I was diagnosed with MAC in 2013. The colonization was incidentally found when I had a breast MRI. A bronchoscopy confirmed MAC; a CT confirmed bronchiectasis. The first 5 years I was asymptomatic so my ID Drs and my Pulmonologist decided not to treat me but to monitor its progress. I have had CTs and Dr visits every 6 months and some sputum tests but, since I don't cough anything up, I have not had many. Some sputum tests were positive; some were negative. The CTs showed some progression over the years but I was still asymptomatic - except I couldn't hike up a hill or walk up more than 3-4 flights of stairs without having to stop or sit down to catch my breath and bring down my heart rate. The CT in October 2018 showed new nodules and, for the first time, the radiologist suggested a follow up CT in 3 months. Then in December 2018, I coughed up blood. I wasn't coughing hard nor was I coughing for a long time. My Pulmonologist put me on 7 days of Zithromax and started me on Singulair and Symbicort (I don't have asthma or COPD). Since then my CTs have gotten better, then stayed about the same, etc. In January 2020 I had a major acid reflux episode and aspirated into my lungs causing inflammation in both lungs. For the first time my ID Dr said we may have to think about treatment. That is when I found the Mycobacterium Avium Complex/NTM Information & Support on FaceBook and learned about airway clearance. NO ONE had mentioned airway clearance to me - ever. I told my Dr that I wanted to try airway clearance before I start any meds. He kinda poo-poo’d it but said we could try. 6 months later my CT showed a huge improvement! Then my sputum sample in May 2020 was negative! And Woo HOO my last 3 sputum samples were negative as well!! And without meds! Airway clearance is and will be part of my daily life forever.

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