Anyone else diagnosed with bronchiectasis?

[shekoe]

For several years prior to MC diagnosis and in the four years since, I have suffered with chronic wheezing/coughing and repeated bronchial infections. Finally diagnosed via CT scan with bronchiectasis, permanent dilation of some of my bronchial tubes. It, too, is an uncommon disease, not terribly well studied and requires treatment tailored to each patient. Currently weaning off Advair and low dose erythromycin following a four month siege. MC is in remission thanks to GF diet. My gut feeling (we are all familiar with those) is their is a common thread. Anyone else think so? Thanks. Sheila

[tex]

Sheila,

I know of at least one other member, who often has problems with repeated bronchial infections, that are very difficult to get rid of, but I'm not aware of anyone who has been diagnosed with bronchiectasis. Heck, I had never even heard of it, until you brought it up.

I have a hunch that you may be right about it being associated with MC, though, because many of us are prone to sinus infections, for example. The radiologist's report on my recent MRI brain scan, mentioned that I had a sinus infection at the time, that I wasn't even aware of. Of course the report had a much more technical name for it, (chronic bilateral ethmoid sinusitis), referring to inflammation of the mucosal lining of the sinus, but we would call it a sinus infection. LOL.

Tex

[kimtg68]

Sorry for the late reply. I was out of town when this was posted. I too have never heard of that term but do know for YEARS (just over 20 yrs now) I have suffered from chronic sinus and bronchial infections. About 2 years ago I was having such difficulty breathing that my GP sent me to a lung specialist. He started me on inhalers which never helped and he just kept changing inhalers on me, again none worked. I took a trip to Las Vegas and had the scariest episode of not being able to breath. Inhalers did nothing to help me so I threw them out! That was the last time it ever happened.
7 years ago I had reconstructive surgery to my sinus passage where they removed 4 sections of bones to allow better flow of my passages. Still get the sinus infections though.
So IMO based on everything I'm NOW learning I think it may be possible that breathing issues ie: bronchial/sinus along with the many others issues are in some way possible connected with MC.
Mixed Conntective Tissue Disease is one of the autoimmune disorders that can involve major organ problems to include the lungs. MC is a form of autoimmune disease so I would think since they are still learning about MC that it's very possible they will discover MANY links.

[Polly]

Hi Folks!

Interesting thread. I'm not aware of any connection that I have read about, but of course, we all know that medical journals are hopelessly outdated. They don't even have the info about MC and food intolerances that we have had to learn about first hand and share here.

I can imagine that there may be a connection between bronchiectasis and MC - both invlove inflammation of the mucosa, one respiratory and one GI. As a group we know that we have hyperreactive immune systems and that inflammation related to MC can certainly occur anywhere in the GI tract. So it seems likely that we might hyperreact to inflammation anywhere it occurs in the body.

Sheila and Kim...........have you ever tried eliminating foods high in histamine? Just a thought.

Love,

Polly

[kimtg68]

Now there's a thought Polly. I'm still working on finding my food intollerances but you have brought up something worth thinking about. Thank you.

[Polly]

Don't mention it! Keep us updated, please, on your trials and discoveries.

Love,

Polly