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CT Scans vs Sputum Cultures, which is more important?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 9 8:35am | Replies (74)Comment receiving replies
I just saw your post.
I have not taken the antibiotics. They make me very sick, and I also get C Diff. I have had Mac and Bx for two years now.
I nebulize two times daily with Levabuterol and. 7% Saline..morning and night. I also do a procedure called “the squeeze”, that I learned from watching a video on the blog LUNG MATTERS. When I do this, I get up a lot if mucus that nebulizing does not get up. I do it once or twice daily.
It is VERY important to do these things on a daily basis…because our lungs do not work properly in terms of getting the secretions out every day. Because the sticky mucus is in there, it stops the little hairlike things in the lungs from moving the gunk out, so, we have to do it ourselves.
If we do not keep our lungs cleared out daily, we are leaving, in there, an environment for bacteria to grow, hence INFECTION COMES.
I also get sputum samples done once a month, AFB and one that shows if there is infection. VERY IMPORTANT to keep track of this. I get a CT scan done at least once a year at which time the dr compares it to the year before. I have NTM and bronchiectstasis.
So far, this regimen I am on is working. Before I started this strict routine, I was in two stints in the hospital for five days each with infection.
Feel free to message me anytime if you need to…..
Replies to "I just saw your post. I have not taken the antibiotics. They make me very sick,..."
Thanks for your reply.
I am not sure I am understanding correctly.
From the start did you not have an infection?
Do your sputum viles show MAI/MAC or other type of infection each submission?
I have been sending in sputum samples monthly, (missed one month) and each is accpeted but always comes back saying either the number of colonies or 1+ or abnormal. I never hear if the MAI is worse, stable or better from the doctor.....that is disappointing and I sure don't know how to "read and interpret" the results. I have messaged them to see if they can tell me that. Can it be discerned?
My annual CT Scan showed two areas of improvement and one new area plugging in the lower lobe. I will work harder on the lower lobe via air way clearance methods. One pulmonologist said that they determine the need for anti biotics due to the CScan. That surprised me.
However, the BE specialist has me lined up with the two anti biotics to take Azithromycin and Ethambutol. As I have said in other posts here, I am preparing tenatively to take them. However, my concern is that if you do not take them you will not know if they will help and then will it cause greater lung damage if you do not take them???? It is almost like a "catch 22"
Barbara
Bonnie, it's good to hear that you are doing well, even without the antibiotics. Your daily routine has obviously made a big difference for you! Are you still seeing Dr. Swenson at Emory? I hope you continue to feel well and stay infection-free.
Yes, can you somewhat explain what the squeeze is that seems to help you. Are you squeezing the area just above your waist when you huff cough????
Barbara
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What is the squeeze procedure? Thank you