Do you have asthma, allergies or chronic sinusitis? Those could be a source for the cough.
I had 2 types of coughs before a CT showed lung changes suggestive of MAC and I was sent to a pulmonologist then ENT’s. One cough was horrid and episodic. Like you, I cancelled trips and events because of coughing. That cough seemed to be due to post nasal drip and Azelastine helped tremendously, though it didn’t fully clear the post nasal drainage. I did saline sinus irrigations with the NeilMed bottle (now their Squeezie) until I could get into a frontal sinus specialist months later. He added a steroid to the rinse solution and that helped until a trip last week when my allergies flared. Mayo had also changed the Azelastine to a triple spray with Mometazone, Ipratropium, and diphenhydramine. The Ipratropium really helps and I use it alone midafternoon.

I also had a very little persistent cough, prob related to my asthma, that remained until the cultures done during a bronchoscopy at Mayo were negative for MAC and they then started me on a steroid inhaler. That little cough stopped within 48 hours. Such a relief!

I responded to a couple people with persistent coughs in the Lung Matters group about the meds with steroids that gave me relief from my coughs. My replies were deleted very quickly because steroids aren’t part of their protocol. I’m a retired RN and am quite familiar with the risks of steroids, but my bronchiectasis may be due to the excessive sinus drainage and docs felt it v important to get the post nasal drip under control. Frontal sinus infections also carry high risks and the ENT doc specializing the those, my pulmonologist and I think the benefits of the steroids, for me, currently outweigh the risks. That would likely change if I develop MAC or other pulmonary infections.

I write this (again) because I think Lung Matters has some good info on equipment, cleaning equipment, etc, but I believe it falls short on recognition that people’s needs may vary.