@doberdoo Hello .... Below is a link to a gem of a video by Dr Pamela McShane on airway clearance. She is very admired in this NTM community. Your doctors do not sound very reassuring. I have received bad advice
from several Pulmonologists in the past. I'm glad that you have found this group and maybe You will find a Doc that specializes in NTM that can be more helpful to you.
I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and MAC about 7 years ago. I am sure that I have had it much longer. I've never been told that I need to take antibiotics for either Mac or Bronchiectasis. And incidentally, I have done just fine without them. I do nebulizing 7% saline twice a day, then airway clearance. I eat well and exercise the most that I can. Where I have had a problem was in contracting an additional "bug", Pseudomonas. When in public, I am very careful and always use a n-95 mask, but unfortunately picked up this "bug". The one time I had a surgeon's mask and not an N-95 was the time I encountered a coughing fool in the market, which I believe resulted in a pseudomonas diagnosis. I was prescribed a fluoroquinolone antibiotic (Cipro, Levo) twice for the Pseudomonas. This class of antibiotic can have bad side effects for some people and it is labeled a "black box" antibiotic by the FDA, meaning it should only be used as a last resort antibiotic. Many doctors do not tell you this. I have developed tendinopathy from it. Sorry, I digress.
If you are doing ok with your Mac and Bronchiectasis, some doctors do not treat with antibiotics. Try not to worry about not taking antibiotics...sometimes the cure is much worse than the disease. And hopefully you can find a Dr that specializes in NTM disease and has more empathy. Good luck to you. Kate
Oh..and don't feel you are missing out without a vest. I have one and believe it doesn't do anything for me. The video is invaluable