I am here to find patients like me with Bronchiectasis and the complication of chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. I am interested in knowing what kind of treatments they use to stay healthy. I have had theP.A. for seven years but do not have Cystic Fibrosis.
View 59 RepliesI have asthma, bronchiectasis and pseudomonas for at least 2 years now. I was wondering if there is the possibility of stem cell therapy for our condition at this time. I sure hope so for all of us. I would give about anything to be rid of this condition. If any of you are aware of this I would be greatful for any information you could share. I live in the Northeastern U.S. Thank you all so much for being there with encouragement and just knowing I am not alone in this nightmare.
View 9 RepliesAnyway, I was at uni and going through a bad time in my life, whenever I get stressed my guts go into turmoil. As a result I was off uni for a week with severe rectal pain and feeling lower than a snake's belly. I booked an appointment with my GP as I had experienced similar symptoms before.
My GP recognised the symptoms immediately, I thought I had piles, she said I was too young so had a look. The digital examination wasn't fun, in fact she said she had never seen anyway change colour so quickly but it was worth it because I was referred to a colorectal surgeon.
I took my sick note back into my tutor and as I was doing a clinical degree, he said straight away that fissures were worsened and sometimes caused by stress. The penny dropped.
As I said I was going through a very very bad time in my life which necessitated me going on antidepressants (Cipralex) for my emotional state. When this was added to wall climbing agony due to fissures I was near breaking point. I remember after one bowel movement almost fainting with the pain, I was lying at the top of the stairs at my mum's house and clawing at the wallpaper with my fingernails - I have had a broken leg and in terms of pain that fissure was far worse, trust me.
I went to see the colo-rectal surgeon a few weeks later, I was terrified, but he was a lovely man, very very considerate. He told me that I had a large fissure that could be helped with an ointment. I told him my background so he talked a bit more openly and said that fissures are an incredibly debilitating condition. He once had a 16 stone rugby player openly weeping on his consulting couch with the pain - I can understand why.
I was prescribed GTN ointment and started using it as directed. I had a slight headache which I could live with, but this was far better than the agony of the fissure and this headache was pretty much gone after the first week. After a week of use the pain from the fissure had also subsided to nothing. After six weeks I went back to the surgeon and I was healed.
I wish that was the end of the story but it isn't, I have probably had four or five bad flare ups since and dozens of other twinges, spasms, bleeds and itches since but I am nowhere near as bad as the first time - I can live with this now. I have seen the surgeon twice since and he has offered surgery but my frame of mind precluded me from that, I was simply terrified.
My GP is very understanding and I can get GTN on prescription whenever I need it. I was prescribed Anoheal by the surgeon as well but this didn't work as well as GTN for me, but I have seen cases in work where this has been incredibly effective.
As I said earlier, I was doing a clinical degree, which I have now passed, so I feel that I am pretty well qualified to offer a bit of advice, so here it is.
1. Go and see your GP. Don't be embarrassed, your doctor has seen dozens of these - they are very very common. If you get fobbed off or feel that you haven't got anywhere, go back and tell him/her that you are not happy and you will go elsewhere i.e. change your GP. Changing your GP hits their bank balance, and as GPs are notoriously greedy, they will do something. Nobody should have to suffer with this.
2. Take something for the pain but NOT codeine. Ibuprofen worked best for me.
3. Drink plenty of fluids and lay off the alcohol while you are healing.
4. Eat lots of fibre and fresh fruit and veg, switch to brown bread and have something like Weetabix for breakfast. This softens stools and makes them easier to pass - less pain and less damage to existing fissures.
5. Use a stool softener, one Movicol sachet daily really really helped me. You can buy these over the counter from your local Pharmacist but tell them what it is for. Alternatively get them on prescription from your GP.
6. Lay off the red meat, there is some science to this as meat increases the residence time in the gut and predisposes to harder stools. This really helped me and I have seen a few accounts here where sufferers also say that.
7. Try to relax, easier said than done, but try simple things like having a hot bath instead of a shower. If anything helps you, no matter how crazy or off the wall it may sound, carry on doing it. Going out for a drive helped me. Staying active also helps constipation and makes you feel better. Don't stay in and stew - stay positive.
8. Stick to the doctor's directions of any drugs you are given. If you are told to apply a cream for 6 weeks into the anus, then make sure it goes into the anus for 6 weeks. And into the anus means into the hole - not nice, but a lot nicer than the agony from an untreated fissure.
