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MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Mar 19, 2019 | Replies (22)

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@nannette

@ann0616 Hi Anne, I was totally asymptomatic when I was diagnosed. Had gone in for a routine breast MRI because breast cancer runs in my family and the radiologist (a very good one, I might add) said he thought he saw what was bronchiectasis and advised me to get a CT scan which I did. Sure enough, I had bronchiectasis and then my pulmonologist looked at me and said I bet you have Lady WIndermere's Syndrome (or MAC) and I was like a deer in headlights. So since I had no cough he did a bronchoscopy and sure enough I had MAC. I have had acid reflux for many years and he believes the acid reflux aspirated into my lungs because I was a stomach sleeper and that's how it all started. So I did the big three for 12 months. This was April of 2016. Then in February of 2018 I got the bad flu, really bad, and got a cough that was horrendous and I still have it a year later which I believe is because of the bronchiectasis. I went for another bronchoscopy about two or three weeks ago because a new specialist I go to wanted to see if he could find anything that could be causing the cough and also test for MAC at the same time. I have another few weeks before I get the tests back so we'll see. I hate sleeping on the wedge I had to buy so now I sleep on three or four pillows. I do the 7% saline solution once a day which I think is the key to keeping the MAC at bay. I also use the aerobika once a day (but not everyday) and and do postural drainage. Nan

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Replies to "@ann0616 Hi Anne, I was totally asymptomatic when I was diagnosed. Had gone in for a..."

@nannette Hi Nan. I see that you sleep on 3 or 4 pillows for acid reflux instead of a wedge. I told my second opinion Dr. at Mayo Clinic that I did the same thing and he said absolutely not to do that. He said that can contort/bend the body and put pressure on the abdomen that will aggravate and worsen the problem. I find the wedge makes a great difference over the pillows. That and not eating or drinking 3 hours before bed pretty much has eliminated the reflux for me. Sorry to say this as I read you hate the wedge. Perhaps give it another try? Kate

@nannette I also hate the wedge pillow and I think sometimes it makes me worse now(seemed ok the first few years) as my position maby puts pressure on my sphincter stomach muscle and the acid comes up. My GERD comes, stays for along time then goes, not sure why, but I hate it! I also feel very tired with the reflux more short of breath, its nasty.