Bronchiectasis: New Diagnosis
New to your group. Non-smoker. Pneumonia x6 in 12 years, double pneumonia twice. Was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and COPD for past 15 years, now pulmonologist based on x-rays and MRI has diagnosed no COPD, yes bronchiectasis. Take advair 250/50 twice a day. Past ten days I am increasingly gurgling, wheezing, some chest pain. I have recently moved to Florida which I like but am having long wait times to get into see a family care NP who can hopefully refer me to a pulmonologist. I walk 20-30 minutes a day. Any ideas how to manage this now. Am worried about getting pneumonia again. I went to one walk-in clinic at a reputable hospital. They literally did nothing except take x-rays. Didn't even talk to me. Just billed $2000+ for x-rays. Do I try another walk-in clinic. I feel very alone right now with this chronic medical problem.
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@tdrell --Thank you Terri!!!
--Dee
@merpreb, @tdrell, @windwalker, @migizii, @ginak and all others. I have found an interesting article, published in 2015, raising a novel possibility: "Based on these results, the researchers concluded that concomitant presence of bronchiectasis in COPD patients with moderate to very severe airflow limitation was inversely associated with the risk of lung cancer. The researchers suggest that other studies should explore the possible protective effect of bronchiectasis on lung cancer".
Here is the article:
https://lungdiseasenews.com/2015/06/02/researchers-find-association-combined-bronchiectasis-lung-cancer-patients-copd/?amp
Please note that I am sending this article for informational purposes only.
@danielad ..Dee....interesting article re study in Korea showing those with Bronchiectasis and COPD not getting lung cance...I skimmed it so may not be too accurate......thoughts after=
-are 99 subjects adequate to draw serious conclusions?
- are inflammatory chemicals produced by body when bronchiectasis
/COPD is present providing protective mechanism against cancer cells?
Tdrell terri
@migizii since I don’t have COPD, are there studies that show relationships between bronchiectasis and lung cancer?
@migizii - Hello! I don't have COPD either. In my research on the topic of Bronchiectasis and Cancer, I found there are very few studies regarding the relationship. The study most referenced is a longitudinal one conducted between 1998 and 2010 in Taiwan. This study indicates that Bronchiectasis may cause a slight increase in development of lung cancer; nothing substantial and nothing to lose any sleep over!
https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/109/1/17/1869113
As for the previous link, this article is intended for Information only.
@danielad, @migizii, @tdrell- Good morning all. I love all of your great questions This is what I found for the relationship between lung cancer and bronchiectasis https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12890-016-0311-4 I hope that this helps.
In just a few short years, especially 2018, research and breakthroughs for lung disease blossomed. But there is still a long way to go for us.
@merpreb! @migizii, @tdrell -- Good morning and thank you Merry, I saw this study just yesterday and I was going to review it today .... So thank you for sending the URL Merry! My brain was so "fried" by yesterday evening! I fell asleep at the computer, while replying to you all! I am fighting the effects of the allergens which are EVERYWHERE! So my oxygenation is down (93), I have phlegm galore, and feel very tired! Geez!!!! Sorry all, didn't mean to whine ... Stay well!
--Dee
Hi Dee . I think it’s very okay for you to “whine” in this group. I think being able to share our “downs” with people who understand what we are going through is a big psychological help. I , for one, am a “whiner” to anyone who cares to listen or not . Venting out helps ease my psyche . And thank you Dee ... I follow and appreciate your comments in this group . Gives me new knowledge on our common illness .
noahs ------ Amen
Thank you very much @noahs and @auntnanny!!! -- I appreciate your comments. You know, I try to always be strong because ... Well, that is what I have always been, and being anything else is pretty difficult to accept. So thank you for the reminder that IT IS OK to let go every now and then ... It's OK to be a little less strong! 🙂 Hugs to all! Stay healthy!
--Dee