Janney,  I don't remember any medications or other practices that I did when was young.  In fact, other than during exacerbations such as bronchitis, I had no regular meds or treatment until I was about 55 or 60.  Even then I think all I had was a rescue inhaler, which I seldom used.  That inhaler has made little difference in general, but I've had a couple of asthma-like episodes and it helps then.  I now use several meds, o2 when I sleep or exert myself, and a nebulizer when I am congested at all.

I hope you are well and staying safe from this virus.

You're a real trooper!  Your story makes me feel very hopeful. I'm waiting to find out if I have NMT. Hoping not. I'm guessing you don't have that.  I think you've got energy for at least another 20 years!!  Your friend is right!

Janney - Good luck and stay safe. 

I have only had Cyndical Bronciectasis for about 6 or 7 years, I have the mildest form for the first 3 years I coughed every single day until I found out what it was.  I was shown methods to bring mucus up and was fine until the bushfires last summer.  I started being extremely breathless whenever I tried to do any type of housework, making beds, gardening etc but can use an exercise bike etc. at the hospital gym without too much trouble.   

I don't understand why I have so much breathlessness when I have the mildest form of this disease.
I'm on 2 inhalers and use Ventolin but I don't think it helps much..  I read about people who have little or no problems so I expect to be like that.

Did you have any lung disease prior to this bronchiectasis?  A lot of us have either asthma or copd.  Are you being treated by a pulmonologist?  Have you had pulmonary lung functions done and a Ct?  

Elaine, I would wonder if you had a setback, hopefully temporary, from the fires.  I would think it might be wise to see your pulmonologist and get a pulmonary function test.  If you have done that before, the current results could be compared.  If you have not had a test before, it would be good to establish a baseline.

I hope you get better as the air is cleaner.  Keep trying to exercise.

It's odd, but it may have been easier for me to have been diagnosed as a child.  I've never had the shock of a change like that.  But, like most adversities, we usually find the strength to adapt and we get back to our normal level of happiness.  If we are lucky, we turn those jolts into an opportunity for growth in other important ways.

Of course, one needs to learn all you can about how to best care for yourself and follow through by being aware and active in maintaining what we can.

Initial discouragement is normal, but there are a lot of chronic conditions that are more limiting.  Stay positive and stay safe.  Wishing you the best.

So, with asthma, you've had to be aware and careful for a long time.  I have had only a couple of asthma attacks, that I think were both due to mold or some other allergen.  That is very frightening.   

With Bronchiectasis and COPD piled on you just have to know what can trigger exacerbations.  And then you need to know how to respond depending on the degree of difficulty.

My main trigger at this point in my life is cold air - breathing it or even having my neck or ears get cold.  I take a lot of precautions, but can still get outside and do things as long as it is not cold.  I wear a mask whenever the air is cool at all (and of course now I do whenever I'm near others.)

Good luck in handling the physical limits you may have no.w.  I also wish you success in finding ways to stay optimistic and to build on the strengths you have in the rest of your life.