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@scoop Scoop- I had my visits with the two pulmonologists and showed them and told them what I was bringing up...the soft yellow/green tint pieces. Both said to me....yes they are mucus plugs.
AI info said....for what it is worth: "Yes, mucus can change from soft and pliable to hardened and even solidify over time in the lungs. This hardening can occur due to a variety of factors that cause mucus to become thick, stagnant, and dehydrated, such as infections, certain medical conditions like cystic fibrosis, and dehydration. In severe cases, this can lead to the formation of hardened "casts" that block airways."
My Pulmonary Function Test, thankfully, continues to be good. Lower lobe plugging is worse than a year ago and both said to me when I mentioned my thought of it being caused by my sleeping on the wedge on my left side every night....both said yes it is possible and more than likely contributing to the build up in that area. Which of course means I need to concentrate postural drainage on my side...right side for left and left for right side drainage. If I've got that correctly.
Scoop I have not any pulmonologist mention "increased polys". I do see you mentioned "lots of neutrophils". I guess that means neutrophils/polys are one in the same.
I think sometimes we forget this...that which you said "Pulmonary treats the patient and not only the sputum culture. "
Present Decision Consideration: So far I feel well, no exacerbations, sputum clear, low load MAI, overall physically strong for my age with very little to no fatigue. energy level is fine (but sure not like it was in my early years) and still not started the antibiotics. At 83 I continue to give thought to starting the antibiotics. Some of our comrades here on Mayo have had parents that had BE and feel/felt sorry and glad their Mom did or did not go on the antibiotics late in life and questioned my going on it at my age with a low MAI load. I certainly understand their question to me early on "why" you feel well and it's a low load. etc. etc. "why do the antibiotics." I am now giving thought to the idea of 'trying' the antibiotics .....I am beginning to feel I need to go for it and try to clear the low load of MAI. Decisions, decisions....they probably will not end due to the BE and living life with it and time dealing with the changes of the body with time.
All thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.
Barbara
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@blm1007blm1007 I'm curious about why are you considering antibiotics now, when it seems your self-care routine has you stable.
Do you have any worsening symptoms? Does your CT show increasing nodules or cavities? Is your bronchiectasis becoming more severe (based on images)? Is the MAI "load" increasing in your sputum cultures?
I'm thinking about what I would do in your place (at 74), and unless my answer was "Yes" to at least three of the questions above, I would not entertain antibiotic therapy again. I quit before I was negative, continued 7% saline & airway clearance. My last two sputum cultures (2 years apart) were negative. I am about to reach 6 years without antibiotics, and I can still recall how awful I felt.
Remember, even on antibiotic therapy, you have to keep up everything you are doing now, so it's not as though they would simplify your life. And the antibiotics are HARD on the body, especially causing fatigue in many people (I was one!), possible unpleasant side effects and weight loss. Therapy will up your self-care burden - scheduling when to take the meds, monitoring vision and hearing, probable need for probiotics...
So I'm really curious what has led you to this possible change.