My Lung Nodules Wax and Wane Why?

I just had a ct scan which shows tree-in-bud nodules which are supposed to be caused by infection. I haven’t been sick but have diagnosed with stage two COPD

@SusanEllen66 Here is a previous discussion about waxing and waning lung nodules:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-heard-of-waxing-and-waning/
Maybe you can connect with those members.

@janetexmsrrose thanks for your message.
I haven’t received a diagnosis yet but I have appointments this week.

I have heard that mucus plugs show up as nodules on a ct. Maybe you can search methods to clear mucus and see if breathing is easier. There are also pills like mucinex but i would only take them as last resort as I think they are hard on your liver and kidneys. Try huff cough. And I think we all should try hard to clear our lungs of mucus Before a lung scan. Hope this helped. God Bless.

@phoenix1959 I have had both mucus plugs and nodules, the appearance is quite distinct on scans. Nodules are typically artifacts of infection, plugs are thick or hardened mucus that can get caught in the airways.

In my case, nodules disappeared a few months after the MAC infection was gone.

What finally cleared the mucus plugs was controlling my asthma completely which finally relieved lung inflammation, plus mucinex (just guaifenesinql and airway clearance with saline.

I have very sticky mucus (but no cystic fibrosis) and have used mucinex safely for 40 years. My kidney and liver function are both just fine. Problems generally arise when Mucinex is combined with Tylenol or dextromethorphan long term or excessive amounts are used.

thanks, i guess I got bad info. What relieved your inflammation? and thanks for the info on mucinex. God Bless

@phoenix1959 I need to use an inhaler with a small dose of inhales corticosteroid along with a beta agonist. My doctor prescribed (generic) Symbicort.

@sueinmn according to the scan I had last week, I have “acquired” 3 more nodules since October.
I haven’t been sick.

Tomorrow I am going back to Mayo to speak with the
Pulmonologist.

@SusanEllen66 That's the best plan. I am pretty sure I was infected with MAC for as long as two years before I was properly diagnosed - and had MANY nodules in two lobes. If someone alert had looked earlier, I probably would never have gotten so sick. I believe the number, size and location of nodules is ONE of the considerations in whether to treat infection or watch.

Let us know what the doctor says