Be Clear-A Self-Care Method to Living with Bronchiectasis

Be Clear-A Self-Care Method to Living with Bronchiectasis Never judgmental.
🎥 Free videos youtube.com/
❎ No med advice Esposito, MPH, you can feel better!

Linda Esposito, MPH
Yale-educated 25 yr exp bronchiectasis & NTM educator | Author | Advocate
✨ Compassionate coaching & individual consultations
❤️Always kind. Author of “The BE CLEAR Method to Living with Bronchiectasis” available on Amazon-

https://amzn.to/333htls?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text

Bronchiectasis is the permanent scarring of the lung airway passages, often from an infection, asthma or COPD. It is a lifelong chronic disease, but by practicing the BE CLEAR Method of self-care, created by Linda C.

Having bronchiectasis means pacing ourselves. It means showing up for the things we care about, but doing them in a way ...
11/23/2025

Having bronchiectasis means pacing ourselves. It means showing up for the things we care about, but doing them in a way that respects our energy. It means offering to help, but choosing the parts we can do comfortably and at our own pace.

It also means conserving energy so that we too can enjoy the festivities. And remember, you never have to overexplain yourself. The people who love and care about you do not need a manual to understand that you are doing your best.

As you plan and prepare for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays, keep this gentle reminder close.

Are you or someone you know struggling with the out-of-pocket costs associated with bronchiectasis? TAF may be able to h...
11/22/2025

Are you or someone you know struggling with the out-of-pocket costs associated with bronchiectasis?

TAF may be able to help. Visit their website https://tafcares.org/ or call (833) 426-2085 to speak with a Patient Advocate.

The Assistance Fund

I’ve never met Jaclyn, but somehow she feels like family. I’ve followed her for years, both her personal posts and her ...
11/22/2025

I’ve never met Jaclyn, but somehow she feels like family. I’ve followed her for years, both her personal posts and her Instagram account, I know her to be a nature lover, a rock climber, and an extraordinary photographer. I also know that she lives with chronic infections that, as she says, are “breathtaking.”

Recently, she went on a big adventure and was generous enough to share her thoughts with us:

“I have had infections all summer through the fall with many antibiotic treatments. I climbed this Via Ferrata on a whim to empower, prove we can do it all, and be stronger while fighting our own battles!! We are Daily warriors and mentally strong!!! I met some of the most lovely people on the climb with positive attitudes! Spread joy, kindness, and remind yourself that tomorrow isn’t promised, so get out there when you can and do all the things you have been wanting to do before it is too late!!”

Thank you little bronchi-sis for reminding us to seize the day, whatever that means for each and every one of us.

Keep climbing to new heights, and let us hope that with our new drug and others in the pipeline you will be less infection prone and able to continue your wild adventures with even more freedom.

Black Friday coming your way… Have you thought about a handheld massager??? Can’t really recommend one over the other, b...
11/21/2025

Black Friday coming your way… Have you thought about a handheld massager??? Can’t really recommend one over the other, but always good to have in your airway clearance tool kit.

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Mention the word “microbiome” and my ears perk up. So you can imagine how excited I was to visit Dr. Leopoldo Segal’s la...
11/21/2025

Mention the word “microbiome” and my ears perk up. So you can imagine how excited I was to visit Dr. Leopoldo Segal’s laboratory at NYU Langone this week. His team focuses on the lung microbiome, and much of their research involves identifying non-culturable microbes that live in the lungs and may influence whether or not we experience exacerbations.

I am genuinely thrilled to participate in the biobank when, years ago, I signed off on them having access to my data and all bodily secretions. It was my way of contributing to science because I often do not qualify for clinical studies for bronchiectasis or MAC infections due to my low frequency of exacerbations.

Call me a little eccentric, but knowing that my data, sputum, and blood are now in their system and biobanks makes me feel proud.

Much more on this to come.

There are so many ways to get involved in research, whether by participating in a clinical trial or simply taking the time to complete surveys. I used to think those survey requests were a way for companies to sell my information to insurance companies. I was skeptical until I learned more.

Now I understand that the FDA requires patient input, which is why so many surveys exist. And when companies are deciding how to invest their research dollars, they rely on hearing from us to understand what the community truly needs.

So now, even when I am not feeling motivated, I still fill out the initial screening questions to see if I qualify for an interview or a detailed survey. That is also research.

And that counts.

After Thanksgiving, I will post an opportunity for our community to participate in a new survey.

