Any suggestions for expelling tenacioius mucus plugs?

Hi, your question is a little off-topic for this particular discussion, but I'll give you a quick answer about the Berkey Gravity water purifier. None of their available filters, including the ceramic version, meets the requirements for removing mycobacteria from water.
To remove mycobacteria, the filter must remove particles of .2 microns or smaller. The best Berkey filter is rated to remove contaminants down to .9 microns. Further, all of their filters contain charcoal, which can be a breeding ground for mycobacteria.

So, no, a Berkey will not provide NTM-free water.

This is what I have been doing for myself and do believe it is helping.
You may already know or do some of what I will post here but just in case you don't or haven't tried these, I will explain what I do for myself.
I have had improvement per the C Scan in the upper lung area with less inflammation. I apparently need to work harder in the lower lung area...a new showing.
I wear an N95 Mask out all the time in public and have found that with breathing in my own air/moisture, I believe that is what is doing it, I more often than not have to clear out what has apparently come up from my lungs immediately after removing the mask before getting back into the car. Sometimes I wear it for a short time while I exercise before doing airway clearance methods.
I boil water in the morning, I prefer that to a humidifier for sanitary reasons, and believe the moisture that it puts in the house has also helped. I prefer to keep the lid on the pot until the water has boiled for 15 minutes.
I live in a cold winter climate and keep my heat lower in the house, for me 67 degrees, and layer myself with clothing items if I get cold in that temperature. Forced air heating of the house draws out moisture so keeping the temperature low helps keep some moisture in the house.
In the summer with the heat I keep the temperature high, 79 degrees. Air conditioning draws out moisture from the house. Summer dress code for me is the opposite of winter.

Should others who read this have any thoughts, good or bad, or suggestions about what I am doing please let me, us, know your thoughts, all is appreciated.
Barbara

How would you know how to work on the lower lung lobe?

For me and with my not being able to use The Vest without causing pain I started doing my own clapping percussion on myself.
I go on the sides of the breastbone. I do it during my morning therapy and often as I go along in my day....do it during the day.
I also go on the sides of my backbone and now I am doing more area of my back/lungs than I had been doing before. Making sure I do the clapping percussion somewhat to the side of my back just above my waist. With what I have been doing in total, within the years time of doing it all the CScan showed improvement in upper lobes and less inflammation, however, new concern in lower left lobe. So hopefully, I am doing what I believe will do the trick...we shall see...by my working around the area where I believe the lower lobes are.....with the clapping percussion there and than to the upper part of my back.
I may start again, as well, with The Vest on the lower settings to try to add to it all at another time of day.
As I said, this is what I do for me. It's not something suggested by the pulmonologists it is strictly my choice and as long as I can do it and continue to feel well and see improvement I will be happy.
Hope this doesn't ruffle anyone's feathers so to speak.. As I said no pulmonologist has suggested this clapping percussion. If I couldn't use the vest I had to try something different.
Barbara

Hi, your question is a little off-topic for this particular discussion, but I'll give you a quick answer about the Berkey Gravity water purifier. None of their available filters, including the ceramic version, meets the requirements for removing mycobacteria from water.
To remove mycobacteria, the filter must remove particles of .2 microns or smaller. The best Berkey filter is rated to remove contaminants down to .9 microns. Further, all of their filters contain charcoal, which can be a breeding ground for mycobacteria.

So, no, a Berkey will not provide NTM-free water.

Thanks Barbara, I couldn’t use the vest due to pain and hemoptysis. I hang upside down on an inversion table and try to clap over those lower lobes

Thanks Barbara, I couldn’t use the vest due to pain and hemoptysis. I hang upside down on an inversion table and try to clap over those lower lobes

For me and with my not being able to use The Vest without causing pain I started doing my own clapping percussion on myself.
I go on the sides of the breastbone. I do it during my morning therapy and often as I go along in my day....do it during the day.
I also go on the sides of my backbone and now I am doing more area of my back/lungs than I had been doing before. Making sure I do the clapping percussion somewhat to the side of my back just above my waist. With what I have been doing in total, within the years time of doing it all the CScan showed improvement in upper lobes and less inflammation, however, new concern in lower left lobe. So hopefully, I am doing what I believe will do the trick...we shall see...by my working around the area where I believe the lower lobes are.....with the clapping percussion there and than to the upper part of my back.
I may start again, as well, with The Vest on the lower settings to try to add to it all at another time of day.
As I said, this is what I do for me. It's not something suggested by the pulmonologists it is strictly my choice and as long as I can do it and continue to feel well and see improvement I will be happy.
Hope this doesn't ruffle anyone's feathers so to speak.. As I said no pulmonologist has suggested this clapping percussion. If I couldn't use the vest I had to try something different.
Barbara

@reneemc have you had success with the inversion table? It’s tempting to try. I talked to the pulmonologist about it who did not think it would be helpful unaccompanied by percussion. But then again I don’t think they have any direct experience with this. I am interested in how it’s working for you.