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@cwal Asthma and Bronchiectasis often go together.
I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of forty, but realize I probably have had it since about the age of 11 or 12, around the same time I regularly began suffering from pneumonia and sinus infections. Silly me - I had two asthmatic kids and two nieces, and I never connected my symptoms with theirs because my "triggers" were different.
I learned that asthma and pneumonia (either one severe case or a number of infections) can often be predictive of developing bronchiectasis.
Others are like you, suggestion comes during treatment for MAC and or Bronchiectasis.
Here was a game-changer for me -my pulmonologist decided my Asthma was primary - chest tightness, shortness of breath - and Bronchiectasis secondary. Since I did not have any active MAC or other infection, she started me on a med originally for COPD, Symbicort. It contains formoterol, a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) that opens airways like albuterol or levalbuterol, but is effective for 10-12 hours instead of 2-3. Yes, it contains a corticosteroid, but there is a formulation with a very low dose, and so far has not caused me any problem.
What treatment has been suggested to you?
Sue
Replies to "@cwal Asthma and Bronchiectasis often go together. I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of..."
@sueinmn - This sounds just like me. I have had bronchitis so many times, and each time I get a cold the symptoms go straight to my chest. I had pneumonia earlier this year and was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. It's so crazy because I've been managing the treatment of my younger daughter's asthma for years, and it never occurred to me that I might have it! Question for you Sue - when you get sick, do you go straight to your pulmonologist or go through primary for treatment? I felt like I got the runaround with primary care the last time with my pneumonia and they didn't recognize the severity right away.
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No treatment suggested yet. I was Dx with MAC & Bronchiectasis first. Chest tightness (which happens sporadically and without defined triggers) came later.
It came along insidiously without me realizing what it was if that makes sense. No other asthma symptoms now or before. That's why I wondered if it's the inflammatory nature of the MAC itself that could be the cause of the airways / chest tightness?
I do have an "abnormal" spirometry. Spirometry is the only test I know of that is done for asthma. Which that seems odd to me since abnormal could indicate other obstructive disease also.