Hi, @ling. I have never been to NJH, as I live in central Texas, and the logistics are difficult. However, I have been fortunate to be treated at UTHSC in Tyler, TX. I was given hands on airway clearance during my first visit there, and Dr. McShane also posted U Tube videos about airway clearance. I had read about clearing the smaller airways, then the medium, and then the larger.

I was using garlic even before I was diagnosed. I have allergies and found myself having more drainage, and the garlic helped to clear me. Grating the garlic and letting it sit for a bit before eating helps to retain and increase benefits. I also find that when I make stir fry with lots of fresh ginger, I also clear more sputum.

I have been culture negative for 19 months and was due to stop meds in April, but since I had the lung surgery to remove the upper and lower lingula, I was told to continue the meds for three more months. The pathology cultures were also negative, but they showed a stubborn lateral left lung area with thick, white mucus that I was never able to clear. This was due to the varicoid bronchiectasis in that area. Other areas of bronchiectasis are mild. My right lung is barely affected, although it does have some bronchiectasis.

I should add that I always mask at the grocery store and in public places to protect myself. I believe that this helps to keep me free from infections. I also boil my drinking water and use Lifestraw pitcher water for tooth brushing and for cleaning vegetables and fruits. I no longer garden because I believe that this was the source of my Mycobacterium intracellulare infection.

I think that meds alone cannot control MAC, since it is everywhere. I avoid showers and instead take shallow baths and wash my hair under running water while masking. Sometimes I use a nose clip and remove it periodically to refresh my breath while hair washing.

This is time consuming and inconvenient, I must admit, but if it can help to keep me off of meds and to prevent more lung damage, I will do it. I am so grateful to have been able to have surgery four weeks ago that will lower my future risks, as long as I maintain airway clearance and precautions. I recognize that I must take these precautions for the rest of my life.