I saw the pulmonologist today, with ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
adrian_turtle there for emotional support and to help me remember things) and what the doctor said was reassuring. She showed us the CT scan images, described what they showed, and told me that I have what looks like mild bronchiectasis, and the treatment is to do things to clear my airways.
To clear my airways, I'm supposed to take guaifenisin, then two puffs of the inhaler, then "10 huff breaths" into theflutter valve acapella device. When we went to order that device online, as Dr. Koster recommended, Adrian noticed that the contraindications include ruptured eardrum. So I just sent the doctor a message asking whether having had a ruptured eardrum several years ago, which healed as well as they ever do, is relevant here. That happened before I moved to Massachusetts, and isn't in my records at Mt. Auburn.
Next week (or maybe the week after, given holidays) I will go to the hospital three times, on consecutive days, so they can take sputum samples, which will be sent off to be cultured, with results in 8-12 weeks. (It's not the lab, the "mycobacterium avian complex" are inherently slow-growing.) I have a follow-up visit in three months, with a pulmonary function test before I talk to the doctor. If it's positive, we will discuss whether I should take multiple antibiotics every day for a few months, or just wait and keep an eye on things.
To clear my airways, I'm supposed to take guaifenisin, then two puffs of the inhaler, then "10 huff breaths" into the flutter valve. When we went to order the flutter valve online, as Dr. Koster recommended, Adrian noticed that the contraindications include ruptured eardrum. So I just sent the doctor a message asking whether having had a ruptured eardrum several years ago, which healed as well as they ever do, is relevant here. That happened before I moved to Massachusetts, and it's not in my records at Mt. Auburn.
ETA 12/18: Dr. Koster said I should order and start using the device, and let her know if I experience any sensitivity in my ears when I start using it. So I have done so, for delivery 12/22, that being the earlier of the two options on Amazon. (The guaifenisin should be here on the 20th.)
Dr. Koster also said I should stop using the steroid inhaler (because it can increase the risk of infection), and just use the albuterol. I'd be using that twice a day, every day, as part of clearing my lungs, and I'm thinking as needed and once at bedtime until I hear back from her about the flutter valve.
adrian_turtle there for emotional support and to help me remember things) and what the doctor said was reassuring. She showed us the CT scan images, described what they showed, and told me that I have what looks like mild bronchiectasis, and the treatment is to do things to clear my airways. To clear my airways, I'm supposed to take guaifenisin, then two puffs of the inhaler, then "10 huff breaths" into the
Next week (or maybe the week after, given holidays) I will go to the hospital three times, on consecutive days, so they can take sputum samples, which will be sent off to be cultured, with results in 8-12 weeks. (It's not the lab, the "mycobacterium avian complex" are inherently slow-growing.) I have a follow-up visit in three months, with a pulmonary function test before I talk to the doctor. If it's positive, we will discuss whether I should take multiple antibiotics every day for a few months, or just wait and keep an eye on things.
To clear my airways, I'm supposed to take guaifenisin, then two puffs of the inhaler, then "10 huff breaths" into the flutter valve. When we went to order the flutter valve online, as Dr. Koster recommended, Adrian noticed that the contraindications include ruptured eardrum. So I just sent the doctor a message asking whether having had a ruptured eardrum several years ago, which healed as well as they ever do, is relevant here. That happened before I moved to Massachusetts, and it's not in my records at Mt. Auburn.
ETA 12/18: Dr. Koster said I should order and start using the device, and let her know if I experience any sensitivity in my ears when I start using it. So I have done so, for delivery 12/22, that being the earlier of the two options on Amazon. (The guaifenisin should be here on the 20th.)
Dr. Koster also said I should stop using the steroid inhaler (because it can increase the risk of infection), and just use the albuterol. I'd be using that twice a day, every day, as part of clearing my lungs, and I'm thinking as needed and once at bedtime until I hear back from her about the flutter valve.
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