Is producing more mucus than usual, good, bad, neither?

@sueinmn, thanks very much for your reply. It's very encouraging to hear that your bronchiectasis is stable because I worry about mine getting worse. I understand that MAC can come and go and come again, but I worry more about BE (right or wrong) since that damage is permanent. I don't have any other symptoms, was just taken aback at the sudden very large increase. Made me wonder if I am getting worse on this wait and watch protocol. To be clear, I was and am, all in favor of trying that protocol first. Thank you again.

@chch1 Hello, I see you have been reading here for a while, and now have joined our discussion. Mucus is an interesting "feature" of our disease - some of us produce copious amounts, some see daily/weekly changes, and others are dry, producing little or none.
Let me start by saying that I have been infection-free for 6 years, my bronchiectasis is stable, and with my pulmonologists' blessings I use saline once or twice a week as a preventive measure and do airway clearance daily.
I can only speak for myself, 8 years into my Bronchiectasis journey, but here is what increased mucus means for me -
Most common - my allergies are not completely under control. I have "seasonal" allergies, but spend summers in Minnesota and winter in the far South, so I need to be aware of two completely opposite climates. A few weeks ago, I was like a faucet - runny nose, very productive cough, even short of breath - then went outside to find my patio table covered with tree pollen. I ramped up my allergy meds to the max and was better in two days.

Next most common - my asthma is being undertreated. Again, I ramp up my meds and airway clearance and usually am improved in a few days.

Occasional - I have eaten something my body doesn't like. After it is out of my system, I improve in a day or two.

And lastly, my body is fighting off a "bug" - either viral or bacterial. I ramp up my saline nebs and airway clearance, rest more (not in bed - just limiting my activities to avoid a crash) and pay close attention.

Since I am far from my docs much of the time, we have an emergency plan in place - if the "bug" develops, I neb up to 4 times a day, start a course of prednisone (which I always carry), and call them. Together we decide if I need antibiotics, which they will then prescribe.

Other members may talk about color and consistency of mucus, etc. In my case the only "alarm" occurs if it is green and very sticky - that is a red flag - other changes occur all the time, quite possibly because I deal with 3 different causes.

Has your more plentiful mucus been accompanied by any other symptoms?

@sueinmn Thank you for that summary, Sue. As you may remember I am a copious producer of mucus...which has gotten worse over recent years, now at around 3 cups per day. Exhausting apart from anything else! For the last 3/4 years I have been focussing on BE, with the LMP...I have realised to the exclusion of the other elements involved in my condition ie asthma, allergies.

Recently SOB has become very bad and now back on Symbicort (which makes no difference to volume of mucus...not sure if it is helpful with anything else but on it as a safety measure at moment.

Just recently I have been reminded that the original focus for my cough (25 years ago) was on post nasal drip and allergies...things I have generally not been treating recently. In the last 2 days I have gone back to doing 2xday nasal rinses...and it seems my mucus production has dropped.

Not only that but yesterday I had bad SOB , Ventolin hardly helped, but on arriving home I took an antihistamine and the SOB lifted completely, and now the next morning, it is still lifted...so Sue's comment is spot on!

I am having investigation at the moment to find out why I have lost 1L of lung capacity recently...the specialist mentioned 'irreversible airways remodelling ' which I have feared, but now I am wondering if my untreated allergies may be responsible...and whether it may be reversible.

Definitely focussing on allergies at the moment, which generally haven't given me obvious symptoms but may be driving inflammatory problems. Thank you Sue.

@narelled23 When you say 3 to 4 cups per day. I am curious if it is all pure mucus verses a bit of saliva and pure moisture/water from the lungs plus the mucus.
I know when I release all after huff coughing etc. and bring all up into the cup, a clear plastic solo cup, it has three layers. The top is foamy bubbly moisture, the second appears to be more clear liquid with mucus floating around in it that eventually settles to the bottom of the cup after leaving it sit for a good 8 or more hours so I know how much 'yellow' mucus I have brought up. I somewhat have to slowly swirl the cup to bring the mucus together to see it as I hold it up to the light. The amount of mucus compared to the other liquid/fluids in the cup is minimal.

Regarding the mucus. I have a feeling of a substance in my throat area, as I have mentioned in other posts before, goes on nearly all day long. I am nearly constantly clearing my throat. At this point I assume it is mucus that has been brought up to the trachea and stuck there unless I just keep on clearing it. I try hard to ignore it but that is hard to do.

I've been tested for allergies, post nasal drip and sinus problems in 2023/2024, all negative. Wonder if I need to do all that again with reading your post and Sue's post.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007
Barbara I have been producing up to 3 cups of mainly clear or white 'material ' (I don't discriminate) in the last few years.

I relate to the clogging feeling at the back of the throat and it us that I feel has improved with the saline nasal rinsing twice a day. (It would also help prevent catching bugs, I imagine).

Why not try it...nothing to lose. Hope it helps.

@chch1 Hello, I see you have been reading here for a while, and now have joined our discussion. Mucus is an interesting "feature" of our disease - some of us produce copious amounts, some see daily/weekly changes, and others are dry, producing little or none.
Let me start by saying that I have been infection-free for 6 years, my bronchiectasis is stable, and with my pulmonologists' blessings I use saline once or twice a week as a preventive measure and do airway clearance daily.
I can only speak for myself, 8 years into my Bronchiectasis journey, but here is what increased mucus means for me -
Most common - my allergies are not completely under control. I have "seasonal" allergies, but spend summers in Minnesota and winter in the far South, so I need to be aware of two completely opposite climates. A few weeks ago, I was like a faucet - runny nose, very productive cough, even short of breath - then went outside to find my patio table covered with tree pollen. I ramped up my allergy meds to the max and was better in two days.

Next most common - my asthma is being undertreated. Again, I ramp up my meds and airway clearance and usually am improved in a few days.

Occasional - I have eaten something my body doesn't like. After it is out of my system, I improve in a day or two.

And lastly, my body is fighting off a "bug" - either viral or bacterial. I ramp up my saline nebs and airway clearance, rest more (not in bed - just limiting my activities to avoid a crash) and pay close attention.

Since I am far from my docs much of the time, we have an emergency plan in place - if the "bug" develops, I neb up to 4 times a day, start a course of prednisone (which I always carry), and call them. Together we decide if I need antibiotics, which they will then prescribe.

Other members may talk about color and consistency of mucus, etc. In my case the only "alarm" occurs if it is green and very sticky - that is a red flag - other changes occur all the time, quite possibly because I deal with 3 different causes.

Has your more plentiful mucus been accompanied by any other symptoms?

@sueinmn What state do you live in? I am in SC and am curious whether living here is not good for curing or re-exposure to MAC.