Cough forever???

@payette78 Let's put that awful 😖 comment aside for now.

With proper diagnosis, self-management, and if necessary, antibiotic treatment, you can in fact get your cough under control!

Let's begin with a few questions.
Are you seeing a pulmonologist experienced in treating Bronchiectasis? It is very different than treating asthma or COPD, and far more rare, so you need the right doctor.

Have you been tested to see if you are a lung infection? This is the most frequent cause of uncontrolled coughing?

Have you been introduced to the technique of airway clearance, where you work to expel the excess mucus from your lungs?

If you answered "No" you need to find the right doctor - ask your treating doc for a referral, or come back with questions and we'll try to help you figure out if there I someone local to see, or whether you need to look for care a a specialty center.

Yes to the specialist. And using an Aerobika, which makes me cough more right afterwards. No treatment plan until after the bronchoscopy, which is supposed to be this month. Misdiagnosed by a pulmonologist as asthma 8 years ago, so at least now we're on the right track. No fever the whole time. How is infection tested for?

With the little bit of knowledge I have it is my understanding that to test for a type of MAC infection there are two ways.
First is a good release of 'sputum' into a medical sputum vile that will get sent into a lab for testing for a infection in the lungs. You release, hopefully, sputum into the vile by coughing/huff coughing your sputum into the vile, possibly done after an airway clearance technique, into the medical vile. It is best done first thing in the morning before any food intake.
Second is what you are scheduled for, the bronchoscopy which will help you and the doctor to understand all somewhat better.

If there is another way of testing for a lung infection or any corrections or additions to this post , hopefully another one of our posting BE buddies who are long time BE patients etc. will post this information.

Your being misdiagnosed is not uncommon as you will see on the threads/posts in Mayo Clinic Connect.
I was misdiagnosed, luckily for only about a year and finally due to my having lost weight the C Scan was ordered and told the whole story, BE, Bronchiectasis. The MAC/MAI infection was diagnosed with my visit to NJH a little over a year after the local C Scan test that said BE.
Barbara

Thanks for the lengthy reply full of good info. I think the doc is waiting for the CT scan results to schedule the bronchoscopy. Earlier scan led him to the BE diagnosis. Aerobika 4 times a day is the only treatment so far. The waiting is hard!

I had horrid coughing episodes along with a chronic little cough for at least 2 years before I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. It really limited my life-just after Covid no one wanted to hear coughing. I was thought to have MAC, but cultures negative.
The horrid episodes went away when my post nasal drip/chronic sinus infection was treated-took a few months.
I was diagnosed with mild asthma and my little nagging cough was gone in less than 48 hrs after starting asthma inhaler.
So…maybe your cough will improve a lot once you get diagnosis and treatment.

In the meantime, peppermint candy was best medicine for controlling it.

Yes, Ricola is my best friend. I sing in a chorus and always have a Ricola close at hand. I feel fortunate that I can still sing.

I agree! I have been amazed how much throat lozenges help with coughing. Luden's Wild Cherry works for me but it's probably bad for my teeth!

Aah, my speech therapist would smile! She recommends any of the lozenges that are primarily pectin, which coat and soothe the throat. Luden's is my go to, but I'm sure my dentist will agree it is not good for our teeth.

I found that a term of 7% saline has worked for me. Having said that everyone is different.

Thanks for the tip about pectin.