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Chest and upper back pain with bronchiectasis and pseudomonas
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Feb 1 2:15pm | Replies (131)Comment receiving replies
Thank you Terri this does make sense. So my pulmonologist is basically saying the lungs aren’t causing the pain but fails to say all the other issues that go along with bronchiectasis and pseudomonas are making me cough non stop which in turn cause the pain. So he’s off the hook cause the lungs aren’t the direct cause of pain. I asked about this and he told me to go to my primary care for the pain issue. I feel like it’s passing the buck. I’m extremely frustrated. I go for another cat scan Thursday because I asked for it. I asked for it because lung specialist says you only have a very small area of Bronchiectasis which should not be causing you all this discomfort, pretty much discounting my symptoms and comparing me with someone that has a larger are of this in their lungs. I suggested maybe the area is no longer small and it’s expanded now -a year later. For such a “small” area I would think I could function a normal life style. I can’t even make it through an 8 hr day at work. Sorry I’m venting but I’m frustrated because I was working 70 hours a week 2 yrs ago and not had a problem doing it. I guess I’m off to see the PCP then the CT scan. Thank you for sharing I feel better knowing it’s not in my head and someone else did have this issue.
Thank you Joann
Replies to "Thank you Terri this does make sense. So my pulmonologist is basically saying the lungs aren’t..."
Joann, I found that yoga helped a great deal with body pain, especially the back pain. You can do yoga at home, it is easy. I found that 'the child's' pose helped a lot. That is where you sit on your knees and bend forward, reaching straight out ahead with your arms on the floor. This pose opens the vertebrae, and stretches your back and shoulder muscles. Rolling into a ball on your back (on the floor) and cause yourself to roll from side to side also helps. It is a form of self massage. Getting on all fours on the floor and then bend around to each side as if you were going to bite an imaginary tail also feels good. This also opens the vertebrae and exercises side muscles. Will you let me know if you try these and how it went?
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Joann your experience is similar to what many of us have been through. I can relate to you saying that two years ago you were functioning so much better.
I dealt with chronic coughing and excessive mucous for 4 years before I finally got some relief. I also have been told that I have mild bronchiectasis. I believe my bigger issue was chronic pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. I used multiple courses of oral antibiotics which would make me feel better for short periods of time. During my worst time I had pain in my chest and sometimes my back directly behind my lung.
It wasn’t until I did my own research and asked for inhaled Tobramycin that I finally got better. My cough and mucous have declined significantly. My most recent sputum sample was free of pseudomonas. I’m not sure it has been eradicated for good but I am so much better.
Have you submitted sputum samples? How many times?
I just want to repeat what you have heard from others. Educate yourself and be your own advocate. If you have the opportunity for a second opinion take advantage. Good luck and don’t lose hope.