Remember you are not alone, these things can be cured. You will feel terrible and you will feel like nobody else understands what you are going through but believe me, these things are very very common.
And if all the above doesn't help there is a simple operation that can be done on a day case basis that has a 95% chance of curing it for good.
If you are reading this you are no doubt feeling horrible but believe me, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm a 27 year old female with absolutely no past sexual health issues. I had sex a few times with a new partner in June within a week long period. July 1 I decided to get STD tested to be safe (I usually get tested once a year). A week later the clinic called and said I had chlamydia. I was showing symptoms as well: some random itching that went very quickly and burning after sex at my g spot area. I took the antibiotics they gave me and got a yeast infection from them. I went to the gyno and she verified and prescribed me diflucan. She also said my PAP was normal (from July 1), but had some yeast present. Everything seemed normal after that other than I got a skin rash (like pimples) from the diflucan on my back, chest, and up my neck. That was verified by the gyno.
A week later I had sex again, but this time it was burning a lot at the g spot after sex and I was spotting. This was enough to freak me out and I went back to the gyno the next morning. She said that everything looked good but the chlamydia may be sticking around. She prescribed me another round of antibiotics. Once again I got a yeast infection. This time I took Monistat and it took longer to heal. I had some small cuts on my labia from the irritation that healed quickly afterwards.
In the meantime July 17 I had my yearly physical and blood work done at my physician. All my tests came back normal (including hep, herpes, and syphilis) except for a minor UTI in my urine. He prescribed me a full week of antibiotics. I waited two weeks to take them due to the yeast infection.
I had sex again 2 weeks after the 2nd dose of antibiotics for the chlamydia. I had a lot of burning afterwards--in my urethra, in my vagina? I couldn't figure it out. Mostly on my g spot again I would say. So I started the antibiotics for the UTI the doctor gave me (this week). By Wed I had a full blown yeast infection again. I used Monistat again and the yeast discharge cleared. Now I have a number of sores inside my labia minor that look like canker sores (red rimmed), as well as red irritation throughout the inside of my labia. They are very painful and it hurts to walk. My lymph nodes to the right groin are also slightly swollen and hurt to touch.
Obviously I'm freaking out because I can't go to the gyno on the weekend. Sorry that was so long, but I'm at my wits end and any advice or tips to ease the pain or ease my mind would be greatly appreciated. I know it's a chance that it could be herpes, but could be caused by the yeast infections or chlamydia.. Among other things. Any ideas?
Has anyone had the arm IUD Nexplanon inserted after having a baby? Did it hurt when they put it in? Has anyone has any complications from it? I'm considering this form of birth control but I'm a little worried about it.
View 5 RepliesWhat exactly is a mucus plug, I know I have them. How do you get rid of them. Is that what I caught up with airway clearance?
View 2 RepliesDoes any Bronchiectasis sufferers have a continuous burping condition that came along after a year or so of diagnosis please?
View 2 RepliesI'm 20 weeks and i have no fluid around my baby they told me to get rid or go through 9 months but the baby has 1% Chance of breathing on its own is there anything i can do to get the fluid back into my system.
View 1 RepliesI have a knee operation on the 29th June & I have been trying to find out if a general anaesthetic is more dangerous for people with Bronchiectasis. I've had no luck so far so I thought I'd ask you lovely people as you always have the answers. I've had 11 operations in the past & this will be my 12th & I've always been ok after the GA but this time with my symptoms I'm not sure if I should be getting my self ready for any complications ?
View 11 RepliesI have Bronchiectasis and live in the states.
Has anyone hear of Stem Cell Research involving this illness?
there is the Lung Institute here in the states and I signed up for a webinar next week.
Is anyone else either using AZ or have used AZ in the past. What experiences have you had, etc.
I have been on AZ for two months and am having many fewer infections, in fact none.. But of course I would rather not be reaping havoc on my GI tract and breeding SuperBugs.
Russ
Recently had an ultrasound for unusual pelvic pain. I learned from the doctor I have a retroverted (backward, as they stated) uterus. I've tried to research this online but there's just so many different opinions on this topic. I know it only occurs in 20% of women. I've heard it can affect getting pregnant and labor complications. And, from experience, I know it's painful. Anyone out there been diagnosed with this?
