1. You’re Coughing Less
Chronic, uncontrollable coughing is the top symptom that most people struggle with when their bronchiectasis isn’t adequately managed.
“It can be debilitating,” says Dr. Metersky. That’s especially true when you’re having a flare, which is typically caused by bacterial lung infection.
Your coughing should decrease significantly as your treatment starts to kick in. “We may not mitigate the cough 100 percent, but we want to get it to the point where it’s manageable enough so you can do your daily activities,” says Sucharita Kher, MD, a pulmonologist and vice chair of clinical operations and quality for the department of medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
How long it’ll take to notice an improvement may depend on your specific treatment. If you’re starting antibiotics, you should notice a big decrease in coughing within a few days, as the meds fight off your lung infection, Dr. Kher says.
In that case, you may have to be more patient. “We’ll usually see an improvement within a month or two,” says Metersky.
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