Airway clearance and how I feel throughout the day

here it is. I found it quickly:
https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative.org/Research/Registry/Bronchiectasis-and-NTM-Research-Registry#map

My CT scan shows I have mild bronchiectasis after a year-long struggle with pneumonia and lung infections. I did mention using saline to my pulmonologist, he said I don't need it. I hope he is right. I do want to make sure that I understand when I should use it. what would be the trigger to start using it. He believes that inhalers will control the inflammation. I am 71, I think if the inhaler works the way he says, I could use it from time to time. We alway have to juggle the pros and cons, and make the right choice. In my upbring, all medicine has 3% of poison in it, well, this is the saying, not really poison. Thank you for telling me what the mucus means in my case. That is very comforting.
Many thanks again and take care.
Ling

My CT scan shows I have mild bronchiectasis after a year-long struggle with pneumonia and lung infections. I did mention using saline to my pulmonologist, he said I don't need it. I hope he is right. I do want to make sure that I understand when I should use it. what would be the trigger to start using it. He believes that inhalers will control the inflammation. I am 71, I think if the inhaler works the way he says, I could use it from time to time. We alway have to juggle the pros and cons, and make the right choice. In my upbring, all medicine has 3% of poison in it, well, this is the saying, not really poison. Thank you for telling me what the mucus means in my case. That is very comforting.
Many thanks again and take care.
Ling

Wow, this is a good map. OHSU is where my pulmonologist works. ALan Baker, the specialist in bronchiectasis, is not seeing patients any more. I have tried to see him in the past. But I am going to see Dr. Winthrope in September. He is an ID doctor.

Thanks a million!
Ling

oh you are lucky Ling to have that appt! Ask Dr Winthrope about the saline in your case. Bring all your questions to him when you go! Remember that prevention is very important with Bronchiectasis. So even though yours is mild you could take measures such as avoid crowds. Avoid anyone who is sick of course. Wear a mask during flu season when you are shopping etc. I kept going to large crowded indoor events every summer for years. Pretty much every time I would come home with a very bad chest cold. I have no doubt that contributed to my Bronchiectasis becoming worse and worse. Cycles of repeated infection/inflammation/worsening of it. I wish I had known better. You are very wise to be pro active now especially at 71! I was in my 40's when I developed Bronchiectasis so i could get away with more (but should not have).

If I were at the beginning on my bronchiectasis journey @wangling I *might* consider a TCM or Ayurvedic consult...I know what you mean about poison in medicine. American medicine *tends* to treat symptoms not root cause in many cases.

I have heard from a number of people that they developed Bronchiectasis after a bout of pneumonia. In fact two people in my very town were diagnosed with mild Bronchiectasis after struggles with pneumonia. One of them said he just kept getting pneumonia or infections prior to finally seeing a pulmo who diagnosed the Bronchiectasis. So you have to wonder if the cart came before the horse or visa versa. In my case I had a very severe flu virus (chest cold) and the coughing up of mucus never stopped after that virus. I also had repeated chest colds prior to that. They do say that repeated pulmonary infection is one cause of Bronchiectasis. Perhaps my immune or D levels were low back then. If you only have little clear congestion you probably do not need saline. I have a great deal of congestion. But could the saline discourage MAC from developing? Or would the lack of mucus be enough to discourage one from contracting it? These would be good questions for your Dr. Or if anyone else reads this and has input on that please do so! I agree with your upbringing about medicines being partly poison! But sometimes it takes a thorn to remove a thorn.

Ah, not sure how I missed this posting. These are great questions to ask Dr. Winthrop. Please feel free to let me know if you have other questions. These questions are general concerns to all of us. Many thanks, Irenea8.

Ling

It seems that the pulmo's who do not know a lot about Bronchiectasis end up prescribing just Albuterol or steroid inhalers. And not the saline. If you are coughing up much sputum with any color I should think the saline would be a good idea but if not you may be ok with his advise at least for now?

most likely he will say the repeated infections led to the Bronchiectasis. Something must be going on with lowered immune function?