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Airway clearance successful techniques
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jan 10 12:55pm | Replies (49)Comment receiving replies
@susanocl
Hi, just wondering if you were on the Big 3 at some point and that's how you got to the negative for MAC. I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago but have not started any meds and don't do airway clearance etc. because I have very few issues. I do cough up some mucus in the morning, but not much. I'm wondering if when I see my pulmo Dr. in Dec. if I should ask to start the airway clearance/nebulizing. Those are two different steps, correct? Thank you so much. Also, I just found out that I do not have lung cancer, the nodules have gotten smaller.
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@bbeers I have never done the Big 3. Two years of CT scans and two broncoscopy and never a definitive diagnosis. It "looked" like MAC with tree in bud nodules but 2 broncs were negative. Third bronc and first sputum test this May 2025 were both positive for MAC. (I'd had double pneumonia twice in Feb. and March). Met with Infec. Dis Dr at Mayo and he said it wasn't severe enough to treat at this time. Side effects could be worse. I'd started airway clearance 2x per day in May and after mtg with ID in July I upped to 7% saline (based on my research and request to ID - who relayed that to my pulm). The nebulizing is part of the airway clearance routine. Mine includes nebulizing levalbuteral (doesn't make me as shaky as albuterol), neb saline 7%, and then Bevespi inhaler. That all takes some time but I do it while watching TV at night and got a 2nd of everything to keep at work and do it while reading email and catching up on Teams in the mornings. Fortunately I have an office where I can close the door. Yay for you for no LC!!! Prayers for continued positive there! I've recently backed down to 1x per day on some days.... when busy. Praying my next sputum test this week will stay negative. Takes 45 days to "grow" and get results. I did push my ID to do sputum test every 3 months... he wanted to go 6 or 12. I want to make sure I stay negative or very low bacteria load.