Any suggestions for expelling tenacioius mucus plugs?

@cressida92 Go ahead and have the bronch if it's what you need to do to diagnose MAC. Then be diligent about twice-daily airway clearance. The bronch probably won't make you sick. When I had one I was already pretty debilitated, which is why I got an infection afterwards. We all have to do what we have to do and then hope for the best.

I have a percussion vest which I tried to use once a day but cracked a rib (I have osteoporosis, which is supposedly a contraindication for using a vest). My NJH doc suggested using a Volara device, which I know nothing about. Anybody heard of it or have used one?

@coffcoff is the Aerobica flutter device as effective as vest?

coffcoff, I really appreciate your description of our goal here-- to move the daily mucus, not necessarily get the mucus plugs out. (Did I understand that right?)

If that's the case, then maybe the Aerobika and vest are doing their jobs after all. When I use the aerobika, it pretty much shuts down my airway clearance-- I get NOTHING out. So I just now got a vest, and have used it for 3 sessions now, and can't say I got much out using that either. So maybe they're really doing their jobs behind the scenes by moving mucus around, even though it doesn't come out?

(Should I be using both the aerobika and vest at the same time?)

Normally, without the aerobika or vest, I can lay back in my recliner and get a bunch of mucus out.

coffcoff, I really appreciate your description of our goal here-- to move the daily mucus, not necessarily get the mucus plugs out. (Did I understand that right?)

If that's the case, then maybe the Aerobika and vest are doing their jobs after all. When I use the aerobika, it pretty much shuts down my airway clearance-- I get NOTHING out. So I just now got a vest, and have used it for 3 sessions now, and can't say I got much out using that either. So maybe they're really doing their jobs behind the scenes by moving mucus around, even though it doesn't come out?

(Should I be using both the aerobika and vest at the same time?)

Normally, without the aerobika or vest, I can lay back in my recliner and get a bunch of mucus out.

@cressida92 I don’t know if officially classified as therapeutic but from personal experience, during my bronchoscopies they have pulled out mucus plugs. The procedure itself, unless you are doing something more like a biopsy is only about 5-10 minutes. I’ve had quite a few done and for me not had any issues other than the residual typical side effects the day of (sore throat, possible headache depending on how well you tolerate anesthesia and chills). For me the worst part is waiting on the results as the cultures take a long time to grow.

@saburrows You appear to be doing the right things....drinking lots of water to stay hydrated to help with the mucus and health in general.
You are nebulizing, you know about the huff cough,. Have you looked up the various ways of doing airway clearance like percussion, Autogenic Drainage, Active Cycle Breathing...all under the umbrella of Air Way Clearance Techniques.
Also, have you been diagnosed with Acid Reflux of any type. One must take that into consideration if trying postural drainage under the umbrella of airway clearance. The professionals don't recommend it if you have a type of acid reflux.
Personally if you could I would see if you could go to NJH in Denver, I know that might be difficult for a multiple of reasons. National Jewish Hospital/Clinic in Denver test you for a week long to see if there are any other types of problems that are associated with Bronchiectasis that might help knowing in this journey. They have concentrated on respiratory illnesses since the late 1800's.
Hope all that you have read on this site is helping somehow.
Barbara