During the summer, when I was active outdoors, I used to have to lie down<br>in the afternoon to clear out my lungs. It would last about twenty<br>minutes - I'd use a towel - before they would "calm down". This wore me<br>out so then I would sleep for three hours then get up and try to make<br>something out of my day.<br><br>But I just don't know when these build-ups will occur. What most of you<br>are saying is that I do go ahead with what my doctor has suggested - a<br>swabbing to diagnose, cleansing and move on from there. He is checking me<br>again in October.<br><br>Thank you so much<br>

Kwilbur,
Can you explain what you mean by clearing your lungs? A towel? Are you just coughing a lot to get pflegm out of your throat? Is it clear? Just curious how you do this.

I have post nasal drip and have to clear my throat, but seldom does anything feel like it's coming from my lung.

Thanks for explaining how you do this.

I know we are all different and our presentations of MAC are different.

Thanks
KayS

when I start feeling a bit congested, sort of a heaviness, usually around noon, I lay flat for a couple minutes and take a few deep breaths and cough. Usually about 20 minutes will do it. I don't have a lot of mucus, a few tissues in fine. The only problem is when I go away with friends or family and can't get the time alone, then I have to wait until I get home. I think the theory is that the mucus slides up to a place that makes it easier to bring up. Try it for a few minutes, try to cough from a deeper place than your throat. Also try lying with your chest and head lower that the rest of your body. at first. One of the issues with broncheitasis and MAC is that the lungs lose the ability bring up the mucus naturally.

Thank you so much. You understand. Seriously, it brings tears to my eyes to have someone else who knows. I get so much from my lungs that I am exhausted afterwards. Yesterday I had nothing. Today who knows? I will print out your idea.

Hello all, well if we are going to get "gross" as the kids say .. we may as well get into the "gross" ways we handle our coughing and mucus!! Seriously . . I just went on a trip with my best friend of MANY years who knows all about my MAC but had not been around me when I "clear my lungs" so I warned her in advance it was pretty "gross" sounding when I do it .. so be prepared!!

What I do and it seems to work pretty well when I have the most mucus .. and LUCKILY right now I have mostly clear mucus with very little dark yellow spots. In July I had a serious bout of Bronchitis and what came up was nickel size very dark yellow spots tinged with blood. I use those mucus type as a symptom of my lung health.

So my "gross" system. Twice a day (when I wake up and before bed) I use two puffs of my two inhalers: Qvar and Atrovent. For whatever reason they make me cough like crazy. I then cough into my bathroom sink and flush with HOT water whatever muscus comes up. This system allows me to see exactly what is coming out of my lungs in the white sink basin .. allows me to feel more "sanitary" by flushing it down with very hot water .. and I can keep track of if the sputum is mostly clear .. size of the yellow infected spots .. blood etc. I can track how an infection is doing by the amount of dark yellow sputum spots and/or blood.

Ok .. NOW we are REALLY blood sisters/brothers in crime .. sharing all our gory secrets! How 'bout that!! Sending hugs to all! Katherine

What happens is that about mid afternoon or a little later I get too tired to do anything. So I lie in bed. As soon as I put my head down my lungs start to act up. I don't have trouble breathing but I must cough up phlegm. I always have a soft dish towel and sit up and spit - it is often about a dime size green phlegm. Sometimes it is just white but it is thick and not post nasal drip.

This goes on for at least fifteen minutes. Then I can lie down restfully and I put my hand over my chest sort of as a calming method - and fall into a deep sleep.

I have been back to school for two days and can't do that of course. So far so good. But I always carry a handkerchief with me or two. It is odd - but if the kids / students make me laugh that will cause my lungs to act up too.

Sorry to be so - well - real - in my description.

Its hard to know if the amount of phem is from the infection or just trapped mucus from scarring (broncheitasis). After the infection clears , you'll have a better idea what condition of your lungs are in. I dont feel I've had much change in the amount of mucus in the last 4 yrs. Perhaps it's because I havent had any colds, infections, etc to make anything worse. I think my case is rather mild since I never had childhood lung infection all my life. I was perfectly healthy until I contracted MAC. Unfortunately if I was diagnosed emmediatly I would probably have no issues.

That seems pretty typical. After a while, you won"t be so sensitive to laughing, talking, etc. Sometimes when I talked too much, Id start coughing. Your lung tissue seems to get stronger and heartier in time. Maybe keep water or cough drops. Also try supplements that help your energy level, B-12, vegetable smoothies, avoid sugars.

Thank you for your support and information. I actually had B-12 shots once a week for four weeks this summer and am on a daily supplement now. But avoiding sugar is new to me. I'll do that. I can feel / see the correlation between those sweets that we pick on at school followed by a quick drop in energy after.

I drink one Boost a day. A friend has a recipe for a vegetable smoothie which I will get Monday.

@kaystrand and @suttonmac2009 .. I read some place and don't remember why .. but that going to sleep on the left side will lessen the coughing when trying to go to sleep. It then stands to reason that if trying to get the sputum up .. lying on the right side might help in getting up the sputum? Just a thought? Katherine