Your path to to being diagnosed sounds a lot like mine. I had terrible chest congestion, coughing constantly day and night tan or green tint sputum about 2 1/2 years ago. before that I would get so that I could not breath when exercising. Explained all this to my PCP. I thought it was my heart causing the breathing problems and the coughing was a bad case of bronchitis. I asked for antibiotic on 2 different occasions & the PCP ordered for 5 days or 10 days. I finally asked for referral to a pulmo., He ordered a sputum culture, CT scan, pulmonary function test. sputum showed couple of different fungus, but he said they were common and everywhere and nothing to worry about. So every day I kept thinking tomorrow will be better! I did not know the meaning of the word bronchiectasis ! Got pseudomonas.
I changed PCP & Pulmo practice and have been to pulmonary specialty clinic and a teaching hospital. I now have smart vest, nebulizer, Aerobika and meds for neb. What I would like to know is what stage I am in.
I have not been able to cough in months! Very difficult to get a sputum spec. I very seldom feel air going deep into my lungs. Taking meds now for thrush in my mouth and esophagus. Now I have come to the rude awakening that I am not going to be well tomorrow without a miracle from God.