Anyone with COPD or bronchiectasis?

[BlueSkies2026]

I'm feeling a bit alone atm. I have a lung disease (not the ones listed but too dissimilar). I came down with flu last week and I've never felt so unwell.

Mentally it's taking its toll slightly, as I'm not yet 50 so I'm needing to stop my brain catastrophising. Mainly I'd like a plan for how to best help my chest (and body) recover.

Keeping wrapped up warm and especially warm round my neck seems good - although at the moment I will wrap up then I'm drenched in sweat in half an hour. Thinking lots of sinus rinses.

If other people with lung conditions have established routines to help them getting over flu or bad colds and help helpful tips please let me know.

I haven't had flu for years so this has really floored me.

Flu is a nasty illness it's nothing like a cold and will make anyone ill.

I have asthma and bronchiectasis.
I can get quite ill with viruses, was very ill once with covid.
I get all my vaccines including covid boosters.
I avoid anyone with a cold.
I don't stop myself going to crowded places but I tend to feel uncomfortable.
If I get a chest infect my GP puts me on ABs which I hate.

Did you have a flu vaccine? We have it every year and pay for it as soon as it comes out. It’s a life saver.

Thanks so much for the reply. It is a particularly nasty illness! And especially bad this year apparently.

I messed up this year - I always find it hard to coordinate the vaccines. I've been having them together and find that I can feel a bit rotten, so tend to look for a Friday or Saturday appointment. However it's often not available until late September by which time colds from schools going back are flying round. So if I haven't got one of those, then I also read its best to sleep well in the week before to maximise immunity (difference in quite dramatic), so I try and pick a not too stressful week. Then of course I don't want to pick the week I'm on my period.

This year I had someone visiting but they cancelled (because of a cold, the irony) so that messed up the plans I'd made and it seemed like an uncontrollable set of events were then in place which meant I hadn't had either yet.

Also hate ABs but have got a rescue pack.

Thanks for the reply.

Guess I'm looking for any other advice on recovery - I know everyone is different. Really hoping I can get by without this recurring again over winter.

You need to make sure you send a sputum sample to the lab every time, as you could be on the wrong antibiotics.

Good hand hygiene and keep away from people with colds. I find that people just don't care and will visit you with a cold, even knowing how ill it can make you.

I have asthma all my life, bronchiectasis ? 10 yrs and edac/ tbm... newly diagnosed even though had symptoms for years. So make syre you fight to see specialists,especially if your dr does not listen or your symptoms are not improving when they should do with treatment.

Sterimar is a good tip for that stuffy nose feeling

Thank you! I bought sterimar the other day as I was coming back to the house and knew I was feeling rough so did a big stock up on anything I thought might help.

Annoyingly I took some doxcycline, ibuprofen and my immune suppressant, then ate something that irritated my throat, and coughed so hard I threw up, all within the same hour. I was actually starting to feel better and was therefore feeling starving. Maybe it was too sweet (flapjack).
I was okay after eating toast earlier in the day and didn't cough.

The same thing happened yesterday and I threw up within a hour of taking the first double dose of doxycycline. So I don't even know if I've absorbed any.

On positive side, the sterimar has loosened a lot of mucus - it's been (sorry TMI) more yellow now with some blood streaks. I don't know if it's acute bronchitis. Good news is my chest doesn't hurt too much, only if I try and twist to the right then it's very sore, but I've had lung surgery so could be coughing pulling on that, feels more muscular than inside.

What I'd like to do is try and get a good night sleep, and then try and eat more tomorrow to see how I am. I can't say I've eaten more than 1600 calories over last two days.

Is cold weather a trigger for you?

Wearing a face mask or scarf over your mouth and nose for a few minutes when you first go outside in cold weather can help prevent airway shock and give you time to adjust to the colder temperature.

Eating well all year round. Do you have a good diet? Plenty of protein and eating regularly through the day. Exercise? No need for marathons but keeping moving and keeping your muscles strong really helps outcomes with regards to lung health.

Do you smoke? If you do this is obviously a big priority and you should seek support from gp/ local smoking cessation service.

Do you have an annual review with your nurse. Most GP surgeries have an asthma/copd nurse? Do you use an inhaler and are you using it correctly?

How many times a year do you need antibiotics?

Can you ask for a referral to lung rehab if it's available in your area?

I have asthma and copd. I have antibiotics and a seven day steroid course as standby medication.

the steroids aid my recovery in the sense they make it quicker. Sometimes I have to ask for another week of steroids, but that's rare.

all my friends and family know that a cold has put me in hospital in the past. They are all nice enough to avoid me when they have colds.

I've realised cold weather can be yes. Good shout on scarves. I do eat regularly and plenty of protein.

Veg and fruit has been lacking but am changing that now. Exercise has also been bad - as soon as I get past this I'm getting back onto it.

I don't smoke and do have regular reviews and inhaler advice. I don't think I've had antibiotics in a few years. Rarely get colds. Usually just a short one around September time.

Came back to say I found something that helps! Cough syrup with guaifenesin. Really helped the phlegm situation. I've got the chesty cough one and I'm going to go and get the dry tickly cough one as it seems to be a bit of both. Also going to try and eat a proper meal today.

Honey can help too.
A spoonful as it is, or in hot tea

My partner has asthma and COPD Bronchiectasis. His GP gives him a regular prescription for amoxicillin and prednisolone to keep on hand in case of an infection.

Thank you! I did some research and understand the difference now between expectorants and cough suppressants. I was wondering why I was in this neverending cycle of dry cough, then streaming sinuses, then using the expectorant which clears it, so I then think great I'll eat! Then getting the dry cough again, and throwing up.

Was just flummoxing me what to do and felt I was getting weaker.

Have now been using at night:

Nasal rinse
Anaesthetic throat spray (Honey wasn't cutting it)

Daytime:
Nasal rinse
Hydration
Otrivine nasal spray (although cleared / dried me out a bit much)

Plus Broncho 5 in 1 for both dry and chesty coughs. Also whacked the heating up at home.

Last night was first night I could sleep through.