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Chest and upper back pain with bronchiectasis and pseudomonas
My visit with my pulmonologist today was extremely frustrating. He informed me that my pain in my chest and upper back must be related to something else because lungs can not cause pain. He told me bronchiectasis only causes chest tightness and a cough. My pain is not in my head but It is difficult to accept it’s caused by another problem and not my lung disease and infection. Any input from personal experience would be appreciated. I’m very frustrated to think I have another ailment causing the pain.
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I have chest pain too! Sometimes radiates down my sides to lower back. It stops me in my tracks for a few minutes and comes and goes. However, happening more frequently. Anyone else have this?
I was just diagnosed with MAC and have Bronchiectasis as well. No treatment yet but the symptoms are becoming worse.
Anyone experience nausea with MAC? Already lost almost 15 lbs and need to eat!
These are classic symptoms of a MAC infection. I read back through your posts, and saw they are awaiting results from your cultures. This takes 6 weeks or so.
The pain you mention may well be angry muscles from coughing.
Since everything seems to be progressing, your may want to call and see if there is any plan to start meds, increase nebs or other treatment to get you through until they know which antibiotics to prescribe.
Have you told the doctor your symptoms are worse?
Sue
Yes but I have genetic resistance to some macrolides,
So have to wait because she said she could do more harm than good if they didn’t get meds right.
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1 ReactionSue I just started coughing a lot today…..it’s clear mucus….tickle in throat. Why would this suddenly start. . Is it a good thing? Any thoughts?
Gee I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, changes in symptoms usually should be watched for 5-7 days, and if they don't improve, a call to your doc is in order.
Sue
Thank you for your response Sue. I think it’s a head cold because I’ve been sneezing my head off… So hopefully it’ll just dissipate. I’m so grateful for this blog I am learning so much and getting information in regard to where to seek help and so many other things… I’m very grateful to you and everyone thank you
Yep, chest pains, and yep sometimes the ones that kick you in the upper chest and stop you in your tracks. They're certainly not in your head, they are in your chest!
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3 ReactionsThe "bra line" made me think back to my pregnancy days. I was sure my bra was too tight, so I stopped wearing one. The pain continued. A doctor later diagnosed it as a sliding rib. The baby inside had caused connective tissue damage in the rib area. The pain occasionally comes back, especially when I bring my knee to my chest. A doctor can diagnose it by pulling on the rib, it moves quite a bit out of place. Just knowing what it is has helped me deal with it over the years.
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1 ReactionJoann, I don’t know your age, but thought this might be worth sharing, if not for you, for others. . I have bronchiectasis, no MAC. Had some very small neuroendocrine tumors and an inflamed granuloma removed in Jan. From left lung. I started having severe back pain after being hospitalized in 2023 with pneumonia. I thought maybe it was pneumonia side effects. The pain was so bad the GP sent me for an X-ray. It was 3 compression fractures of my spine. I opted for physical therapy to strengthen my core muscles and that helped. I have a bone density scan every two years but had always been in osteopenia range. Just wanted to share because back pain can happen for other reasons and Sue is on spot, you have to pursue it if it continues. Hope all is well since I saw the post was from 2020.