. I’ve never been told I have MAC so I can only assume that I don’t. I’ve never been put on the “Big 3” everyone talks about either. But have been put on various antibiotics at times to treat exacerbations along with prednisone. I wish you luck trying Autogenic drainage treatments in intervals.

@spider109 I think I'll give it a try - nebulizing saline, stopping for some AC then nebulizing some more. Thanks for sharing what works for you. I know all I've learned about AC has come from NJH on YouTube or here. The respiratory therapists here have done almost nothing in the way of AC education. Just showed me how to use a nebulizer and flutter valve and said what a huff cough is. The worst of the BE is in my middle right lobe. That seems typical with BE and MAC? Here's the specifics from my most recent CT in October. I don't mind sharing them. Ignore though if you aren't interested in details.
"Stable bronchiectasis and volume loss in the lingula and right middle lobe. Stable bronchocentric nodules in the right upper and right middle lobes. Stable hyperdense the nodules in the lateral left upper lobe measuring up to 1.3 cm"