New Diagnosis of MAC/MAI & I'm scared

@lorifilipek Normally the stuff from your nose should not go into your lungs even when you swallow it while lying down. But it is a different story if you have GERD. Many people in this group have GERD that causes your stomach content to go into their lungs during the night. I know I don't have sinus problems but was not sure if I had GERD because people who have silent acid reflux would not have the typical symptoms that others have. My pulmonologist ordered a test that showed I did not have GERD. If you have not tested to see whether you have GERD or not, maybe you should ask for a test. Search on the word GERD in this forum (within MAC & Bronchiectasis) by clicking the magnifying glass symbol on top of the page. You'll find a lot of discussions about that topic. I have done nasal flush many years ago but have not continued. Maybe I should give it another try, too. It'll probably help with my allergy symptoms during the fall season as well as flushing out anything I breathe in indoors (I'm allergic to dust mite).

@lorifilipek Hello, I see that you joined our group a few weeks ago. Welcome to Connect. I am happy to learn that you survived your cancer. That makes you a seasoned warrior in personal health. As for your current diagnosis, it seems like you are catching your lung disease early and doing the right things to cut it off at the pass. Exercise definitely helps to strengthen your lungs, so I am glad that you are jogging. I am curious, did you stop swimming because of what you read here about mac being found in pools?

@windwalker When I nebulise the saline I blow it out my nose which loosens any mucus and you can blow it out.

@windwalker Terri, yes, I stopped swimming because of what I've read about mac being found in pools. I also have well water and our hot water tank is set at 120 degrees, and I'm an avid outdoors person and gardener. I won't give up the outdoors. I'd love to hear more about the nebulized saline and how to use it. Thanks! Lori

@lorifilipek , The 7% sodium chloride is inhaled saline (salt). It is good for lung hygiene and keeps the 'cooties' from wanting to live in them. You don't seem to be very ill yet from this disease; doing the nebulized saline may very well keep you from getting sicker. My doctor is a big proponant for it and so am I. @alleycatkate Kate, can you please dig that article out of your archieves with that sodium chloride chart in it for Lori? I thought I had bookmarked it, but guess I didn't. Thank you!

@windwalker @lorifilipek .....7% saline solution effect on MAC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4850692/

@windwalker @alleycatkate @tinaesims Terri, thanks for the info! Kate, thanks for the scientific article. I found it very eye-opening and helpful! Tina, I’m an “aqueous geochemist” by training, which means that my career has been spent working with environmental issues related to water. I can try to summarize the article in layman’s terms. It showed the effects of different strengths of salt solutions on different species of mycobacteria and suggests that to stop the growth of MAC bacteria, you’d need a salt solution strength of greater than 6% salt in water. I believe that’s why Terri recommended using a 7% saline nebulizer. I also found the bronchiectasis site that @alleycatkate linked to in another thread (http://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy/techniques/inhalation-therapy-via-a-nebuliser). It recommended to use a nebulizer with a 6 to 7% saline solution. Does anyone have any suggestions on which nebulizer to get and whether I should also try the Aerobika or something similar? Thanks, Lori.