Can Post Nasal Drip Cause Wheezing and Shortness of Breath

My name is Joanne; I enjoy walking to stay active, pottering around the habitation I share with my married man, and entertaining family and friends. In November 2022 at the age of 51, I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. Except for babyhood bronchitis, I lead a very healthy life then I was surprised by the diagnosis.

My symptoms began in the beginning of 2016. I was working as a full-fourth dimension kindergarten teacher likewise every bit volunteering for a number of organisations in my spare time. I had persistent common cold-similar symptoms and shortness of breath that was greatly impacting on my power to breathe.  I noticed my postal service-nasal baste increased, forth with large amounts of phlegm that would pool in my pharynx. The coughing fits would frequently wake me and my partner upward as I tried to clear the phlegm.  Around the same time I was extremely tired and lethargic and my body was breaking out in hives. Suddenly, walking great distances left me very short of jiff.

Some days I struggled to walk to the mail box without existence out of breath, and it would take me a long fourth dimension to recover from the walking. I put it down to beingness unfit and farthermost stress from work.

Luckily, I take a very supportive hubby and family who voiced their concerns with the country of my wellness, which progressively worsened over the year.  In hindsight information technology was because I ignored the signals my torso had been giving me for months that I was non well. My family had a history of lung related illnesses but I didn't connect that I could too. I didn't really think the persistent croupy coughing was something to worry near or to seek medical advice because I put it downwards to working with pocket-size children, where catching colds and viruses was common place.

I was incredibly lucky to be referred to a lung specialist past my general practitioner (GP) who was able to fit me in within two weeks.  The specialist performed a lung office test, and I had bloods and scans taken. The lung function exam was poor; no wonder I was so short of breath.  The scans showed pus-like cysts in both lungs – the correct was completely congested and the left was doing all the work.  The lungs likewise showed considerable scarring.  My specialist was brilliant and explained that bronchiectasis was quite mutual, treatable and could exist managed with antibiotics and quality cocky-care. I underwent a bronchoscopy to clear the fluid out of the lungs and afterwards antibiotics twice weekly to clear the lung infection. I also sort advice from an ear, nose and pharynx (ENT) specialist for the post-nasal baste and discovered nasal polyps which were treated with short term steroids and a long term nasal spray awarding and salt nasal cleanses.

I didn't listen to the very overt clues my body was giving me. I overrode all the signals until I had run my torso into a state of ill health which took a long time to recover from.

Had I sought medical advice early, in that location may not have been as much scarring or recovery fourth dimension. A year on and I nonetheless have exacerbations but I go to the doctor immediately so recovery is quick.

The GP was correct in that it is a lifelong medical status, however if you mind to your body, run into your doctors regularly and take responsibleness with looking after your health and wellbeing then bronchiectasis is definitely manageable. I chose to be an equal partner in staying informed and understanding the nature of my illness. I keep to find ways to back up myself and the care that is needed to stay healthy. The specialist discussed what treatments may help along with giving me a brochure from Lung Foundation Commonwealth of australia on bronchiectasis and I visited their website for farther data, which really helped. I also followed the ENT'due south advice and worked with a physiotherapist to strengthen my lungs. The good news is my lung function which was re-tested in March 2022 has increased to over 70%, which was non expected from my first lot of scans.  I am currently taking antibiotics twice weekly to manage the bronchiectasis and I treat my lungs as if they are insured for a one thousand thousand dollars, quality self-care is the most important gift I tin give to myself because it allows me to lead a full and healthy life.

Sharing your personal experience with lung affliction is a compelling and inspiring manner for others to learn almost and cope with their diagnosis. Your story may also encourage people to place and act on symptoms they are experiencing, which may otherwise have been ignored.

Share your story, here.

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Source: https://lungfoundation.com.au/stories/joannes-story/

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