Your thoughts are worth a great deal to me and so are Sue's or others of those having been on this road a long time. We newbies need all the help we can get. Having to think it all out on my own is not the best thing and having other's thoughts to consider and come to my own decision is best.
Believe me I am thinking, still, long and hard.
The only thing I am worried about it how long will I live and do I want to take a chance of not taking them and developing nodules etc. etc. due to not taking them. Although I just read nodules can be caused by a multiple of things not just an infection. However with BE we are more susceptible to the other possible reasons for developing nodules. I often think of what I learned as a kid having to take care of all things myself and especially related to a car 'one problem can lead to another if not fixed' and then there is the school teacher in me "nip it in the bud."
Yes, it is Dr. McShane who I see. I am a bit concerned for various reasons and the perceptions I have developed. She had first suggested that I go on the trial study and come in every two months to see her. She may not have remembered or looked to see I live in OKC or thought that driving 6 hours every two months shouldn't be a concern for an 82 year old in view of all one has to do to leave your home (I'm single, no family) get there, stay overnight etc. etc. or she wanted to give me the opportunity to consider the trial and for me to weigh the pros and cons. Yet her very professional and good RT was concerned for me with the thought of that requirement alone and politely suggested not to do it. Go figure. Turned it down because I didn't want the drive etc. etc. I was then told to start the Azithromycin and Ethambutol.
My PFT is off the scale in the right direction.
Scan two areas of improvement.
One area new plugging in lower lobe. I am working harder on that area since being told that. I have been doing airway clearance with a better understanding for six months.
I can clearly feel and see I am clearing mucus. Most of the time it is clear and other times I can even tell from the feeling I have in my throat that I am bringing up colored mucus or a plug. Colored mucus is light in color.
Like so many of us other things happen also....I am dealing with a sore swollen foot after hitting it on something hard (can't remember what I hit it on but remember saying to myself, "that hurt.") Can hardly walk for a couple of days and especially not fun in the middle of the night in having to make my way to the bathroom. Don't we have fun and challenges! Thanks Irene.
Barbara