@heathert Yes, my local pulmonologist believes that's how I got bronchiectasis and MAC because he asked me if I slept on my stomach and I said I always sleep on my stomach and had for years. Well, I don't really anymore because apparently the reflux aspirates into your lungs in the middle of the night if you're on your stomach. And I was tested for GERD and have it and also have a hiatal hernia and I swear I remember some gastro doctor who was just a friend saying to me that if you have reflux you will always have it. And especially with a hiatal hernia. It's like it's an open gullet to your stomach. So I sleep on a wedge now with a couple of pillows and start off sleeping halfway sitting up but then before the night is over I get rid of a pillow. And I try really hard not to eat foods that cause reflux. But everyone is so different that different foods affect people differently. Like I figured out one night that I couldn't eat apples at night because I had terrible reflux. Imagine that. With apples. So if I eat apples I try to eat them earlier in the day. I also don't take the PPI drugs just because I don't like them so I basically try to eat as healthy as I can. My only problem is chocolate which also cause reflux for some people. I try and pretend it doesn't for me but I can never really tell. Every now and then if I know I've eaten something that might give me trouble I'll take a Zantac but that's only every once in a while. Nan

I have hiatal hernia, I dont get heartburn because I eat correctly. But my stomach still comes up and I have to elevate until I fall asleep then everything falls back into place. I know because I wake up a few times at night and I am sleeping flat. I dont elevate bed, just pile a bunch of pillows up. I can take naps without stomach bother probably because not end of day so not so tired. My diet is pretty much common sense. I eat organic foods, mostly fruit and veggies. I eat a little meat and will Never give up sushi. Fish and rice good for stomach anyway. I eat as low or no fat as possible. after 2 years of taking pills my stomach and bowels were wiped out so it is a battle to keep weight on. I am 5'11" and weigh 125 on a good day. So, I Have to eat something for dinner or I drop too low. Before the pills I was always a little overweight, 5-10, so I never ate dinner, but now is different. YES my friends hate me, haha I've discovered that if I eat a large meal at night, my stomach actually stays down if I go to bed flat!!! Possibly the weight of the food keeps stomach in place. If I eat a little, it comes up. But I always; eat low fat and I mean common sense whole grain not frozen organic low fat real food, totally goes against the american diet. ( big pharma will argue against this for obvious reasons) I also work out. I have 10 pound weights and do squats,donkey kicks, arms, take stairs walk tons with dog, at 72 I get a lot of whistles from the back, til they see I am grandmas age!! My doc says I am maximizing my time and minimizing the disease. Everyone I see in her waiting room is fat. She is young and slim, and so am I. We talk fashion, she wears Ferragamo shoes, I dig it.
She says she has many patients with MAC who are in their 80's. Maybe I will be one. 2 documentaries to see, "Game Changer"
and "What the Health" I only take one pill, thyroxin, lowest dose and I am suspicious of that! My dad died at 104,,(took zero pills) Played tennis til 100, ate pretty much my diet, but big lunch, small dinner, french italian so did not buy into hamburger fries and coke poison crap.. My parents ate good whole foods, mom died 94. Everyone should do their own due diligence, beyond the doctor and beyond what all the big government agencies say to do, educate yourself. xo