your experience and opinion about bronchoscopy

I had a bronchhoscopy for the same reason: my chest x-ray had tree-in-bud nodules, mucous impactions, etc. that gave me a presumptive diagnosis of MAC. My samples were all negative (it took a month for me to get enough for 2 or 3). The local pulmonologist had surgery and went on leave after my second similar CT, which now showed bronchiectasis in addition to nodules. Therefore, I went to Mayo. I couldn’t get a good sample, even with RT and hypertonic saline. Therefore, they did a bronchoscopy to ensure decent samples. The multiple samples collected were negative for MAC, fungus, and abnormal cells.
The procedure was very easy-just sedation. I had a mild sore throat. For me, it was definitively worth it to know I don’t have MAC. It also seemed to refocus my treatment to post nasal drip and sinuses, since that’s now presumptive cause of the abnormal CT’s (though pulmonologist said another possibility is that I’d had MAC and cleared it.)

I procedure was very easy. They cleaned out mucus while they were in there and my cough has been much better since. For me, it was definitely worth it.

It's important to get the right diagnosis in order to start the right treatment. I've had 2 plus a PET and VQ.

My lung collapsed during the bronchoscopy, so I was in the hospital 3 days with a chest tube.

Rick what is VQ

I think you can get a bronchoscopy with a one use disposable bronchoscope if requested. I would ask because those reusable instruments can "occasionally" contain pseudomonas I have been told. I don't know the risk percentage.

Yes I did bronchoscopy in November 2022 and then found mac bacteria , but my sputum is negative. And it was negative for another1.5 years. The procedure is very safe.

I've had 2 bronchoscopies this past year and have had no problems. I cannot cough anything up -- but I sure can cough to the point of cracking a few ribs -- so the procedures helped clear the mucus and for a couple of weeks, I coughed very little. There's no way to totally rid a person of mucus accumulation but the bronchoscopies can serve 2 purposes: clearing the lungs and getting the samples we need to evaluate our conditions.

Many thanks to everyone who shared your bronchoscopy experiences and
your opinions with me. I appreciate them very much. They help me to
make the right decisions.
Love you all.

Ling

I also read to request one time use scopes for bronchoscopy and GI procedures as they could introduce MAC also. My physician assures me cleaning of scopes are much improved from past and cross contamination is unlikely.