I have bronchiectasis, I was diagnosed at 29 yrs of age and am now 48 and waiting for a lung transplant. I am told by my mother that I had pneumonia as a 1 month old baby, hence I believe that was the beginning of a long bout of repeated lung infections which eventually developed into Bronchiectasis.
Back in those days, I always had weak lungs, so even though I wanted to run in every race at school I couldn't because I would run out of air very quickly, so I stuck to short sprint races. Anyway, to cut a long story short, they thought I just had a cold or the flu, so I was always told to take cough mixture, take herbal concoctions, do steam inhalatations (both herbal and also with Vicks), sometimes I would get sharp chest pains on breathing in - to which the doctor would prescribe me regular broad spectrum antibiotics. This never really did much as the infection would die down then flare up again.
So it was a yoyo lifestyle with infections and antibiotics. Wasn't until I got rushed to hospital early one morning (at 29 yrs of age) with severe pneumonia and collapsed lungs that it was finally diagnosed as Bronchiectasis. Even that took endless weeks of tests, xrays, CT scans, bronchoscopies, specialist visits and waiting on results, I missed 7 weeks of work. Was lucky to get my job back after that.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
I managed to maintain good health for a few more years until about 2 and 1/2 yrs ago when I went downhill again by which time the specialist told me I should think about getting onto the lung transplant waiting list as it will only get worse in time to come. Hence here I am still waiting. I still work but I have recently cut my hours down from fulltime (5days/wk) to part time 4days/wk. It is getting harder.
In hindsight, yes, I also wonder the same. Could this have been prevented if I had the diagnosis earlier? My personal opinion in my case is perhaps not, simply because the doctors only sat up when it was mentioned in the Radiographer's report. It was the radiographer who saw it in the xrays and mentioned that it looked 'like' there was some bronchiectasis there. I had earlier xrays and they were all "clear". If they were clear, why would the doctors investigate any further? Hence they didn't.
Perhaps they should take more notice if you tell them you've had this cough for years?
Smething tells me doctors would not appreciate us telling them how to do their jobs.
That's my 2 pence worth.
Back in those days, I always had weak lungs, so even though I wanted to run in every race at school I couldn't because I would run out of air very quickly, so I stuck to short sprint races. Anyway, to cut a long story short, they thought I just had a cold or the flu, so I was always told to take cough mixture, take herbal concoctions, do steam inhalatations (both herbal and also with Vicks), sometimes I would get sharp chest pains on breathing in - to which the doctor would prescribe me regular broad spectrum antibiotics. This never really did much as the infection would die down then flare up again.
So it was a yoyo lifestyle with infections and antibiotics. Wasn't until I got rushed to hospital early one morning (at 29 yrs of age) with severe pneumonia and collapsed lungs that it was finally diagnosed as Bronchiectasis. Even that took endless weeks of tests, xrays, CT scans, bronchoscopies, specialist visits and waiting on results, I missed 7 weeks of work. Was lucky to get my job back after that.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
I managed to maintain good health for a few more years until about 2 and 1/2 yrs ago when I went downhill again by which time the specialist told me I should think about getting onto the lung transplant waiting list as it will only get worse in time to come. Hence here I am still waiting. I still work but I have recently cut my hours down from fulltime (5days/wk) to part time 4days/wk. It is getting harder.
In hindsight, yes, I also wonder the same. Could this have been prevented if I had the diagnosis earlier? My personal opinion in my case is perhaps not, simply because the doctors only sat up when it was mentioned in the Radiographer's report. It was the radiographer who saw it in the xrays and mentioned that it looked 'like' there was some bronchiectasis there. I had earlier xrays and they were all "clear". If they were clear, why would the doctors investigate any further? Hence they didn't.
Perhaps they should take more notice if you tell them you've had this cough for years?
Smething tells me doctors would not appreciate us telling them how to do their jobs.
That's my 2 pence worth.