Does anyone else have RA and Bronchiectasis?

dibdab

I visited a Respiratory consultant yesterday having been referred by new Rheumy-they have done CT scans, lung function tests etc and diagnosed Bronchiectasis. So now I'm struggling to get my head round having 2 long term diseases, and how to deal with the RA drugs lowering my immune system, and the Bronchiectasis making me more vulnerable to chest infections. The respiratory lady was delightful and said I should take a few days off work every time I get an infection (11 in 14 months) but I can't imagine the boss being too pleased about it, and I feel so guilty letting people down by being ill-as if it's all my fault! It doesn't feel like much fun being me just now! So I wondered if anyone else out there has the same combination and any good ideas how to cope with it. Sorry to moan, but I needed to write it down to get the turmoil out of my head, and you are all so good at listening-thank you.
:sad:

dreamdaisy

Oh dear, dibdab, I have no advice to offer as I know very little about the bronchi-wot-not, and if I remember correctly you are a teacher, yes? I guess the chances for infection after infection are high doing that job with a reduced immune system, but I will get my thinking cap on and see if any bright ideas strike. Don't hold your breath though as that might take some time! DD

PS What meds are you on and how much folic acid do you take?

towyview

I too am a RA sufferer. For quite a while I have suffered with a nasty cough and experienced some breathlessness. My rheumy has referred me for a CT scan and also lung function tests. My GP also prescribed a steroid inhaler and also a reliever inhaler.
My GP thought it might be due to the Enbrel but my rheumy said no.
I just wonder what symptoms you experienced besides the infections. I know quite a lot about bronchiectasis as my husband has suffered with it from childhood.
RA is not a simple few aches and pains as a lot of people tend to think. It can also bring on a lot of other major problems.
I hope anyone else with this problem can give me some more info.

Dorothy

dibdab

Yes-I teach 5 year olds, and most are very caring and sharing, particularly when it comes to sharing their coughs, sneezes and runny noses! I often go home with snail trails of mucus on my clothes where they've given me a hug with a runny nose and wiped it on me! :???:
Holding my breath isn't much of an option just now as I'm rather short of it- the lung function tests nearly did for me yesterday-all that breathing out and not getting chance to breathe in.

The most obvious symptom is repeated chest infections that are hard to get rid of-so that tends to aggravate the asthma. I take sulfasalazine (couldn't cope with methotrexate), plaquinel and a raft of inhalers. The new consultant has prescribed 2 more lots of tablets to take every day now so I guess I'll be rattling even worse when it all comes together.

dreamdaisy

There are fewer grubbier things in life than five year olds, lovely and quirky though they are. I cannot remember if breathing difficulties can occur as a result of taking sulph (I now have tinnitus thanks to that but I have been on six tablets a day for years now so that isn't surprising). I also have Pulvinal Salbutamol and Beclomethasone inhalers but thanks to the humira and meth my immune system is as dead as a dodo so I hardly use them. Although I have a history of eczema and severe asthma arthritis was the last thing I was expecting but I now realise it's all linked. Complicated thing, life, isn't it? DD

salamander

Hi there,

I'm interested in your post as I am about to see a chest consultant as got repeated infections on Methotrexate and then Cimzia. They were hard to shift and meant I was ill in bed most of the time on antibiotics, anything up to 4 courses each time ! I've also had asthma and pneumonia in the past and am worried my lungs aren't up to the Enbrel I am about to take. So I asked my nurse whether it was possible to have a lower dose and she agreed. Hopefully, I won't get so sick.

Imagine I will have similar tests to you. Hope you get on well with the new drugs but it is very hard to keep going when you get infections all the time. I really empathize with you.
xx

nanasue

I have bronchiectasis as well as RA and asthma. Trying not to get a cold is the hardest thing as it always leads to a chest infection which can be hard to get rid of. Experience has taught me (after alot of time trying to get it sorted) that the best thing to do is take vit c and zinc tablets from B***s and taking yakult evrey day they help to boost the immune system slightly, the downside is you get a slight increase in pain levels by boosting the immune system but that's a small price to pay so as not to get chest infections. If I do get a cold as soon as I start coughing I go to docs for anti-biotics before it gets a grip ( they know that's what I need, it's been a learning curve for all of us) and that seems to sort it, I also increase my inhaler use. I started coughing last Wednesday and went to docs on Thursday and by Saturday I was ok, finished my anti-biotics yesterday, if I hadn't I would probably been ill all over xmas. Hope this might help you. If you want any more help/info PM me.

Sue x

salamander

Hi Sue, well I found that really helpful. This is exactly what happens to me so shall take your advice.

dibdab

Thanks for support and encouragement, wouldn't want anyone else to feel as rough as I often do, but it's good to know I'm not alone. I'll give the vitamins/zinc thing a whirl. The biggest bonus for me is having amazing family and friends to support and encourage me through the rough bits-I'm so thankful to them and for them.

Hope you're all having an okay kind of day-blessings.

Deb x