Many of us are unable or unwilling to use the "Big 3" for MAC/NTM, but it doesn't mean we are "untreated." 14 months ago I had to stop antibiotics due to increasingly bad reactions even though I was still positive for MAC. I'm pretty sure I still have it, but I'm doing pretty well. I am healthier today than the day I stopped the meds. I call bronchiectasis and MAC "the diseases that I live with", much like others live with diabetes, glaucoma or arthritis.

Here is my self-care regimen:
Use my Singulair & Mucinex daily to keep asthma under control & keep mucus thin.
Use my levalbuterol & flovent inhalers daily to keep airways as open as possible
Nebulize 7% saline daily (shown to inhibit growth of the NTM bacteria in studies) and add a levalbuterol neb if needed for breathing.
Use huff-coughing or Aerobika device at least once a day to bring up mucus (how often depends on how much mucus is there.)
Drink "Breathe Easy" herbal tea by Traditional Medicinals to help thin mucus & open airways plus quite a bit of water.
Eat a diet full of fruits, vegetables and healthy meats, fats & grains (I needed to regain lost weight, which has taken over a year.)
Stretch, walk & use resistance bands to get healthy.

That's it - I still have some very tired days when I rest, a cough, occasional chest pains and always some shortness of breath, but no fever and the green/brown mucus is gone. Anxious to see if the MAC is stable or improved at my next CT in December.

Sue