I am trying to choose between just trying out the treatment and then abandoning it if it causes un bearable side effects or just going directly to the watchful waiting and learning all I can to help myself to keep the bacteria moving out of my lungs thus risking a much shorter lifespan. You are correct. Trying the treatment will at least eliminate regret. Thank you for reminding me of that. It is very difficult. I was diagnosed early April and I haven't even seen the pulmonologist yet. UCLA is a great medical center once you are in the system, but getting appointments to certain specialties is a waiting game. Have you been taught the airway clearance strategies and how to expectorate the mucus? And, how to breathe strategically? I have to laugh at my attempts at a buddha belly. I guess all in good time. Thank you again. Be well. Nancy

Thank you @payette78 for posting and sharing your thoughts about the decisions you face. Like you, I am in my 70's and very recently diagnosed with BE and M. Abscessus which I found out last week is confirmed to be macrolide resistant.

I am being treated at UT Health in Tyler, TX and am grateful to live within a two hour drive of this facility which is a recognized member of the Bronchiectasis and NTM Care Center Network. It was a blessing to find a doctor and a facility that specializes in BE and NTM. They helped me get the tests and put together a treatment plan based on their expertise and my specific situation. It relieved a ton of my anxiety and eliminated most of the confusion and fear I felt at being adrift in a sea of disconnected specialists.

I've learned SO much in a short time from this Mayo Clinic Connect online forum It was here that I found out about the Bronchiectasis and NTM initiative https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative.org/ and the list put together by their steering committee to identify a national network of designated care centers.

I am currently doing twice daily airway clearance (7% saline, active breathing, Aerobika, huff, etc) but with the guidance of my doctors I have no *current* plans to begin a regimen of IV and oral antibiotics. The objective is to manage the BE and Abscessus to keep things from getting worse since BE is not reversible and my NTM infection is not likely to be something that could be eliminated.

I'm not far enough down the path to know how if this current approach to treatment will be enough. But, I feel better after 7 weeks than I did before I started the airway clearance therapy approach and my quality of life is good.

So again, thanks for your post and I wish you good luck, patience, and unflagging hope as you make your decisions about treatment.

Ed