@annagh Interesting to me. You were diagnosed in 2015 with BE and in 2022 with MAC.
Per all I now know I should have been told I had BE in 2015 when the pulmonologist just told me I had large lungs. That was told to me again in 2021...
The 2015 and 2021 X Rays per the doctors reading the X Rays indicated signs of emphysema..
Both times when I myself made appointments with pulmonologists after reading the radiologists report, .they both said I had "large lungs". They did not error on the side of caution and suggest a C Scan nor did I know that would be a wise thing to do at the time. Knowing what I know now I believe my lungs were inflamed due to BE.

It appears it may have taken a few year years for us both to have the MAC develop and surface and finally be diagnosed with MAC , approximately seven years after the showings of BE.

I am gradually working my way to lighten up about some of the same things you have mentioned. I am going to be 84 in October and feel well enough to do more than what I have been doing these last few years. It's just the constant clearing of what comes up to my throat, either the trachea or esophagus, that makes me want to clear nearly all day long and especially after I eat. The after I eat, is the worst part of this whole thing in terms of not feeling I can be social with people at meal times. Who wants to be around someone that has to clear mucus right after they eat.
Liked your post.
Barbara