I hope you will keep all of this in mind and fill out the preliminary information. And the good news is we will be paid for our time. I firmly believe that all stakeholders should be on equal footing. Scientists are compensated for their time and expertise, and we should be too.

If you choose to donate your honorarium to charity, that is entirely your decision. What matters most is that we have a seat at the table and that our time is valued.

Putting in a couple miles on the treadmill while answering emails. Then heading over to my local gym for a Pilates class...
11/20/2025

Putting in a couple miles on the treadmill while answering emails. Then heading over to my local gym for a Pilates class. Mask on. Door open. Getting it done.

Do you ever laugh at yourself for not seeing the whole picture? I sure do. I remember hearing that some people with bron...
11/19/2025

Do you ever laugh at yourself for not seeing the whole picture? I sure do. I remember hearing that some people with bronchiectasis and NTM are told not to drink tap water. I thought the issue was simply the bacteria in the water itself.

I had no idea that the real concern was how those bacteria could be aspirated into the lungs through reflux. That was a true deer-in-the-headlights moment for me.

At first, I handled the issue by boiling pot after pot of water. Then I moved on to buying jugs of bottled water, which took up precious real estate in our one-bedroom apartment. Eventually, I settled on the LifeStraw pitcher, which was a better fit for me.

But what never crossed my mind was that the same concerns applied to ice. Ice trays, built-in refrigerator ice makers, and even the refrigerator filter can harbor bacteria.

Once I learned that, things clicked. Now I am much more cautious with ice, and when I visit my daughters, I skip the built-in ice and water dispensers. In restaurants, I rarely order drinks that come from taps, and I avoid water coolers because they can develop internal biofilm.

Looking back, I realize I probably was not ready to understand everything all at once. I needed the information to build slowly over time. And that is perfectly okay.

Sometimes it really can feel like too much until we baby step our way into new habits.

Our friends in the EU might not be prepping for Thanksgiving, but they have a lot to be thankful for!Insmed Incorporated...
11/18/2025

Our friends in the EU might not be prepping for Thanksgiving, but they have a lot to be thankful for!

Insmed Incorporated announced that the European Commission has approved BRINSUPRI™ (brensocatib 25 mg tablets) for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) in patients 12 years and older with two or more exacerbations in the past year.

This is the first and only approved treatment for NCFB in the European Union, and it represents a major milestone for our global community.

This breakthrough may help people live with less disease burden and enjoy a better quality of life.
So happy that more people around the world will get the help they need.

Thank you to Laura Spensley for being the first to share this wonderful news with me!

Are you planning to go away for the holidays? Unfortunately your Ombra needs to stay home.The Ombra Table Top Nebulizer ...
11/17/2025

Are you planning to go away for the holidays?

Unfortunately your Ombra needs to stay home.
The Ombra Table Top Nebulizer Compressor by Monaghan Medical is designed to work only on 120 V / 60 Hz power, like the outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

It cannot be used overseas, even with a voltage converter, because the 50 Hz frequency used in most other countries can damage the motor and affect performance.

If you need a nebulizer for international travel, consider the Pari Trek S. It is designed for multi voltage use (100 to 240 V) and is much better suited for use abroad.

So double kiss your Ombra and know she will be waiting for you when you return.đź’‹đź’‹




My favorite breakfast used to be simple: a piece of toast with melted cheese and a cup of coffee. That’s it. And honestl...
11/17/2025

My favorite breakfast used to be simple: a piece of toast with melted cheese and a cup of coffee. That’s it. And honestly… I still love it.

When I visit my daughter, she knows exactly how to melt the cheese just right — a little nostalgia on a plate.

But living with bronchiectasis and a history of MAC infection, I know my body needs more. Back home in New York City, I work hard to meet my nutrition goals. Twelve grams of protein at breakfast just doesn’t cut it anymore. I want to start the day strong, so I aim for 30 grams of protein every morning. I cook my eggs in olive oil, add healthy carbs, and think of it as telling my body:

“Here you go. You’re working overtime to reduce inflammation and fight infection… and this is your overtime pay. Now do your magic.”

Breakfast really is a powerful meal — for energy, immunity, and inflammation support.
What about you — what’s your favorite breakfast?

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Before you start thinking about which cranberry sauce recipe you are going to make for Thanksgiving, sign up for the fab...
11/16/2025

Before you start thinking about which cranberry sauce recipe you are going to make for Thanksgiving, sign up for the fabulous FREE 2nd North American Bronchiectasis and NTM Conference Patient Education Program.

