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Questions to ask at your first appointment after diagnosis

Posted by Echo R @coco1970, Nov 17, 2020

I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis in October. My first appointment was not supposed to be until December but at the end of October I was on the treadmill and experienced severe shortness of breath and a racing heart rate and I have not been the same since. I have called and gotten an appointment earlier because I feel like I have damaged something in my chest. I have gone from being able to walk/jog 4 miles at least 5 times a week to not being able to do light chores around the house without getting breathless and having such a heavy chest at night that I can't sleep. I thought I was going to have more time to prepare for this fist appointment to do some more research. What questions are important for me to ask on this first appointment? I am so uncomfortable right now that all I am thinking about is getting some relief from whatever I have going on right now. Any input will be much appreciated.

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cmi | @cmi | Jan 1, 2021
In reply to @ellenn "cmi, I'm so glad you're doing great on the Big 3! I couldn't bring up any..." + (show)
@ellenn

cmi,
I'm so glad you're doing great on the Big 3!
I couldn't bring up any sputum for the longest time. I was just doing the Aerobica. Then an herbalist suggested I lay flat on my back in bed- no pillow and take deep breaths into my abdomen and bring the inhale up to expand the ribs. Then slowly, thru open mouth, with an sss sound, I let the air come way out till nothing is left.Then again Sometimes I hear a sound and I know it's congestion. I do this 20-40 times then when I cough, the sputum usually comes out.
I don't want another Bronchoscopy, so each time I celebrate my hoarding successfully.
Ellen

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Ellen...thank you for sharing this technique. It resembles the breathing techniques I do daily in my Yoga sessions...also when I meditate, get anxious, or just plain tired...it calms me down and helps me feel centered. It is absolutely life changing. In my Yoga practice, in a simple way, it involves the air moving up, down, in, out. What your herbalist taught you (& I imitate in yogic practice) is localizing it...the air moving “upward” via the throat (Udana) which manages respiration...and Coughing....bingo! Good work! Hope I can somehow someday reach your level of success. My gunk must be so gluey and stuck...I bring nothing up. I have even resorted to postural help...pulled out my inversion table and started “hanging like a bat...as my hubby refers to my action”.
My goal for 2021...success.

Success & blessings to ALL.
Regina

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1 reply
ellenn | @ellenn | Jan 1, 2021
In reply to @cmi "Ellen...thank you for sharing this technique. It resembles the breathing techniques I do daily in my..." + (show)
@cmi

Ellen...thank you for sharing this technique. It resembles the breathing techniques I do daily in my Yoga sessions...also when I meditate, get anxious, or just plain tired...it calms me down and helps me feel centered. It is absolutely life changing. In my Yoga practice, in a simple way, it involves the air moving up, down, in, out. What your herbalist taught you (& I imitate in yogic practice) is localizing it...the air moving “upward” via the throat (Udana) which manages respiration...and Coughing....bingo! Good work! Hope I can somehow someday reach your level of success. My gunk must be so gluey and stuck...I bring nothing up. I have even resorted to postural help...pulled out my inversion table and started “hanging like a bat...as my hubby refers to my action”.
My goal for 2021...success.

Success & blessings to ALL.
Regina

Jump to this post

Regina,
I like hearing about your practices. I also meditate.
Be patient. I think hoarking has had a bad rap all my life. I thought it was disgusting. I also think that once I could do it, I overdid it. I coughed up a lot of blood the other day so in my zealousness to bring up as much sputum as possible, I didn't wait long enough between sessions. Maybe I broke a blood vessel while coughing so forcefully.
I have 2 Pulmonologists in NYC - one at Weill Cornell and one at Mt Sinai's offshoot of Nat'l Jewish in Denver. They both said different things about the blood. One recommended an antibiotic, the other said give it 2 weeks rest without bringing up sputum - no nebulizing or Aerobica, etc. If I keep coughing up blood, go the ER as it may not be the lungs, but the heart. So I'm waiting on the antibiotics because I have no fever or other symptoms besides tight chest and fatigue, which I've had since lung surgery a year ago. This is all a delicate balance and different for everyone. There's a lot of uncertainty in medicine.
But we can still be of help and supportive to others. You are not alone. Not alone.
Happy New Year everyone. My prayer is that we can all live peacefully with uncertainty.
Ellen

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jr2366 (Jennifer) | @jr2366 | Jan 1, 2021

feel better let us know how you feel soon lets pray we all have a better 2021

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