Chest & back pain ! Is it due to Bronchiectasis ?

Chest and lungs
1

Hi everyone,

 I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis in both lungs in February 2015, cause is unknown at the moment but was sent for a CT scan after coughing up blood for 5 days over the new year. 

My query is does anyone else suffer with chest & back pain on a daily basis & a burning sensation in the chest regardless of me eating or not. Have tried taking gaviscon for the burning as thought it could be heartburn but it doesn't help at all. Had these symptoms for four months now & haven't found any tablets that help to reduce the pain in my chest & back or anything to help with the burning sensation. 

Hope someone can help with any advice at all as its getting a tad bit annoying now lol. 

Lookforward to hearing from you folks. 

Thanks in advance, Dave :-)

2

Hi Dave yes I get pains in my back chest I use to get a burning sensation in my chest but thankfully that's gone I do get breathing troubles though I'm going to see my chest specialist this month and hope he can make my life a little better all the best 

3

Hi Jayne,

thankyou for replying :-). 

I see the respiratory doctor in August so will tell them about these symptoms then, see what they say. 

Fingers crossed for you when you see the specialist that they can help 

4

Yes and all the best to you , I have been very depressed and put on medication till I see the specialist . Hope things work out for you to 

5

Hi Dave. I sometimes get an ache lower down in my back, it comes and goes. My chest feels tight sometimes too. Usually when I manage to get rid of some phlegm that eases it.

I occasionally get indigestion/heartburn. Whether it's caused or due to the bronchiectasis I don't know.

Try using Peptac liquid for the indigestion/heartburn. I much prefer it.

It's much cheaper and thicker than Gaviscon, it's what they use in the NHS.

It's available in mint or aniseed and you can buy it over the counter at any pharmacy. Hope you get relief soon.

6

Dave do you seem to get a lot of mucus with yours symptoms as I get hardly any .

7

Hi Dave,

It takes a while to understand bronchiectasis, and all its symptoms; The most important first step is to identify the 'bug' with a sputum test arranged through your doctor or specialist. Then the correct antibiotic can be given to kill it.

Physio' daily preferably with a 'flutter' device, a physiotherapist, or you tube will show you how to do it, you tube is excellent for this.

The heartburn can be eliminated by a change of diet.which is by far the safest way.

Don't drink coffee or tea with meals...always 1 hour before or after; no fried foods or processed...ie sausages, bacon, pastry etc.

Look up alkaline foods on the web as these do not produce acid. Once you are free of acid, you can experiment with meat and fish at lunch time.to find the triggers. I find that I can't eat animal protien with an evening meal, and never eat after 6/7pm.

Animal protien (meat and fish) creates acid...plant proteins don't.

I have learnt such a lot by experimenting with food, I have eliminated acid (I suspect brought on by so much coughing before diagnosis).

Let us all know how you get on, there are some very good threads on this web site that are extremely helpful,

Blessings,

Lesley

8

Hi Jane, 

no I don't get any mucus at all, I just get the chest & back pains every day & the burning sensation too. I do tend to get out of breath easily when walking lately but that's part of the condition. The consultant at the respitory clinic was amazed I didn't suffer with mucus as both lungs are quite bad. I'm not on any medication at the moment either so just keep plodding on :-) 

9

Thanks for replying chriselora, I will mention it at the chemist & see if I can get some to try. Anything is worth a go :-). 

10

It's sounds just like my symptoms hopefully we will get better real .i use to get that real burning in my chest once I had a stabbing pain in my right lung I think I have it in both lungs but not sure till see specialist . Keep us up to date how you get on I will write on here how I get on sending all the best of luck

11

Hi Dave

Yes, I get chest and back pain too. try some steam inhalation to ease it. it works for me a little.

12

Thanks Lesley, some really great info & tips there :-). 

I'll let you know what's what after I see my consultant in August. 

Thanks again, Dave :-). 

13

Hope you start too feel better soon Jayne, keep smiling & don't give in :-). 

14

Hi Dancing Queen, 

ive tried menthol crystals in hot water but have had no luck. Tried all sorts of tablets but still no luck, trial & error till I see the consultant in August. 

Thanks for the comment :-). 

15

Fingers crossed we will get better & the doctors can help in a way, let's hope everyone else with Bronchiectasis can get some relief as well. 

I get the burning sensation everyday & there's nothing that triggers it off. I suppose it's a case of we have to just keep going & keep smiling. The way I look at it is there's always someone else out there that's worse off than us so we can't really complain, you only have to look at the children in hospital with serious illnesses but still they manage to smile, laugh & carry on, God bless them eh. 

I will keep you up to date after I've seen the consultant or if anything changes, be great to hear how you get on too Jayne, till then keep smiling & laughing & all the best luck :-) 

16

Yes your right there Dave take care all the best speak soon x

17

Dave I have had bronchiectasis all my life (well almost - since I was a year old anyway). You do get pain in your back and sides and I even get it through my shoulder sometimes. Some people with bronchiectasis get acid pain too. You could have a word with your GP. It's a long time til August!

I find simple remedies help. Hot drinks, steam inhalants, hot water bottles or wheat bags for the pain. Lots of rest, drinking water and no smoking of course!

Hope you feel better soon. Keep positive!

18

Thanks Operlyn, 

live tried lots of things but not found anything that helps yet, still early days & trial & error I suppose. Just keep plodding on & smiling I think lol. 

19

Hi Dave,are you on any puffers?my acid reflux only started when I went on them.It get so bad iy is like the Alien trimg to break out of my solar plexus.Diet doesnt help me ,I have tried.It does along with the condition.It just comes hangs around for a while then goed.I tried Bisodol tablets and they do help,but somehow I havnt. had it for a week now ,it just went .let us know how you get on Dave

20

Ooh I never thought of puffers causing reflux. Some days I get it really badly and I am on two lots of puffers which I use several times a day.

Hmmmmmm food for thought.