Over the next few weeks we will take a deep dive into airway clearance. Although evidence whether airway clearance therapy is effective or even which type of airway clearance therapy is effective for patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is lacking. The over all consensus is that the body’s natural airway clearance is impaired in patients with PCD. In, “ACT Series, 1; Introduction to the Body’s Natural Airway Clearance” we will be discussing the body’s natural airway clearance so that we can better understand how to apply airway clearance techniques and which ones might be beneficial to the patient’s unique set of circumstances and their overall health picture.

A patient’s perspective from our Founder:

Well you all know me and know I like to talk about the little know areas of PCD life, like this new spin on buffet type meals; food boards. For most people food boards are awesome, for me it’s a nightmare… Let me explain.

A few years during a family medical crisis involving my father I went a jumped on the first plane out of Minniapolis bound for my home state of Ohio. I wasn’t actively sick with and infection, but still in declining pulmonary status myself. I didn’t ask anyone, I just jumped on a plane bound for home as my father wasn’t expected to pull through. I did notice it took me extra time to get through the security and to the gate for my plane. But I did have two medical bags with me, on top of my carry on and personal item. My checked luggage was already taken care of. Due to my hearing I did request early boarding so I could get on the plane and not miss my announced times over the intercom. Those announcements I’m usually oblivious to, so the early boarding makes sure I’m not left behind.

There are many layers to caregiving when it involves a person who has primary ciliary dyskinesia. These layers peel back and change on the daily sometimes. It is definitely a strange onion to peel if I may make that analogy.