PCD

PCD also has social implications which may be more significant than one would expect. Evolutionary instincts of self-preservation have conditioned people to avoid contact with individuals who appear sick or cough, as that may indicate a dangerous contagious illness such as TB. People with PCD therefore face an uphill struggle socially as the visible symptoms of their condition cause others to instinctively (and subconsciously) avoid contact with them. Persons with PCD are also at a disadvantage in the job market, as their symptoms could easily cause employers and prospective employers to be haunted by ghoulish visions of Typhoid Mary. This is a factor not just in the food and service professions, but really in any occupation involving any degree of human contact. Other prospective employers and institutions- retail, corporate, academia, government, etc.- may fear the negative reactions of customers, consumers, or the public in general, to someone with PCD. Thus, as a result of the physical and social challenges presented by PCD, individuals with the disorder may well have fewer opportunities (for growth and development).

Diet
Foods to eliminate altogether if possible:
• All dairy products- milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt
  
• Beer
  
• Foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil

  Foods to minimize:

• Fried foods
  
• Wine (When it comes to alcohol, I find small amounts of hard liquor to be the least problematic)
  
• Chocolate (Since it’s physically impossible to eliminate completely, I try my best to minimize it)
  
• Coffee (coffee might have benefits too- most notably by opening airways. Whether that temporary relief is enough to offset the couple days of sinus congestion is debatable.)
  
• eggs
  
• Junk foods and processed foods
  
• Potatoes (I find starchier white or baking potatoes worse than the less starchy red or purple)

  Foods to favor:

• Foods with high water content- white rice, light breads, salads, cooked spinach
  
• Green tea- I’ve become a green tea addict
  
• Water

  Beef

  When I’m fighting an infection I find beef helpful. I only buy natural beef- so it’s not the antibiotics fed to the cows. Agreed, it should be eaten in moderation as there are other serious concerns. But when dealing with an infection, it does seem to help a lot.

Lifestyle:

Get a reasonable amount of exercise- walking and swimming if that is an option Some yoga poses seem helpful- I had some success for a while with inverted poses- headstands and handstands helped clear things out. Eventually I developed neck strain though…
Avoid moldy and dusty places
Don’t smoke, and avoid second hand smoke
Acupuncture (?) (I haven’t tried it yet, but it makes sense that it could be helpful)
Singing- I’m bias towards this one being a singer, but it does help clear things out by massaging the sinuses and pharynx.

Conventional Medicine:

I’ve had varying experiences with conventional doctors- ranging from those who recommend managing the symptoms by some of the above methods in conjunction with some medicines and devices, to those who recommend a lifelong regimen of antibiotics (probably not a good idea unless absolutely necessary). I’ve come across a good number of doctors that are completely unfamiliar with PCD or Kartageners or their effects. Given the rarity of the condition, the state of the healthcare industry (at least in America), and the variations in the symptoms from person to person, those of us with PCD are pretty much on our own and would probably do well to share experiences and ideas for managing the condition and its symptoms with one another.