Hello Wolf, I have had (3) bronchoscopy. One in 2018, another in 2019. Both procedures did not show anything, which was good. But unfortunately, I had to do interventional bronchoscopy (they used GA that time) in Apirl 2021 and Burkholderia cepecia bacteria showed up :( The bug is still a problem to me, still has it.

Thank you CHtun, for your reply, I looked up Burkholderia cepacia and saw that drugs like Levaquin contain flouraquinalones which, among others, is effictive against that bacteria. My pulmonologists have always prescribed Levafloxacin each time i have had pneumonia or lung infection.

Could it be that a different antibiotic or a combination of antibiotics might help clear up Burkholdera cepacia? I have had to take, but rarely, both Levaquin and then a course of Cefdinir when i have had a really bad chest infection that wouldn't clear up.

Best of luck.

Hi Wolf,

I had a bronchoscopy as part of my NTM diagnosis in 2012. The doctor was able to retrieve a sputum sample and test it. More than that, a bronchoscopy gives your doctor a visual image of your lungs. To me that's more valuable than just guessing.

I‘ve had several bronchoscopy and I always get one when there are signs of bacteria in my lung. If there is an infection they already see it and they clear my lungs from all the secretion so I feel better afterwards.

I had a bronchoscopy think was 2018 not sure on year but I did what you don't want to do started coughing during the procedure and started bleeding had to go to recovery for a while and on bipap. I hope I don't have to do another one. My sample showed normal flora. Was just a few days I thought they should have watched it longer.

Hello.

I have had a few bronchoscopies since 2017, my most recent being this last year. They went well. The first was to find out what was going on with my lungs, & that is when I was first diagnosed with MAC. I have bronchiectasis & MAC, & because I can not produce any sputum samples, we have to rely on the bronchoscopies to tell what's going on & when the MAC is cleared. I find this more reliable than sputum samples anyways because the Dr. is then going right to the source, whereas you can not tell where the sputum sample has come from & if it is giving an accurate picture. My last bronchoscopy confirmed that I have MAC again, after being off the meds for only about 2-1/2 yrs. So, I am going through the treatment again, but with a new regimen due to some complications of one of the previous medications. I have had no side effects from having the bronchoscopies, & they went smoothly. I know your original question was written a year ago, but I am new here, so thought I would respond. :)

I had a bronchoscopy in 2020 because of b cepacia and ended up with a partially collapsed lung , perhaps because of the biopsies., But the worst part was the 16 days of minocycline whihc made me terribly sick and caused me to lose weight.

Most patients are able to tolerate a bronchoscopy.

Storyteller,

I am sorry that you had a bad experience with your bronchoscopy.

i had bronchcoscopy and had bad time had to recovery. I will never get another!!

Kandy,

Some people do experience a difficult time recovering from any surgical procedure, the effects of anesthesia. Simple sputum cultures and a CAT scan reveal what is going on for many patients.

It is very important to communicate your post-operative challenges to the anesthesiologist before any procedure. Unfortunately, most patients do not meet their anesthesiologist until before surgery when one is usually anxious to begin with. I bring notes to give to the anesthesia staff to alert them of complications that I have endured in the past.

I started coughing and then bleeding during mine then off to recovery. I didn't know any diff thought everyone went to recovery in there I had wear bipap to recover was very air hunger. My daughter worked for my pulmo at that time so she was in there with me.

Glad that you got through the challenging experience with your daughter by your side.