Connect
Comment receiving replies
@brittany123 ... I have had the same experience as you. I find that there are times when I feel really tired but I want to think it's just age and hard work in the garden or from a long walk with the dogs.
I was told by an infectious disease specialist that if I decided to treat, the recurrence within 5 years after completing the antibiotics was over 95%. I don't feel sick and I take precautions (wear a mask when I am in crowded indoor spaces, etc) and have been fortunate so far. When I read about what others are experiencing I feel really bad for them but am grateful I'm not so sick. I cough a fair amount but it's unproductive. Occasionally I do cough up something ugly but not too often. I have tried to do airway clearance with little success. I have a nebulizer but honestly don't use it much. I've had pneumonia several times starting when I was in 9th grade (I'm 76 now). I think that's probably where the bronchiectasis got started. I was diagnosed with MAC about 4 years ago. I hope to carry on with my life as long as possible. Thank you for sharing. your experience.
Replies to "@brittany123 ... I have had the same experience as you. I find that there are times..."
Connect
@imatcha I really think that in the past, before the importance of nebulizing saline, daily airway clearance and exercise, infections recurrent much more often.
But, many of us here have established routines that keep us healthy. I stopped antibiotics 58 months ago, and feel as healthy as I ever have in the past 8 years.
The gold standard will be my CT tomorrow and repeat Pulmonary function test (the last one was done while I was at the end of Covid.) Not sure if I will do a sputum culture as I am not very productive.
I would encourage you to use your neb a couple times a week with saline - there is coming to be more evidence that it helps. I do mine 2-3x week, and usually I exercise as my form of airway clearance. A brisk walk or 30 minutes of yoga bring up more mucus for me than any other technique.