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Ksmiles123Hello! Yes, you have to laugh or you will cry enough to fill a river ....
Are you taking probiotics? Digestive enzymes? Has your pulmonologist referred you for a GI workup?
Re: piddling- have you seen an urologist? Some patients get UTIs and have minimal symptoms. There are a list of foods and drinks that may irritate your bladder which I recommend you minimize their intake for now.
Basically, the antibiotics do good and bad for our GI and GU tracts.
Yes, this is serious and nerve racking items to contend with. However, you must believe that eventually you will get to the other side. Keep us posted.1 week ago
BarbfitThank you for your comments and recommendations. I am a clean eater and read the list. Other than an occasional glass of wine or dark piece of chocolate, I don't think I drink anything that would cause bladder problems. I recently got checked for pelvic floor problems. I've had peeing issues ever since I delivered my almost 11 pound baby 30 years ago, so I think I have to live with that other than doing some kegels. I can deal. The other problem. i am not on antibiotics now. I really didn't have a stomach problem when I did. I had a lot of testing to see if I had any GERD related issues including putting a tube down in my stomach for 24 hours. It all came back normal. I do take prebiotics and other than the coufarting, I really don't have any gas, burping or stomach issues. The one thing I read is that breathing in too much air actually causes air to get into your digestive system and, it has to sooner or later come out somewhere. So wondering if there is a corelation between the type of breathing I do to manage the loss of lung function and additional air in my digestive tract. I'll work on it. Probably the best course of action is to see if I can minimize the force of the cough, (I mean, it is violent!) but so far, that hasn't happened. I am waiting to be approved for a vest in addition to my accapela and nebulizer. I'll keep working on it. Thanks! :)1 week ago
Ksmiles123Hello! You are most welcome! It sounds as if you had all bases covered- great! How about yoga practice for breathing exercises? Good luck getting your vest.
It takes time and patience to figure out what works best for our individual bodies.1 week ago
beanerhello barbfit Are you clearing your lungs fully before you go off to work? Also you should clear during the early afternoon hours to prevent the continuous coughing. I do piddle now and then but if I clear properly it does avoid the coughing all day. Good luck1 week ago
RCHBarbfit, I understand your plight. Obviously, I am an NTM patient but I am also a pelvic health physical therapist. Several things to take into consideration, obviously you want to clear your lungs and avoid gas-causing foods. Unless you are experiencing dysuria, I am sure you don't have a UTI, Based on your history, I am quite sure you have genuine stress urinary incontinence caused by the birth of a large baby and exacerbated by excessive coughing will also contribute to weakness and even prolapse of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). You need to ask for a referral to a pelvic health physical therapists to learn tips and techniques to avoid incontinence while strengthening your PFM. You can find a qualified therapist through two different practitioner directories: https://pelvicrehab.com/ as well as the American PT Assn: https://ptl.womenshealthapta.org/#s=1 These directories are not exhaustive, many are not listed. You need to find a therapist that has loads of experience. I lecture throughout the US in this area, if you want to let me know where you are located, I may be able to help you find a clinician. 1 week ago
GretchenBarbfit, I am sorry you are dealing with all of this. It is difficult when our bodies stop doing what we need them to do. Hang in there. I think some good suggestions are above. We can do our best to not take things so seriously but it can still be hurtful and uncomfortable in social situations. 1 week ago
BarbfitThank you all for your concern and suggestions. I apologize if I seem to be doing a "yeah but" as if I don't want the problem to be resolved, but it's more that I have been trying to do whatever possible to minimize including meditation. (I actually facilitate an onsite 15 minute meditation to employees). RCH, I actually did see a Pelvic doctor who referred me to therapy. Apparently I don't have prolapse but I was diagnosed with Pedunal Neuralgia. I received treatment for awhile but now try to do it on my own. I have to be careful because the coughing can bring on the spasm - so double whammy. Beaner, your idea of doing a mid-day nebulizing may help. Reducing the coughing will obviously help with the other problems. And if I think about it, it does seem to get worse in the afternoon. It 's going to be hard given my job, but I could at least try the acapella for 15 minutes. As we all know with Bronch, things come and go so hopefully this too shall pass. (parden the pun). :)1 week ago
KandyHope things get better for you. We have to deal with so many things it does get tough but we can get through it with determination and good attitude.1 week ago
DeliaBarbfit, I commend you for sharing your personal issues in your journey with bronchiectasis, and even more so for being able to make light of the situation =) The fact is, we're all human and this is just another part of struggling with bronchiectasis. It sounds like keeping the coughing to a minimum (while in public) would be ideal, which can be difficult for a person with bronchiectasis... I was going to mention the use of an airway clearance device to help clear out the mucus, but it sounds like you're already in the process of getting a device. So while I don't have much advice for you, I want you to know that you are not alone in the struggle with such issues. See a similar post (on COPD360social) here: https://www.copdfoundation.org/COPD360social/Community/COPD-Digest/Search/bladder.aspx1 week ago
Ksmiles123RCH ,
Thank you for posting the link on pelvic rehabilitation.
I would love to do an informal survey on bladder issues in NTM patients. I have heard of several recently.1 week ago
Ksmiles123Barbfit,
Hello! I am sure that you have already researched the list of grassy foods; I will post them for the community-https://www.drugs.com/cg/gassy-foods-diet.html
Also, I came across the stool chart below- some members may not be interested in this subject matter ; however, digestive health is so important for all body systems.
Miralex or mineral oil are highly recommended for patients with bum issues. 1 week ago
Ksmiles123https://www.fruugo.us/bristol-stool-chart-car-air-freshener/p-3518022-73740151 week ago
Ksmiles123Lastly, the anal sphincter changes as we age- please see link below.
As you said previously, “ this too shall pass!”. My wish to you is that it passes in a way that you are more comfortable with.:)1 week ago
Ksmiles123https://www.verywellhealth.com/tightening-your-anal-sphincter-7965881 week ago
Ksmiles123https://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/treatment-for-excessive-gas/?eh_uid=76390480&slot=2&xid=nl_EHNLdigestive_2019-01-09_15642049&utm_source=Newsletters&utm_content=2019-01-09&utm_campaign=1 week ago
Ksmiles123https://thenutritionwatchdog.com/what-your-farts-are-trying-to-tell-you/4 days ago