Brochiectasis

[Ruth2011]

I am 38 year female, with bronchiectasis in both lungs and also have Asthma ....I have suffered with Asthma since birth and have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis for around 9 years...
Up until now I have manage to keep the disease under control but feel like I am on a downward spiral .. I have 2 beautiful children and my job as a fitness instructor which I love has helped immensley with this condition...
I seem to be on IV's from home and oral antibiotics continual.. I feel exhausted 99% of the time and would like to feel a little better than I do .... I there any suggestions of what else I can do .. ?? Kind regards

[bsmsl]

I do support doing breathing exercises.  They can help several things giving some improvement to lung function there by possibly increasing oxygen levels.  They can be useful.

However, if you have a bronchiecstasis infection, the infection MUST be treated. Not treating it will lead to complicated issues.  

There are some other issues that need to be considered like interstatial lung disese (diagnosed by biopsy).  

Bottom line, before trying any treatment, make sure that you have  firm diagnosis as an imapropriate treatment can be harmful.  I don't think that breathing exercises can be harmful unless you fail to seek an accurate diagnosis.

Take care
God bless

[hava]

What else can I do ..for.......bronchiectasis?
The Yog Pranayam will  help you relax and also help to restore the lung function.You will notice benefits in weeks, as your energy level improves.
Initially do kapalbhati 20 times and anulom vilom for 2 minutes, several times a day. When your breathing improves, do all the the pranayams in order, as described. Come back to report your progress, over the weeks,so others can benefit.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.For one minute, keep your fists, with the thumb pointing up, on your legs,above the knee, while doing bhastrika.Repeat this with the fists pointing down and thumb resting on the legs.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and hold your head steady. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Age over 15 years -do this for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Age under 15 years -do this for 5 to 10  minutes twice a day.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Age over 15 years -Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Age under 15 years -Repeat this cycle for 5 to 10  minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21  times

Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show up gradually.Only by doing you will benefit
and feel good because you are helping your body.

[bsmsl]

Have you done a sputum culture or a bronchoscopy to determine which if any abnormal organisms have made their home in your lungs.  

I got a CT scan back a year ago that said I have bronchiecstasis.  I just got a sputum culture report back that says I have two abnormal fungi.  My allergist did not think this was a problem as my other lab work doesn't support it being a problem.  My GP did want to persue this issue and was taking steps in that direction.  I have been in an asthma flare for several weeks and antibiotics didn't seem to be helping.  My allergist decided to go ahead and try to treat for the fungi instead of pursuing more antibiotics right now.  I will be starting anti-fungal medication when I can get to the pharmacy.  

The point is, if the organism keeping your asthma bad is not a bacteria any anti-biotic treatment is pointless.  You may want to request a bronchoscopy to better determine what is going on in your lungs.

Also, another thing to consider would be aspirin sensitivity.  You don't have to consume an aspirin (or other NSAID) to have this.  It seems to be a self perpetuating condition with progressively worse asthma that frequently leads to steroid dependence.  If you have ever reacted with an asthma attack to any
NSAID this is a possibility.  You can go through a desensitization process which will immensely help to bring symptoms under control with fewer meds.  Talk to your doctors about this.  A bronchoscopy could also help diagnose this condition as they should look for high neutrophil counts in the lungs tissues.

I hope that helps you some.
Take care and God bless.