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

02/05/2026

I should be packing for my early morning flight to Mexico tomorrow, but I’m too excited not to share this news.

I am now fluent in Spanish‼️‼️‼️‼️

Well… not really. But YouTube dubbing is officially working on my channel 🎉

I turned this feature on weeks ago and at first it didn’t seem to be doing much. But now I’m seeing that some of my newer videos have multiple language options available. I think it will take a while for older videos to catch up, but if you go to one of my playlists and click on the newest videos, you should be able to access the dubbing.

Please feel free to share this with your Spanish-speaking and non-English-speaking friends. Education should be accessible.

Soul-sister Maria checked out the Spanish version and said the dubbing was excellent. Thank you, Maria. That meant so much to hear.

Now I’m curious. Select the gear at the bottom of the video and then go up to audio truck at the top and select your language. Let me know how I sound. 😊

And please help spread the word by sharing our YouTube channel with our global community.

My YouTube channel is BE CLEAR with Bronchiectasis.

https://youtube.com/

Adios! Ciao! Au revoir!!

02/05/2026

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love a good muffin. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I ever wanted a muffin top.

When I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis and a MAC infection eight years ago, it took me some time to accept that gaining a bit of weight might actually be part of my healing. The more I read and learned, the clearer it became: to reduce inflammation and give my body the best chance to clear a MAC infection, nourishing myself even if it meant extra pounds, would make a big difference.

So yes, I now have a muffin top. And I’m okay with it.

If you need help figuring out meal planning and some tips to add a few pounds, let’s have a Zoom call.

However, If you are seriously underweight, please think about meeting with a nutritionist. I highly recommend Michelle MacDonald, previously a supervisor at National Jewish Health, one of the top lung hospitals in the world.

She knows nutrition. She knows pulmonary disease. She can help you.

Contact me for Michelle’s email. Small steps over time can make a big difference.🩶💜💚

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02/04/2026

My favorite combination. Perfect for busy days…

02/04/2026

RESISTANT to biofilms = peace of mind!!🥰

02/04/2026

As many of us know, there is an association between reflux and bronchiectasis.This is why so many in the bronchiectasis and NTM communities work hard to manage reflux alongside airway clearance, exercise, and nutrition. It can feel like a balancing act and is not easy.

For many people, reflux is not just about heartburn or acidic foods. Both acid and non-acid reflux can irritate the airways and may contribute to cough, inflammation, and flare-ups.

One important reminder. Reflux management is not only about avoiding food for several hours before lying down. It is also about not drinking during that time. This is something many people do not think about. A glass of water before bed or during the night can be more likely to reflux than solid food.

Of course, if you need to take medication at night, that is different. But when possible, limiting fluids before bedtime may help reduce nighttime reflux for some people.

Education matters. Awareness matters. And you are not alone.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. Please do not change any of your current practices without first discussing them with your medical team.

02/02/2026

Oh… NO!!! Say it ain't so!!
Well, at least I have Bika to keep me company.

Six more weeks of winter? Cold weather can mean more chest colds, thicker mucus, and more reasons to stay on top of airway clearance therapy.

This Groundhog Day, help patients breathe better with the AEROBIKA® OPEP Device by Monaghan Medical.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4pYte15

02/02/2026

Packing for a trip to Mexico and making sure an alginate is in my bag. I love these travel packets from Reflux Gourmet. No worries about bottles being confiscated by TSA.

We actually have a bronchi-sister who had two unopened bottles of RefluxRaft taken from her. Fortunately, she was on her way to National Jewish Health in Denver and was able to quickly order more and have them delivered to her hotel.

At home, I use RefluxRaft because I like the lemon ginger flavor. When my reflux symptoms are stronger, mine are often nausea, I bring out the heavy hitter and use Gaviscon Advance from the UK.

Being on vacation can be the perfect storm for acid reflux. Late night meals, an occasional glass of wine, and trying new or richer foods can all contribute. I know the struggle. Travel often means no wedge pillow, and stacking slippery hotel pillows just does not cut it.

Because reflux can worsen bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease, I take prevention seriously. That is why using an alginate has been a real lifesaver for me. Alginates form a raft that sits on top of stomach contents, creating a physical barrier that helps reduce reflux into the esophagus.

