@six5532one I am currently in my second full month of treatment for cavitary NTM and my time demands look similar to yours, with the exception that I have more doctors appts (including recent ER visit) due to bumps with treatment, etc. I also have more appointments for regular drug monitoring, I get bloodwork initially bi-weekly, now monthly. I am supposed to see ophthalmologist monthly (but this has become a scheduling nightmare with Kaiser so maybe not due to their inability to meet the demand), and I need monthly dental cleanings due to staining from rifampin.

I assume you are looking for 10% to do sputum induction at home, which obviously would save time. It’s hard to find. My pulmonologist said she had never heard of it. If you have access to mail order that might be a solution as I have found mail order supplies to be broader (and more plentiful) than my local pharmacy. Have you tried double vialing with nebulizer? That works for me, certainly for the AFB test. My last respiratory sample (different from AFB) was rejected but I think that is more of a technique issue and would not have improved with 10%. I also agree with others about using mail order for all your pharmaceuticals. For me my copay is less using mail order, I get 90 day supply, and best part of course is it’s mailed directly to me. No issues so far.

So what to say, I spend more time than you. And yes it stinks. Particularly because I felt fine before treatment started and now I do not. I am racking up issues with each new week on the drugs. I get the anger piece 100%.

I tell myself a lot of other people have it much worse than me and counsel myself to be grateful for the quality of life I still have. Some days it works, but I confess lately, it seems I more often than not find myself wallowing a bit in my self-pity. 🙁