1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Thumper Musing

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Oct 6, 2020

A few minutes ago, probably about 8:58 p.m. CDT I resignedly uprighted the recliner and announced to my wife, “well I guess I’ll head for the rodeo in the spare bedroom.” “Rodeo,?” she said. “Yep,”says I. “Time to ride ole Thumper again.”
So here I sit. All hosed up to my snazzy, surely Super Deluxe Respirtech “Incourage” airway clearing system. Delivered a few years ago F.O.B. my home by a nice lady who even taught me how to use it. $1400. Bucks and change; that’s what Respirtech peddles it for. And get this: Medicare bought it for me. They must have discovered what good guy I am. Thanks for payin’ your tax.

Half an hour twice daily, often passing the time as my brain gets machine-scrambled by spinning whimsical yarns for fellow sufferers and habitués of the Mayo Connect Bronch/MAC forum. Thus it is this fine evening. Later, Don

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

gej53 | @gej53 | Nov 8, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Hi gej, I’m likely to disappoint. I’m so happy to have logged 13 months without a..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Hi gej, I’m likely to disappoint. I’m so happy to have logged 13 months without a fever or an antibiotic which I attribute to scrupulous adherence to 2-a-day half-hour “vest/7% saline nebulizer” sessions since I put up the earlier post I’ve become diffident about tinkering with success. Hope you can decipher my murderous sentence structure. Don

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Makes me feel smart to be able too! 🙂 Thanks for the reply. Just got home and again hooked up to the vest and nebulizer. Took my Acapella with me but did dare to skip one day while on the road.........

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Nov 8, 2020

Hey jeg, At the risk of revealing a sluggish mind I need clarification here. You said “ Makes me feel smart to be able too!” To what is “able to” referring? Don

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2 replies
thumperguy | @thumperguy | Nov 8, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Hey jeg, At the risk of revealing a sluggish mind I need clarification here. You said..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Hey jeg, At the risk of revealing a sluggish mind I need clarification here. You said “ Makes me feel smart to be able too!” To what is “able to” referring? Don

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This is off-topic, but today I’ve repeatedly noticed myself humming the Munchkins tune from the Wizard of Oz: “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.

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gej53 | @gej53 | Nov 9, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Hey jeg, At the risk of revealing a sluggish mind I need clarification here. You said..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Hey jeg, At the risk of revealing a sluggish mind I need clarification here. You said “ Makes me feel smart to be able too!” To what is “able to” referring? Don

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"Deciphering murderous sentence structure :)"

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Nov 10, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Hi gej, I’m likely to disappoint. I’m so happy to have logged 13 months without a..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Hi gej, I’m likely to disappoint. I’m so happy to have logged 13 months without a fever or an antibiotic which I attribute to scrupulous adherence to 2-a-day half-hour “vest/7% saline nebulizer” sessions since I put up the earlier post I’ve become diffident about tinkering with success. Hope you can decipher my murderous sentence structure. Don

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Hi Don, Having been in this group for yrs and recommending the use of 7% saline; I have noticed a BIG reduction in exacerbations among our members. Not only that, but people recovering also.

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1 reply
thumperguy | @thumperguy | Nov 10, 2020
In reply to @windwalker "Hi Don, Having been in this group for yrs and recommending the use of 7% saline;..." + (show)
@windwalker

Hi Don, Having been in this group for yrs and recommending the use of 7% saline; I have noticed a BIG reduction in exacerbations among our members. Not only that, but people recovering also.

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Teri, Tell me, what does “recovery” involve beyond zero exascerbations?

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2 replies
kathyhg | @kathyhg | Nov 11, 2020

Good question! I also wondered what Terri meant by recovery.
I’m going for my annual CT and PFT in 3 weeks. I am looking forward to this, although with some apprehension. I’ve been so compliant with nebulizing, exercising, etc, etc. I’m hopeful that I’m on the recovery trajectory!

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 11, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Teri, Tell me, what does “recovery” involve beyond zero exascerbations?" + (show)
@thumperguy

Teri, Tell me, what does “recovery” involve beyond zero exascerbations?

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Not sure about Terri, but here is my take:
Negative sputum culture
Improved chest xray/CT - pockets of infection shrinking or gone, no progression of bronchiectasis
Decreased coughing/congestion/shortness of breath
More energy, or at least less fatigue
Increased O2 sats, or at least no further decline since bronchiectasis is generally progressive
Sue

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1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Nov 12, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Teri, Tell me, what does “recovery” involve beyond zero exascerbations?" + (show)
@thumperguy

Teri, Tell me, what does “recovery” involve beyond zero exascerbations?

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Don and Kathy, recovery meaning testing negative for mac and pseudomonas. They are a scant few people who get mac without having bronchiectasis and beat the infection indefinitely. As we know, when most of us on here has bronchiectasis and/or other lung diseases; we can't say that we will be permanently 'cured', but we can recover some health and quality of life.

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