Did you know there is a BE CLEAR Reflux Toolkit video? You can find it in my Eating and Drinking playlist on my BE CLEAR with Bronchiectasis YouTube channel.

You can also go directly to the video here:

https://tinyurl.com/2wnumv9x

Have you tried an alginate? If so, which one do you find most effective and when do you use it?

Reflux Gourmet

Gaviscon

02/01/2026

Are you looking forward to this morning’s BE CLEAR with Bronchiectasis video?

This one is just 6 minutes. Perfect to listen to while you use your Aerobika OPEP device.

My goal is to keep most videos around 5 minutes. Clients tell me that’s the sweet spot. And if you know me, you know I love my sweets.

If you subscribe and hit the bell, you’ll also get midweek “sweet treats” in the form of Shorts. These are under one minute and include simple suggestions or quick demonstrations of what I do to stay as healthy as possible and feel my best. I want that for everyone.

One more favor. After you watch the new video, tap any playlist and let it run. The airway clearance playlist is the longest. I’m working toward 4,000 watch hours so the channel can be monetized. I’ve been at this for over two and a half years and I’m currently around 2,500 hours.

Monetization won’t be a big windfall, but over time it helps offset the cost of creating these videos and working with my technical consultant to keep everything running smoothly.

And hey, feel free to let your dog or cat listen along. I’ve heard my voice is music to their ears 😉

For the BE CLEAR YouTube Breathing video:

https://youtu.be/6Z7iFuvktgw?si=EQYEga5Z9QbJrBT_

Because this disease is rough, and anything I can do to make your day smoother is always a pleasure.💙🩵

01/31/2026

Happy Saturday everyone. I’m heading out into the cold for the first time in four days so wish me luck.Does cold weather bother you as much as it bothers me?

Thankfully my gym is only about 500 steps away, so I really have no excuse.

Before bundling up, I want to share a gentle reminder about AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity and others. As someone currently working on large projects with collaborators, I’ve seen how easy it is to start trusting AI as a reliable source of information.

And then suddenly, you get an answer that doesn’t quite make sense. Or instructions based on website features that have been eliminated. Or even a research reference that turns out to be completely made up.

As I often tell my clients, if you have started or are thinking about starting a practice based on something you read online or heard within the bronchiectasis community, and you suspect your doctor would not support it, that is a good moment to pause and think twice.

Stay warm and take good care 💙

airwayclearance

01/30/2026

During times of stress, uncertainty, and illness, I find deep comfort in art. Visiting museums and being surrounded by extraordinary talent reminds me that even in the midst of difficulty, beauty can be created. Art shows us how people transform challenge into expression, pain into meaning, and struggle into something lasting and hopeful.

Our community is filled with talented artists, and I love having the opportunity to share their work with you. Today, I’m excited to introduce someone new—Martha.

“Since I was a seven-year-old child in 1962, recovering from heart surgery, making art has been part of my healing journey. UCSF had an arts and crafts room, and I spent many hours there creating gifts for the people who helped me through that difficult time. Even then, art gave me comfort, purpose, and a sense of connection.

I never allowed my heart condition to stop me from dancing, hiking, or camping. In fact, these activities strengthened my body and improved my heart health. In 1987, after my father passed away from lung cancer, I developed asthma. It took years and the care of a truly excellent pulmonologist, before I found the inhaler that worked best for me. Since then, my asthma has been, for the most part, well controlled.

Last winter, bronchiectasis entered the picture, another hurdle on my body’s long journey. I am still new to this diagnosis, but I am actively educating myself and pursuing treatment, continuing the lifelong process of learning how to care for my health.

Today, art is what I do full time. I retired during COVID after working as a floral designer and managing a health food store. My artwork often takes the form of collages, created from pieces of my older work, layered with paint and other elements. My themes frequently center on women, but also include abstracts, landscapes, and portraits.

Creating art brings me solace, energy, and healing. It is where I find focus, renewal, and joy.”

You can view Martha’s artwork on Instagram .stafford.18

Thank you Martha. We see you. We are here for you as a community.🧡💙💛

01/28/2026

Most definitely not company-worthy… But tasty… And I didn’t have to pull out the six frying pans that I store in my regular oven.