How long after taking antibiotics does ability to breathe come back?

Thank you! Yes, we have considered it.

@cindy007 MAC/NTM specialists will recommend airway clearance. You mention your husband has not had nebulizer treatments, which are essential prior to airway clearance. That makes me wonder if your specialist is up to date on current therapies. Your husband has bronchiectasis and MAC. The bronchiectasis came first, then the MAC. The gold standard treatment for bronchiectasis is airway clearance and it can help MAC too. The drugs/pills alone with not cure/help MAC.

Here is a cut and paste from another post about what you need to know about airway clearance. Likely mucus is clogging your husband's lungs making him breathless. Once he gets the phlegm up and out I hope he will be less breathless. Airway clearance needs to become a habit, 2x daily minimum. No holidays or days off.

To maximize airway clearance he'll need a compressor, nebulizer and hypertonic saline. All are available without a prescription. Below are links to nebulizer and compressor, both of which have been recommended by National Jewish Health, one of the top respiratory hospitals in the US. Hypertonic saline (3% or 7%) can be purchased on Amazon.
https://www.saveritemedical.com/products/ombra-120v-table-top-nebulizer-compressor-system
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNNV3JW6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
Airway clearance info
https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy
I hope this is somewhat helpful.

Ok... Yes, he is on saline and has a vibration vest. Is this what you are referring to? I thought there was a medical treatment nebulizer with a drug that would help as well. The nebulizer has helped bring up much mucus. Your post is very helpful, I appreciate the information as we navigate this difficult time. Thank you! Cindy

Oh great - yes, saline is what I meant. A vest is good too. Some take albuterol (puffer) or neb levalbuterol prior to saline, which helps open up the airways prior to inhaling saline. I hope your husband (and you!) get some relief soon.

Hi...........I purchased a nebulizer at a medical store but, amazon has them as well. I use Sodium Chloride Solution 7% . I found that it helped tremendously when I was at my worst. Now I use a couple times a week for maintenance. The infectious disease DR I see insists it's part of my program. The 7% makes me have a horse voice when used everyday - almost to laryingitis - he was going to switch me to a 3% solution.
I hope this helps - I truly thought my life was over - I could not breathe unless I was laying still. It was a mircle for me to meet this Dr. and start the med's. Like I said it worked for me very quickly. Good Luck!

Thank you so much for your response. We are seeing small positive changes each day as we near the two week mark so I am hoping this will continue until he is off daily oxygen. He too could barely get out of bed and shower without being totally winded. Thanks to all who have helped and shared their story. It is so helpful. Cindy

My heartfelt wishes for a daily improvement!

You are very kind. Thank you!