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Options if MAC goes untreated

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 8 hours ago | Replies (50)

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@sueinmn

I feel like the 7% saline must have cleared the residuals. I haven't seen the images themselves yet, just the report. It said "no change from previous CT" so that would indicate there is still some tree-in-bud but the actual nodules were gone in 2021. Ground glass is usually a transient finding as far as I know. It is the radiologist's shortcut for saying he couldn't see everything clearly, usually because of active infection or effusion. In my case, I have some mild atelectasis (collapse) or scarring in the lower lungs - probably the artifacts of all the prior infections, and some air trapping - I can live with those. But it does explain why I am having a harder time upping the intensity of my walks.

Do I neb albuterol? No - Our protocol is for me to use the Symbicort inhaler which has a long-acting beta-agonist before saline and before exercise. And I neb the saline 2-3 times per week.

Here is the link for NTM-it: https://ntminfo.org/
There is a helpful Q&A group (also called Connect) and lots of helpful resources.

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Replies to "I feel like the 7% saline must have cleared the residuals. I haven't seen the images..."

Thanks, Sue. It brings me hope that you’ve cleared much of yours. My doc wants me to use 3 or 7% a couple times a week over winter and maybe I’ll be able to clear more. I tried it using my slow compressor and it very soothing (odd, right?), but I could never finish it because it was so slow! I just got a Proneb Max and tried yesterday and found out why people think it’s irritating. That was the 3%! I’ll figure it out since there’s so much info here.