Hello! Some patients use as on a needed only basis ; others regularly. I would use it if provides you relief, improvement in daily quality of life.

Hi there.
I am new to this group. I Googled support group for Bronchiectasis patients and this is the group I found so I registered and am getting familiar with it this morning. Thank you beforehand for anyone’s help and guidance and hope that I can offer my helpful two cents to this forum.

I was diagnosed about 15 years ago and although I try my best to lead a normal life, it taps me on the shoulder every other month or so to remind me.

My question is with regards to the following:

1-Cough control

2-Any new inhalers?

3-Traveling- How often, best forms of travel.

I have many other questions, however I’ll start with these.

As far as your question is concerned, I do take-Montelukast and Breo.

Thank you in advance to anyone responding. As I mentioned, I’ve never used this forum before.

Best,

Mari30

Mari,

Hello! Welcome to the group.

There are 140 questions previously answered if you look to the left when you log in..

An increased cough is a sign that your body needs to expel mucous or something is going on.

Yes, there are many new nebulizers on the market.

Travel w infection control precautions. I would not advise traveling now in the peak of flu season if you do not have to. A N95 mask is advised if you do travel.

Please post any specific questions that are not previously answered. Kati

Ksmiles123,

Thanks so much! I will definitely do this. Appreciate your time.

Mari305

Mari,

You are most welcome! We are all here to help one another. Kati

I have taken singulair for years steroids of course and I get xolair shots every two weeks for allergic asthma since 2003. I don't have high eosinophilis.

The montelukast worries me because i have high eosinophis, but I do have to get the allergic reactions--rhinitus and asthma under control without being prednisone dependent as it is really exacerbating everything else :(

ksuzanne

Hi Kerie,

Thanks so much for reaching out and for the valued information. With respect to coughing, I agree. Not best to suppress it. It’s just that mine was exhausting me especially during the night, or I should really say, all night and it was non-productive.

I’m just recuperating from cataracts surgery on first eye and the coughing had me very worried. By the way, I was stunned when my Ophamalogist said that my cataracts are due to the Prednisone I’ve taken!

I was able to taper it down by hydrating and after taking a tablespoon of honey. This has helped me get back to sleep.

I’ve had to stop taking Albuterol (I have 3 unopened boxes), which I don’t know what to do with since my prescription was just filled a few days ago. What a shame to waste them.

My primary recommended Xoponex instead. I’ll be seeing my Pulmonologist this coming Monday to consult about the change. I’ll ask about the Mucomyst and Hypertonic Saline.
Thanks again. I’m very glad to have found this group

Best,

Mari

Mari,

Hello! Wishing you the best at your appointment on Monday! Sleep is essential to healing .

Many Pulmonary departments have a sleep medicine program that may be an option Let us know what your doctor prescribes.

Update: I'm done with the Prednisone and I've been on the montelukast actually it's the generic zafirlukast--for 5 days. I cannot believe the difference, I am not full of mucus at all and no wheezing or breathing problems. I feel like I did before I had any lung issues.

But.....24 hours after taking it I got terrible nueropathy in my feet. I have never experienced that before. The feet are the worst, but I am getting it on other areas as well but not constant like my feet. Went to er urgent care to have it checked out because it is listed in the drug literature to watch for it. Doc checked my blood sugar (pred) ok at the time. Basically he told me I could take the med or not either don't have the neuropathy and not breathe or take it and get some compression socks.

When I was done, a nice patient advocate took me to my allergist clinic so we could talk to the nurse and get an appointment so I will be seeing the prescribing doctor on Monday.

I hope this is something not to worry about because this is actually the first drug besides Prednisone that has stopped the asthma I've had for over a year.

Oh my! What a dilemma....

Sorry to read your update.

The sad thing is that drugs often help one body part and may hurt another.

I would not risk getting neuropathy in your feet. Hopefully, you will get the right answer on Monday .
Please keep us posted

Biologics would Xolair be one? I think so been on taking for allergic asthma since 2003 2 times a month 375mg 3 shots

Update: I've been off the zafirlukast for long enough for it to be out of my system. The neuropathy in my feet is gone--at least for now.

My PCP gave me an epipen and wrote in my record the drug reaction as anaphylaxis. That was probably more for insurance purposes to cover the epipen.

The asthma and allergy symptoms are under better control after the PCP gave me a medrol dose pak and I'm still taking zyrtec during the day and benedryl, and the H2 blocker (pepcid) for reflux and any food allergies.

I am right now on xolair which is for allergies, since 2003 sometimes with medrol pack my lung dr do not like me on oral steroids, I have budesonide in neb also Flovent inhaler Allergist talking about adding Fasenra to the mix. He said my eosinophils are high. This would help my asthma. I have a mix of several lung diseases. Also taking spiriva respimat away and doing the ipratropium in neb instead ,thinking I may not be able to inhale for the spiriva. I been having a lot of sob for a long time. We got to do some thing. Also trying to get the Lifee2000 portable home vent but of course this and the Fasenra is only if insurance allows me to have these. You know how insurances are. Xray found fluid in low lung she said heart related so more lasix Do my Hil Rom Vest 3 times a day that is gong to be very hard.

Hello again,

I don’t really know if I’m reaching out to the same kind ladies that reached out to me, however, here goes!
I want to update you on my Pulmonologist visit last month. He had to finally prescribe two different antibiotics and prednisone until I got well.
Nevertheless, the most important part of that visit was that he also prescribed the SmartVest! I’m excited and I wanted to share that it’s worked very well for me. I use it along with the levalbuterol nebulizer treatment in the am for 15 min then same in the pm.
I also did start to walk (sometimes briskly), in the mornings on the beach. Just for 1hr. Since I live just 10 min away and realized that I had not been taking advantage of this wonderful resource. This activity gives me new found energy.
Are any of you using the SmartVest and if so, how has the experience been for you so far? My script is until April 2021, so hopefully it will continue to help.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Mari

sorry I should also add I have been on Advair inhaler for about a month and take musinex 2-4 a day.

Hello! Is the singular helping you?

It may be to early to tell if the Monteluska is helping or not. I have felt better this week than I have in a month. Is the meds helping or was I in a flare up and not now. 🤷‍♀️ I downloaded an app that you can track how you feel each day so I’ve just started that. Just something to help me remember when I started a med, the days I feel bad or good in hopes to figure out if something helps or not.

After many attempt for more in depth needle testing in prep for allergy shots, which had to be put off 3 times now, the allergist dx'd me with severe oersistent asthma when i was last in his office. He prescribed montelukast instead of zafirlukast and i told him that the rheumy is ruling out css--chrg- strauss--also known as egpa because of my response to zafirlukast. He said that montelukast is a diff formulation and i may not have a problem with it. Ok, now i truly feel like a guinnea pig. Im not taking it until i hear from the rhuemy pr.someome gives me a.rescue pack of prednisone, lol, because i dont want to go to the emergency room during covid.