Thank you Katherine for making this more clear to me... as discouraging as it is to learn this, it is no doubt important to be realistic about the disease. It seems most of us are in our sixties and seventies (I am 67).  If anyone has any connection to people in their 80s and 90s who have had MAC and the treatment, it would be interesting to hear how they are doing and what life has been like for them in their later years.  You ( or someone) mentioned a "spray" that you have on hand when you travel, but I can not find that email.  Could you tell us again how you prepare yourself to travel on a plane in order to minimize the risk of infection?  Clearly the key is to be very vigilant and try not to scar or damage the lungs any further.  Thank you, as always, for your informative and caring replys to my questions. Pam   

@pamelasc1, Pam, to be honest .. I doubt very much if we will hear from people in "their 80s and 90s who have had MAC and the treatment, it would be interesting to hear how they are doing and what life has been like for them in their later years.'

Why? BECAUSE I grew up in Montana (part of the time without running water!) and at age 73 find myself MUCH more computer literate than MANY of my contemporaries. I doubt those in their later years spend much time on a computer period .. let alone our Forum. BUT I still would LOVE to hear from one of them on our same journey .. OR from a family member letting us know how they are doing! Great idea!

TRAVEL-HALO AND AIRBORNE
In terms of travel .. I JUST had that experience! Traveling with someone who caught a terrible virus that turned into a bacterial ... coughing constantly! During the trip I was able to "nicely" avoid her .. BUT then had to sit across the aisle for 10.5 HOURS on an airplane! The morning of departure I started sneezing like crazy .. nose running like a sieve! SO I jumped on my usual travel remedies. I will tell you what works for me .. may NOT work for anyone else .. but I kept it up for three days solid .. AND did NOT get that infection .. OR stopped it in it's tracks! YEAH!
MY LINE OF DEFENSE TO AVOID TRAVEL COLDS/VIRUS:
1. Airborne Vitamin C 1000mg Immune Support Supplement .. several times a day
https://smile.amazon.com/Airborne-Vitamin-Support-Supplement-Effervescent/dp/B000WZI4WY/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1483906644&sr=1-1&keywords=airborne%2Bcold&th=1
2. MORE IMPORTANTLY I THINK .. I have only found it on Amazon.com but I think it works WONDERFULLY! Used it MANY times a day when I felt I was starting to get this bacterial infection .. don't even follow directions .. sorry! Halo Oral Antiseptic, Citrus,
https://smile.amazon.com/Halo-HL00101-Oral-Antiseptic-Citrus/dp/B009240FPK/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1483906763&sr=1-2&keywords=halo+oral+antiseptic+spray
I don't know about you .. but with my MAC PLUS Bronchiectasis I just seem to catch ANY cold/flu virus out there .. anywhere in the vicinity of me! So the day before airplane travel I use Airborne 2 times .. and Halo at least 3 times. The day of travel I try to do the same thing .. at least Airborne in the am before departure .. and then Halo 3-4 times. Then on the trip if I feel fine .. I just use the Halo 1 or 2x per day just to boost my immune system. This seems to work for me!
Also in my daily life if I hear anyone appearing to have a sick cough around me .. I grab my Halo Spray (carry it in my purse at all times!) and spray away! Pam, Hope this is helpful! Hugs! Katherine

I am flying tomorrow and I got all that was recommended through amazon.  Thank you again, Katherine.    TerryGerms Be Gone! 

@128128terry11t, .. love THAT 'TerryGerms Be Gone!' .. IF you're flying tomorrow .. hope you get it in time! Fly healthy! Hugs! Katherine

Katherine - thank you so much for all the tips when travelling.  I will order the Airborne and the Halo. I also wear a mask now once I get to the airport and I keep it on until I arrive. I am so grateful to this group!  Thank you again, Pam   

@pamelasc1, Pamela, I have no idea if you or anyone else is interested .. but I
was traveling to a VERY air polluted area .. I did a LOT of research and found there was a BETTER mask than the 3M N95 mask .. PLUS could looked kinda cute! I ONLY found it in the UK but the delivery was fairly fast .. and I found it decent to breath with. I now will carry it as needed. Hope you find this helpful! Katherine

http://www.cambridgemask.com/buy-a-mask/international/ 22 Euro 12/16

this is indeed very interesting...and helpful.   I have been wondering just how effective the plain paper masks really are... this is great information - thank you!  Pam   

Pam, I now use an Ionic Personal Air Purifier called the Minimate when I fly. I found a link for it on this site and ordered it off Amazon. I think it was around $50. I wore it last week when I flew to LA. It doesn't make a sound and seemed to work well. You wear it like a necklace or clip it to your clothes. I will use it in other areas where there are crowds as well. I also used Halo. That was a tip from Katherine, I believe. And always take Airborne. That works really well for me. Linda

<br><br><br><br><br><br>Linda – this is great to learn about – thank you – I will order it!  <br>Pam<br><br><br> <br><br>

@lindam272, Linda and @pamelasc1, Pam , just a heads up on the 'Ionic Personal Air Purifier called the Minimate when I fly.'

I have used it for years BUT it is actually illegal on an airplane now days due to the battery. SO what I do .. I always wear a jacket when I fly .. because I am always cold .. SO I carefully tuck it into the left side of my jacket with just the air end sticking out. THEN it depends on IF the Flight Attendant is really vigilant OR mean! By being careful .. only ONCE has an Attendant DEMANDED that I remove my unit. She brought out her hefty Rules Manual! So be careful in your use .. because with it I have been really lucky not to pick up viruses on airplanes! Hugs! Katherine