Good MAC Doctor Recommendations

Have you found a primary care physician yet?
I am fortunate to have a primary provider who is part of a large network of clinics and hospitals. When I needed a pulmonologist, I took her referral to someone, but after I saw him for a while I realized he was not expert in bronchiectasis, nor was he interested in collaboration with others. So I went to our physician-finder site and found a pulmonologist who listed bronchiectasis as a sub-specialty, and whose bio included collaborative medicine. Now I am a happy patient, even though she is quite a few miles away.
If you have such an option with your insurance, I suggest you look into being part of a multi-specialty network. Do you have choices with your insurance?
Sue

Thanks for your reply. What is a multi specialty network?

Since Dr McShane went to Tyler, I believe there is only one MAC specialist here and he is at Loyola in Maywood west of the city. I can't remember his name but you can probably find it on their website. If not let me know and I will try to find it. I'm sure other physicians are familiar with it but don't specialize in it.

Dr McShane continues to treat my bacteria from Texas and I see Dr Strek at the University of Chicago for my other lung diseases including bronchiectasis. She is familiar with MAC.

Welcome to Chicago!

Many thanks for your information and the welcome to Chicago!

Havah, I have a son and daughter-in-law in the Chicago area. They’ve been well-served by physicians connected with Northwestern University Medical Center. Don

While most of my doctors for my various problems are at Northwestern and it is much more convenient for me to go there, I would not recommend the pulmonary dept there for MAC patients. I was treated for chronic bronchitis there for 7 or 8 years.

Hi Havah,
You'll notice that I moved your question about search for a MAC specialist to this existing discussion called "Good MAC Doctor Recommendations." You may also be interested in this related discussion:
Top MAC doctor/treatment Rochester: Questions to ask at first appt? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/top-mac-doctortreatment-rochester/

Greetings,
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis and MAC in February 2020. I have been diligently expectorating three times a day using a nebulizer and 10% saline solution followed by physiotherapy, i.e., percussion clapping, vibrations, and autogenic drainage while lying on a yoga mat. I’ve been doing this in the hopes of secreting enough mucus to deprive the MAC of a friendly environment for nesting in my stretched airways. I learned the physiotherapy by watching videos on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) website but I have no idea if I am doing it properly. The Kaiser respiratory therapist says Kaiser does not or no longer uses physiotherapy so she can’t show me if I am doing it properly. CFF can’t help someone who doesn’t have cystic fibrosis. In addition, it took me months to figure out how to cough or huff out mucus without straining my diaphragm leading to soreness and pain. And I am still figuring out how to cough and huff without straining my lower back. I therefore am in need of a respiratory therapist. Does anyone have or know of a respiratory therapist in the SF Bay Area I can consult with?
lora jo

Hi Lora Jo, welcome to the MAC group. I moved your message to this existing discussion called "Good MAC Doctor Recommendations." I did this so you can connect with others who may have recommendations for a respiratory therapist in the SF Bay Area.

You've also asked questions about using a nebulizer and getting sputum. I encourage you to review some of the existing discussions on these topics. Here are a few recent ones that will provide some information that you're looking for:
- 7% saline continues to deliver https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/7-saline-continues-to-deliver/
- Sputum tests: Problems producing enough sputum https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sputum-tests/

Thanks, Colleen. But how do I find the "Good MAC Doctor Recommendation" discussion? I didn't find it in Groups by Name or Interest.
lora jo