Winema, If you go on meds get baseline hearing and eye exams. My pcp sent me to a local pulmonologist. This pulmonologist said she treats hundreds of people with bronchiectasis (red flag, I live in a small NE town) She gave me an acapella, inhaled steroid and a sputum cup and sent me on my way. My appointments were cancelled several times, they lost blood work done there and no one showed me how to use other airway clearance. She also told me I am going to get way worse and this would never go away. Sent me to infectious disease dr. who claimed he treats many MAC patients. He ordered sputum induction at the hospital and I was Pos. for MAC. He told me treatment is far worse than disease but I have to do the meds. Asap. or the MAC would eat my lungs. He never had me do a baseline hearing exam or eye exam. I asked him to do sputum culture 8 months into treatment …. Only because I finally found this site and was getting educated. I got super sick on a couple meds. and he wasn’t patient and threatened to do iv infusions in the office if I couldn’t handle what I was taking.
After I found this support group I asked about doctors that treat this in my area and was given a name of a doctor that specializes in Bronchiectasis. (Thankful to Linda E) What a huge difference and wish I found him and this support group in the beginning. I don’t have ID doc, just pulmonologist. He is kind, thorough, patient, I feel listened to and he knows his stuff. I now nebulize 2xday and feel like I am supported. Lots of great advice and support here. Rosemary