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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Apr 14 3:02pm | Replies (9325)Comment receiving replies
Kay, the coughing and clearing absolutely does NOT get rid of MAC. The purpose is that the mucus sitting there is a "breeding ground" for further mycobacterium. That is the reason for trying to get it up and out. Personally the coughing and clearing does NOT make me feel a bit better .. a bit of a pain in the batooty to do it each am and pm after inhaling my two prescription inhalers .. but I do it to get up the sputum .. sometimes clear sputum .. sometimes that dark yellow sputum.
This clearing may not work for others .. but it does for me. What I get up and out proves to me the benefit. I have always had sputum .. so do not have an opinion for those of you have never had sputum.
When you are on the antibiotics as you are .. it is the antibiotics that are "clearing" your lungs. For me .. I have been off antibiotics since May 2014 and am doing all I can to stay off! So for me .. coughing .. clearing .. getting up the sputum so it does not become a breeding ground for further mycobacterium is very important to me. I am happy as a clam being "stable". I am fully aware those nasty critters are still lying in wait in my lungs .. they don't get "cured" .. so I will do whatever I can not to give them "care and comfort" in my lungs! Katherine
Replies to "Kay, the coughing and clearing absolutely does NOT get rid of MAC. The purpose is that..."
Great advice!
Kay, I have thought further about your question on " If you are free of MAC what is all the mucous you have to clear caused by? " .. and decided to go back on my copious notes acquired as I tried to learn about my diseases .. hmm .. what I have discovered is that I have forgotten more than I have remembered!! Darn . . age is creeping up on me. I found in my notes a wonderful explanation .. BECAUSE I have not only MAC but also Bronchiectasis .. the explanation is the Bronchiectasis .. the explanation is as follows:
Bronchiectasis is chronic dilatation of the breathing tubes causing secondary infection usually in the lower portion of the lungs. Bronchiectasis is considered to be incurable permanent damage to the affected areas of the lungs.
In bronchiectasis, mucus production increases, the cilia (small hairs similar to brushes that line the breathing tubes) are destroyed or damaged, and areas of the bronchial wall become chronically inflamed and are destroyed. It is associated with excessive mucous production that results in coughing and small to copious amounts of sputum. The excess mucous is produced and the lungs of patients with bronchiectasis do not adequately clear airways via the cilia. In healthy bronchial tubes the cilia beat back and forth, moving the thin liquid layer of mucus that normally coats the airways. Harmful particles and bacteria trapped in this mucus layer are moved up to the throat and coughed out or swallowed. In bronchiectasis the mucous builds up and causes stagnated sputum that invites infections.
Bronchiectasis is associated with the development of chronic infection of bacteria known as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), as well as MAC and Mycobacterium abscessus..
Kay, hope this is a better answer! Hugs! Katherine
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Kate
Just trying to understand. If you are free of MAC what is all the mucous you have to clear caused by? I know some people have reflux, asthma, etc. I just had a24 hour Impedence test and so not have reflux. I don't have asthma.
I do have post nasal drip and mucous in my throat and a bit of a runny nose.
Thanks for explaining clearing your lungs. Maybe my PND is the same thing? My doc seems unconcerned and said I needn't bother with any devices, that they make you feel better but don't help anything??
Thanks again.
Kay
Just trying to figure this out.