If so, what symptoms/complications do you have associated with it? Are there things I can do to relieve the pain myself caused by it without pain medications?
I've been with my boyfriend for almost a year now and we've just started getting sexually active. He has confided in me that he has penile neuropathy due to complications of diabetes.
He's been to doctors and had tests done. The result is there is no problem with blood flow, it's nerve damage, the nerves don't transmit the signal to the penis to become fully erect. I've noticed the base does become semi erect but that's about it. Just curious if anyone has any experience with this and is there anything that will help such as over the counter medications like Cialis?
I'm looking for advice. My 60 year old father (who has had HCV for more than 10 years; previously treated with Interferon but bad side effects) finished his 12 week Sofosbuvir+Daclatasvir (considered same as Harvoni) treatment a month ago. Already first tests after 2 weeks showed virus was Undetected, but yesterday he received his most recent results and he has a relapse of the virus. He is genotype 1, fibroscan result 4 (close to final stage). He is based in Poland and I'm not sure if our doctors are fully informed of the new generation medications and HCV itself.
Is anyone able to give us any advice? We are pretty desperate and my dad is just so depressed as he thought he finally got rid of the virus (he got infected while on an operation in a public hospital) and now it is back...
Are there any specialists that you are aware of I could possibly get in contact with?
A few weeks ago my bf noticed some bumps in his pubic area. He went to the dermatologist and was diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum, which is thankfully not that big of a deal! He got his treated with cryotherapy. Around this time I noticed a few bumps and because of the area they were in, went to an OBGYN for treatment so my bf and I don't keep spreading it to each other. The OB GYN agreed that they were also MC bumps and lightly scraped each one, then applied an acid treatment. That was a few days ago and while the bumps are mostly gone, the skin surrounding each one is dark and almost looks like a scab in color. Is this normal post acid treatment?
View 1 RepliesDoes anyone here relapse after harvoni treatment?
View 3 RepliesOn 2/1/14, I broke my tibia (spiral, slightly displaced) and fibula falling off a motorcycle (not at high speed). OS said I didn't need surgery and on 2/3/14 I had a long-leg cast put on. I developed blood clots from the leg which shot to my lungs and OS removed cast early on 3/5. I am now in a walking boot, although I cannot bear weight just yet.
I'm worried about the bone not healing or fusing properly since I am no longer in a cast. Will there be longer healing times since I am no longer in a cast?
X-rays were taking on 3/3 and OS says the bones are back in place nicely but no fusion.
So I have been to a few different dr over the last two years. Been in full arm and short arm casts, got shots, mri/x rays.....and so on.....I got three opinions...one dr wants to fix the tfcc tear, possible shorten the ulna....one dr wants to fix the tear and shorten the radius....last dr just wants to fix the tear....goood night! I'm confused, sick of casting, and this issue needs to be fixed so i can get thru a day of work with no pain....now when I was 6 yrs old I fell outta a tree about 25 ft and broke both ulna/radius, so they think thats the issue with shortening it healed wrong.....
How long is the recovery? how long am i outta work? one dr said i cant drive for three weeks....one said ill be casted again for 6-8 weeks.
If any ones knows how long is takes for steroids to start working iv just been on 2 weeks of antibiotics not done nothing, now iv been put on steroids 8 a day started yesterday still no change think I will end up in hospital again it's been a year since I was last there, hope your all not to bad .
View 43 RepliesI currently have a chest infection an am on antibiotics . Today I coughed up yellow phlegm with darker yellow flecks in after doing my physio.
View 3 RepliesI've felt so frustrated for many years. I too was told muscular/skeletal. While experiencing short breath, extremely tired, pain that shoots like a spear on left side from upper rib cage, center of left breast through to back.
In 2012 after hours of waiting, the blood clot I guess hit me hard, I was out, woke in room with heparin drip. Then told blood clot in upper lobe of lung and pleurisy.
After doctor visit Thursday my pain got so unbearable, and cough, husband drove me to ER this past Sunday. Again sat for hours. Then x-rays, and told had pleurisy. Sent home, told to take tylenol and bed rest.
My pain is off the chart now, I can't take NSAIDS since on coumadin.
I'm feeling very spacey, lightheaded.
I can't drive myself anywhere.
I need to work around husbands very long work hours.
And, if do go, what do they do, say, "more bed rest and stay hydrated"?
I don't have money to burn, for such non-sense.
Is there not any treatment for pleurisy at all?