Many of our favorite people will be speaking, along with some new ones.

PLEASE NOTE

• This is a free program; registration is required.
• This program will be held both in person and virtually.
• The in-person location will be:
NYU Langone Health, Alumni Hall
530 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10016

TO REGISTER

• Use this link:

https://nyulangone.org/care-services/bronchiectasis-ntm-program/ntm-patient-education-program

• All registrants will receive the webinar link, regardless of whether they plan to attend in person or virtually.

TO MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR REGISTRATION AND SIGN UP FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE:

Contact Marla Hymes at marla.hymes@nyulangone.org or 212 263 5183 if:

• You registered for virtual attendance but would now like to attend in person.

• You registered for in-person attendance but now plan to attend virtually.

• You would also like to attend the professional conference virtually ($399).

PROGRAM AGENDA–December 1, 2025
9:30 AM
Registration
10:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Doreen Addrizzo Harris, MD
10:05 AM
US Clinical Care Networks
Doreen Addrizzo Harris, MD
10:15 AM
Canadian Database and Updates
Ted Marras, MD, MSc
10:30 AM
Updates from Latin America
Marcela Munoz, MD
10:45 AM
Global Awareness and Advocacy Initiatives
Timothy Aksamit, MD
11:00 AM
Epidemiology and The Environment with NTM
David Kamelhar, MD
11:15 AM
Question and Answer
11:35 AM
Break and Lunch
12:15 PM
Genetics in Bronchiectasis
Kenneth Olivier, MD, MPH
12:30 PM
Inflammation in Bronchiectasis
Anne O’Donnell, MD
12:45 PM
Guideline Updates
Ashwin Basavaraj, MD
1:00 PM
NTM Updates
Shannon Kasperbauer, MD
1:15 PM
Clinical Trial Update and Future Research Directions in Bronchiectasis and NTM
Charles Daley, MD
1:30 PM
Question and Answer
1:50 PM
Closing Remarks
David Kamelhar, MD

I’ll see you there!


PLEASE SHARE!!

This week, one of my posts about Dr. McShane and her postural drainage recommendation sparked a lot of lively discussion...
11/14/2025

This week, one of my posts about Dr. McShane and her postural drainage recommendation sparked a lot of lively discussion and direct messages.

The post already has over 15,000 views, so I decided to stay with this topic a little longer and use it as an opportunity to explain how my YouTube channel, BE CLEAR with Bronchiectasis, is organized just like my book.

If you go to my YouTube channel page with 160 videos and scroll down, you will see a section called Playlists. When you click on it, you will find that I have organized the videos using the BE CLEAR acronym:

B: Breathing

E: Exercise

C: Clearance of airways

L: Laughter

E: Eating and drinking

A: Alternative therapies

R: Relaxation, rest, and sleep

There are videos in each of these categories. By far, the Clearance of Airways playlist is the most popular with 27 videos.

If you click on that playlist, you can either let the videos play in order or scroll through and select the one that interests you.

For a bit of fun, I am adding a small challenge.
In this post, I am including a link to a short video on postural drainage. There is also a longer, deeper dive video on the same topic. If you go to the Clearance of Airways playlist, you will find the video titled “Postural Drainage” with over 900 views.

Please watch it, then email me at BEandMACadvocate@gmail.com.

In your email, tell what part of the video was most interesting to you.

I will enter you into a lottery and on 12/1 draw a winner for the Bean Products yoga cushion I use for postural drainage.

A quick reminder:

It is best to leave a couple of hours between eating and doing this type of airway clearance to help prevent reflux. Postural drainage may also not be the best choice for those of us with severe GERD, so please check with your care team if you are unsure.

I am always grateful when you take the time to watch, learn, and share your experiences.

Together, we keep building a community that is informed, empowered, and more confident.đź’•

Click here for the short video:

https://tinyurl.com/4snj5c4z

Bean Products

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This page has BE research-based info, self-care methods, and posts to make you smile. Enjoy!

I am fortunate to live in New York City where I have access to a great medical team. As a health educator, I feel that it is my responsibility to share what I have learned about our disease. I am available for a no-charge 15 minute phone consultation if you wish to have a private discussion about bronchiectasis and hear what I do to stay healthy and full of energy. Please note that I am not a medical provider and you should consult your doctor before starting or stopping any practice.