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Completed 16 months of the big 3. CT unchanged
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: May 2 7:02pm | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
FWIW, my CT reports from the start have all said the ground glass, trees in bud, and mucus impactions are suggestive of MAC. However, to the surprise of all, the sputum from bronch at Mayo was negative for it. I’ve had 2-3 more CT’s since then and the radiologists at Penn have also said the waxing/waning changes (trees in bud, ground glass, etc) are consistent with MAC and I even told the last tech to mention to radiologist that I don’t have MAC, just bronchiectasis.
I asked my pulmonologist about it and he said radiologists like to feel helpful by offering possibilities. I suggested they find a less dire diagnosis to offer.
It’s been over a year and I’ll get another in early November.
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@pacathy
Thank you so much for taking the time to send this message. I really needed that! ❤️
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@pacathy,
It has always been my understanding that the ground glass appearance and mucus plugs were due to bronchiectasis. All of that mucus being in bronchioles provides a good moist environment for MAC to proliferate. The mucus plugs in your bronchioles cause bronchioles to stretch and they can lose the ability to get rid of mucus. MAC and pneumonia and emphysema, for those who have it, makes all of this worse. I never expected to have good clear lungs again. Just trying to keep down the infectious bacteria and viral things that make it worse. I welcome any input someone can give on this. Like all of you, I too am just looking for answers. The MAC is something we get because our immune systems are already compromised. Everyone is exposed to MAC from our environment, but their bodies don't get sick from it.