Bronchiectasis and the Menopause

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Elaine Fear Posted: 08-03-2009 6:27 PM

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Hi

I have had Bronchiectasis since I was 2 years old - following whooping cough.I am now58, working full-time for a few more years.

I have very good treatment at The Royal Berks Hospital and manage to control infections reasonably well. However since coming off HRT recently (March) I have started to get hot flushes 5 or 6 times each day. Recently my mucus production has become unpredictable and I will suddenly need to cough up large amounts. I have started to wonder if this is linked to the raise in temperature due to the flushes - whenever I get a fever my lungs respond badly!

Has anyone else had this problem ?- I am thinking about going back on HRT but would rather not

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Geof the Miner replied on 08-03-2009 7:06 PM

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Hi Elaine. I am sorry that I can't help you with the second problem something to do with hot flushes unless It was the same flush I used to suffer has I walked be a queue of ladies but some how I don't think it is, so I will leave well alone Elaine.

         What I can do is give you a great big warm welcome. Have you been on here before? just thinking of the county and your name, so sorry if I am wrong. There was talk of me suufering with Bronchiectasis has I had experienced Bronchitis on a regular basis as a child and yes the amount of coughing and the trying of removing mucus was unreal and very embarrassing. If I went to speak to someone I'd start literally barking my head off and in reality all I was trying to do was get mucus up from what seemed at the time as the bowels of the earth. Any slight movement would trigger it. I would come down stairs with just a glimmer of a cough st down have a drink of tea, THEN get up to go to the bathroom to have a shave I would start when I were coughing badly I would keep getting a vicous pain in the back of thead head it only lasted a couple a seconds but the pain of course at that time in my mind tumour it wasn't. No body could explain till I found out much later it was classed has the car crash syndrome some people could laugh but it was the only feasible answer I ever got.

        I think I come to a stop there. The reason I said people used to suspect that I had Bronchietasis well when the Respiritory Specialist changed all my treatment unknown to me for a while but all my serious coughing stopped and thank got has never come back. I can say the treatment he gave me. Spiriva, Bricanyl and Symbercort plus Mucadyne capsules to thin the mucus down. So Elaine I am deeply sorry for my negative help but there is something good. There are ladies on here who have said that they have Bronchiectasis and I am sure that I may be in the way of them helping you all my best wishes Geof the Miner

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margaret1 replied on 08-03-2009 7:07 PM

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Hya Elaine.....i have been down the HRT road...i don't know if there is a link between what you discribe...but i substituted evening primrose oil a high dose tablet for the HRT and it worked a treat for me

welcome to the site......maybe someone out there can give you some better hints and tips.....they are a very knowledgeable bunch.....and nice with it too

cheers Margaret

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SusieQ replied on 08-03-2009 8:42 PM

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Hi Elaine

Welcome.  I have COPD and also bronchiectasis - the latter developed about 7 years ago following a really bad winter of infections ... about 12 in total.  I was helping out in a primary school, teaching children to read, and just got one infection after another .... standards of hygiene amongst children of that age is not of the best.

Cannot help you on the menopause as I sailed through it without a backward glance ... never a hot flush, night sweat, etc. to my name.   However do know that emotions can affect my lungs and make me cough more.  Wonder if this is along the same lines as hormones affecting mucus production?  They all effectively translate into chemical rushing around .... so could be a link.

I know that you do not want to go back on HRT, but it might be an interesting little experiment, just to try it for a short while to see if things improve.  If they do, then you could possibly look for a more natural substitute.

In addition the above, I find that the weather has an impact .... this current run of damp gloom has certainly triggered a lot of mucus production.

Just wondered whether you do any breathing exercises to get the mucus up - huffing?  I do a set most mornings and they do help;  I also have a "flutter" - have you seen one of those?  That helps to, when I remember to use it.

Sue

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Kaye Jamieson replied on 12-20-2011 10:48 PM

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Hi Elaine      I cannot help in regard to menopause as I was 67 when diagnosed with bronch.., however, like many friends hot flushes carried on after menopause. One doc told me the heat thermostat never goes back to normal and he was right. Stress, spicy foods, alchol made me hot. My husband says when I overindulge with alchol my coughing is much worse even if I have done my physio.  Anyway my doc said get out of this country to somewhere hot and dry. I did. Heavy rains only twice a year it rained. Just enjoy yourself when you are well. Take a day at a time and laugh. I laugh I cough the mucous comes up so easily!!!!!!!!!!!    ps my spelling of alchol is wrong had a v bad day.  Kaye