It sounds like your doctor is following the correct procedures. I had these same problems in 2014 and the pulmonologist was sure it was cancer, but it turned out to be MAC. I took the Big 3 for 14 months. My cost for all parts of this was the individual co-pay. The only problem with the anti-biotics was that the mail order part of my plan refused to cover the number of pills, so the hospital's pharmacy provided them without any complaint. I could not get 3 months at a time, but the co-pay was $10. each. I hope this helps.

It sure does help. Thank you. Did you experience any side effects? Have you been OK after the 14 months?

@suzie2017 I know that the waiting period can be tough while waiting, wondering, and worrying. I had read many previous posts by others whose doctors suspected lung cancer, but it turned out to be mac infection. How is your hubby holding up?

This morning he seemed to have a mini flair up. His temp was 99.2, he had chills, headache, mild nose bleed and was having trouble breathing. I got him hooked up to his oxygen and within a short period of time he looked and felt much better. I checked his oxygen prior to hooking him up and the oximeter read 80. If we didn’t have oxygen in the house I would have had him on the way to the hospital. I hope this doesn’t mean more to come later today. Thank you for asking about us.

@suzie2017 Good morning Suzie. I was just reading over past posts and noticed that you wrote that when you checkef your husband's oxygen; it was at 80! I don't know if you or he was told; but one should be on oxygen when it dips to 88%. It sounds like he needs to be frequently monitored. If he is allowed to drop below 88 for various durations; it can cause organ damage. I can just imagine the relief he must have felt getting some air. -Hugs Terri

You are absolutely right and yes, we are aware of the seriousness of low oxygen. The 80 reading was right after he got up in the morning and walked out to the kitchen. He was confused and a little wobbly. I got him on oxygen right away. It is surprising but he does not need oxygen at night. He seems to rest very comfortably and breaths shallow but very easy. Once he gets up, he normally needs it pretty quickly. We keep the portable oxygen in the bedroom just in case he might need it during the night and the larger unit in the living area. He is still getting pain in his pelvic area and his lower back. Kidney problems crossed my mind but the blood work looked fine regarding kidneys. His pelvic area was x-rayed a few months ago and nothing was found. His pain comes and goes but only at night. Once he lays down in bed, it goes away - very strange. He will be having another cat scan in the next 10 days of his lungs. Hope you are having a nice weekend. Thank you again for your good suggestions.

@suzie2017 Hey Suzie, has your husband had an over-night pulse-ox test done? That is where he would sleep with a pulse ox strapped to his finger and it records all night? That test is to check to see if he is dropping in the middle of the night. I have had it done twice and I have to sleep with oxygen. Mine drops to like 84 for five mins at a time in the night. If he has not had the over-night test, it might be a good idea. (especially with the collapsed lung.) Will you please tell your hubby that I said hello and that I am thinking of him and hope he feels better soon. Thank you. Terri

Yes, he had a sleep apnea test about 2 years ago and everything was fine. In the past 6 months he took another test to see if he needs oxygen at night and the results indicated he did not need night time oxygen. I often wake up and watch him breathing at night, thinking that he might quit breathing, but he never does. He breaths very easily at night.