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Sleeping positions with COVID-19 or Bronchiectasis
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 7, 2023 | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
I was told by one doc who specializes in MAC hat she thought I must have GERD even though I did not have any tests that showed it, and she said that was making me cough, etc, and that the MAC I had was almost incidental. She said I was likely aspirating stuff from the esophagus, notwithstanding I had a bunch of sputum samples and bronchoscopy that showed MAC colonies. Then I went to GI doc, who said no-- after doing upper endoscopy and also telling me there is no sure fire test for GERD-- she didnt think I had GERD. . Then I went to another GI doc for something else, and he said he is tired of hearing GERD is causing all these other diseases including coughing. So it is confusing to say the least.
Replies to "I was told by one doc who specializes in MAC hat she thought I must have..."
The lining of the esophagus cannot handle stomach acid so an endoscopy looks for damage at the bottom of the esophagus to tell if stomach acid is getting through the valve into the esophagus. A diagnosis of GERD follows any damage found.
MAC patients in another group I follow go to National Jewish in Denver for a several day evaluation. The gastroenterolgist there tests for GERD using a device put down the esophagus with a sort of pull out string hanging from the nostrils. The patient wears it for 24 hours while going about their lives, eating, sleeping, etc. (Yep. Sounds horrible!) At the end of the time, the device is extracted and the doctor can see if acid came up and also how high it came up.
GERD is associated with bronchiectasis. Something coming up from the stomach is aspirated into the lungs causing damage. It is believed that many with bronchiectasis have silent aspiration especially during sleep. There is no taste of acid or the heartburn associated with GERD. NTM in water in the stomach may also be aspirated into the lungs.
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I had the very same experience and my pulmonologist still thinks GERD contributes to my cough. Since wearing a mask, 7% Saline, Mucinex, and blowing on my acapella I have not had a cough for almost a year.