Hi Shelly -

Welcome to the group. While it may not be the club you would have opted to join, you are in very good company here with very caring and knowledgeable people who are very willing to share their journeys. Making sure your doctor is very well-versed in treating bronchiectasis and NTM is critical. Also, as NTM is a slow-growing bacteria, you have time to get a second opinion and learn more before jumping into treatment. Not everyone has to take antibiotics, but manage to stay stable and even improve with regular airway clearance and lifestyle changes to avoid additional exposure to MAC.

Also the anxiety is normal. I remember being absolutely terrified when I was diagnosed, and while I still suffer from anxiety, it is so much more manageable now. This part does get better with more info.

Read through as many of the conversation threads on this website as you can. It is so helpful!

One day at a time...
Jill