I just got diagnosed with bronchiectasis. What does this mean for me? I am a non-smoker, I am 55 year-old female. I have no history of anything with regard to chemicals, or inhaling an object, or AIDS, or cystic fibrosis. My chest pain began when I was 15 years old.
I do have aortic valve insufficiency (mild, no big deal). I have hypothyroidism, and food allergies (MAJOR, and extensive). I have had a colon resection due to diverticulitis when I was 40. I do have a history over the years of pneumonia off and on, and a cough/cold deal that I go through every single winter. This did begin when I was 15 with chest pain, and the pains have increased over the years. In April, there was one incident that was so bad I thought it was a heart attack.
I'm supposed to go back to the primary care physician now, and she's supposed to talk to me about where I go next. What does that mean? What should I ask? I am a bit in shock, a bit optimistic, a bit fearful, and mostly just not sure what I am supposed to do between now and then to prepare for the next visit.