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Do you have increased coughing at night?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jul 4, 2023 | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
My coughing increased at night for years before my pulmonologist found that I have tracheobronchomalacia. This is a condition in which the trachea and bronchi collapse upon exhalation. When I started sleeping with a CPAP machine the coughing diminished drastically. Interestingly Medicare doesn't pay for CPAP for this condition, but the relief is well worth the cost. The condition is detected with at CT chest scan taken while holding an exhalation; many pulmonologists miss the diagnosis.
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Hi, @hcroom -
I was also diagnosed with tracheobronchomalacia in 2021 at NJH. Do you notice that you have flares of symptoms?
I believe I had a terrifying flare at the end of 2020 that resulted in an ER visit because I felt like I was suffocating. This was before my diagnosis and I can't really remember what I did that finally made it calm down. Possibly a prescription for hydroxyzine that I think was given to me to calm me but after reading I think it was possibly the antihistamine element of it that settled my symptoms.
I am in the middle of another flare and am sleeping straight up as it feels like the only way I can get any air through my trachea.
If you have been dealing with this for some time I would love any helpful suggestions. I tried a CPAP in 2020 and ended up taking it back before I completed the required number of days of use needed for a permanent prescription.
Hope you are doing well 🙂
-Echo