@katiemknor .. Winnie!! I just thought of some GREAT advice I remembered posted by our member Liliane .. I am copying it below!! Look at her advice to request a BRONCHOSCOPY .. that might give you a quicker opinion?? Not sure .. but might be an option for the second opinion?? Just wondering .. been scratching my head for you!! Hugs to you! Katherine p.s reading the past post may give you other ideas!!
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Posted by @liliane, Thu, Aug 18 at 12:12pm CDT

Hello Kathryn!
I am glad you have joined this very supportive forum. You say that your pulmonary scans show evidence of a possible MAC/MAI infection. There is a protocol followed by pulmonologists in order to properly diagnose and treat this disease.
My suggestion for you is to request a bronchoscopy, followed by a bacterial culture of the fluids and, if positive for Mycobacterium avium, an antibiotic sensitivity test in order to determine which drugs will be effective in your case.
I am a 59 year old dentist, with a background in microbiology, and I have been diagnosed with MAC/MAI earlier this year. I am on my fourth month taking the three recommended antibiotics, Rifampin, Clarithromycin and Ethambutol. I have noticed a decline in energy since starting my therapy. I still manage to workout daily and carry on my normal activities. You are not alone in this struggle.Here you will find good suggestions on how to best tolerate your prescribed medications and how to be a good, well informed self advocate. Best wishes to you in your journey. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Liliane