Has anyone had green mucus for over a year?
I was diagnosed with BE about 10 years ago. Never did anything about it. May 2023 I caught a really bad lower respiratory virus and was on antibiotics and steroids for 2 weeks. When I was sick I starting coughing up lots of green mucus. I went to see my Dr at NJH last October and had 1 sputum test show MAC but then have had 6 more tests that are negative. Fast forward to today and I have been doing nebulizer with saline daily and sometimes levalbuterol along with a vest once a day. I still cough up green mucus every day. And I cough it up only when I lie down and stretch after my workouts or if I lie down for a nap in the afternoon. My Dr seems to not be concerned about the green mucus, but I am. Does anyone else cough up green mucus daily?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Somebody else who only gets green results while lying on their back (supine position)! I guess I'm not the only one. I can use my Aerobika and 7% saline twice a day religiously (and I do) and see nothing much, but miraculously when I do yoga, up comes this yucky stuff I had no idea was there. After an hour of yoga I can feel things loosen, then in the "corpse pose" at end (flat on back), it becomes apparent. Green color and quantity vary, but if it's been a while since my last yoga session, chances are I will produce this stuff. I see similar results if I lay on my back after a strenuous, warm bike ride. Of course, this takes even more time, but I guess this type of therapy is good for me in many ways.
I report all of this to my doc at NJH who also doesn't seem overly concerned, although it's clearly best to remove it from the airways, as able. The breathing techniques in yoga may also lend themselves to lung clearance.
I tried 12 hr timed release Guaifenisin (Mucinex ingredient) and ended up with lots of throat clearing. It didn't seem to help bring up green mucous during airway clearance.
Best to you in your journey...
Good description. I was communicating the same results of expelling green mucus after doing lying poses after I have done an hr of exercise like walking or rowing. After I expelled the green stuff I feel way better, less airway blockage. My drs encourage me to do this mucus clearance all the time. I also do 7% saline in morning and evening, going on to 3.5 years.
forgot to mention, after the lying poses and expelling of green mucus, Ill do the nebulizing and it cleans out what remains until a white bubbly mucus comes up.
Will last all day until late afternoon. Hal
Thank you Hal. It's comforting to know that I am not the only one with these issues. I have learned so much from reading the posts here. Much more information and recommendations than any doctor has given me.
Thank you and same to you.
My doctor ordered a vest for me which I have been wearing every morning while doing the Aerobika with saline. I have been doing this since March,but I only seem to get the most out of my lungs when I exercise and lie flat. Hoping doing both of these will clear up the nodules that are in my lungs. Please keep me posted if you find anything else that helps you.
I definitely recommend viewing the video with Dr. McShane posted earlier on this thread. Big revelation to me was to nebulize the 7% saline PRIOR to Aerobika (or autogenic drainage), or even before exercise. Best!
Hello, I was recently diagnosed with mac and I live on big island. If you don't mind me asking, who do you see as your pulmonologist? Thank you
Hi maliko,
My pulmonologist is Dr Samuel Evans at the Straub clinic. He is very good.
My infectious disease Dr is Dr James Joiner. He is also good.
Hope that you get this
Hello I appreciate your reply. Are you on Oahu? On big island, we have very limited options for pulmonologist.
Also, when initial symptoms did you have that prompted you to seek pulmonologist? Thanks
I am on Oahu.
Yes, my primary care provider did tests and found out I have Bronchiectasis and referred me to a pulmonologist. This site is really helpful and if you ever want to ask me questions please do. I do know that the Big Island has limited Drs unlike Oahu. Hal
I'm sure I will have lot of questions down the road, thank you!!!