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Negative sputum results without treatment
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Dec 12, 2019 | Replies (103)Comment receiving replies
Wanted to respond as someone who also has had bouts of coughing up blood. I also was diagnosed after bouts of hemoptysis. I have mild bronchiectasis with MAC, and I seemed to cough up blood about every 4 to 6 months. I started on NAC 600 mg twice a day as well as 3% saline (generally once a day, or twice if I am exposed to a cold or having worse symptoms). I have not had any bouts of hemoptysis in over 6 months, so the NAC has at the very least not made it any worse - and I feel it has helped with my airway clearance and actually reduced the bouts. We'll see if it lasts, but I would call this an improvement! I wish my pulmo believed in retesting for MAC because I would really like to see if I am still positive, or at least to know if the counts have decreased.
Replies to "Wanted to respond as someone who also has had bouts of coughing up blood. I also..."
Hello shooei@shooei
Yes, I have coughed up blood. It doesn't seem as though I cough it up, but I can hear a gurgling sound and know that the blood will be coming, and it is sooo scary. I was diagnosed with pneumonia both times that I went to the ER and a CT was done, and the last time, almost 3 years ago, the radiologist said the symptoms were pneumonia and possibly MAC. That was the first time that I had heard of MAC and no one explained what it was, so I went on-line and looked. The allergy/asthma doc that I see, didn't agree that it was MAC, yet when I had the yearly CT in his office, the radiologist report was "consistent with MAC". Having COPD, bronchiectasis, and asthma, I nebulize with Brovana twice daily followed by one puff of Alvesco inhaler. It has been almost 3 years since last having any blood come up, but we live on the edge that it might. The blood appears very liquid and would sometimes be a couple of tablespoons. It first happened about 20 years ago, and at that time was diagnosed as pneumonia. Has happened twice since then. IF I seem to get a chest congestion, I start on 250 mg of an antibiotic for 5 days. It is a child's dose, but I have problems with most antibiotics and have had C-diff in the past due to them. Hope this helps you a bit.
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@shooei Thanks for your response. it's very heartening!