@strong4130 Welcome to our support group for people with NTM and Bronchiectasis - we're a very great and helpful group that nobody wants to belong to!

When someone is facing this diagnosis, and begins to read - especially using Google, it can be very scary - I remember the feeling well even though it was almost 7 years ago. I am so grateful I found this group, where I have learned an amazing amount about living with the conditions. We always say "everyone is different, your results may vary." You can read here about people who are quite ill, and undergo repeated courses of medication, others who work hard to manage their infection without antibiotics, others whose bronchiectasis/MAC is totally asymptomatic.

Years ago, both my ID doc and my Primary told me that "Bronchiectasis is a condition you live with, very few die from it. Take sensible precautions and go live your life." I have tried to follow that advice.

My story - after being VERY ill with both MAC & Pseudomonas in 2017/2018 (it took many months to get a correct diagnosis) and taking medications for over 18 months, I have been managing my Bronchiectasis and Asthma with 7% saline nebs and airway clearance plus asthma control meds and reasonable precations for over 5 years without relapsing into either infection. My bronchiectasis is stable per CT, and my asthma is under tight control. I am in my mid-70's and this is a blessing as I manage all the other issues that come with increasing age.

There is a lot of good news these days, with improvements in airway clearance practices to help keep lungs clear, widening use of Arikayce for treating reluctant infections, a coming biologic for managing bronchiectasis, and new generations of antibiotics being developed.

Here is an excellent introduction :
https://www.ntminfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Guide-for-Patients-with-NTM-Infections-2019-09.pdf
And, I keep using the term airway clearance - here is one of the best explanations of why and how we do it:

We have out ups and downs, we share our successes, suggest what works for us, and offer hugs when there are setbacks. We're here for you too.