Hi Charlie, i am also terrified to taking the big three. So for now trying to get the best mucus clearance from my lungs. Im also getting older 77. What I do is to exercise in the mornings. Long walks, yoga, tai chi and rowing. Then I nebulize with a 7% sodium solution, that gets mucus out. And budesonide 3%. A diet of vegetables, fruits and sometimes fish to gain weight.
I try to take probiotics for my stomach like a powder form. And kim chi that I get at a korean market and a bean from a japanese store called natto. And finally I drink turmeric and ginger teas. Like you, I hope I dont get worse and sputum tests will tell me what is happening. Wishing all of us good results. Hal