Healthy with MAC: What's your follow up like?

I think they don’t bring it up because the may not “know”. I read on a post that doctors do most of their training in hospital settings. Mac patients rarely get seen outside of clinics. Thank goodness for the websites I’ve been referred to by this blog. So far, as an rn, I feel comfortable following my ID doctors plan. This is because of what I’ve read here . And I have the framework and questions that need to be asked and addressed. It’s still a process, but thank you all.

Thank you Bee

Sue, I’m curious. How do you happen to be exposed to “printing plant chemicals?” Don

Well, I used to say it was in my blood since conception since my Mom worked in the industry fo over 40 years. But I actually worked in a printing plant through college, and continued to moonlight there in the busy season for years - until I had kids. Sometimes I came home coated with inky dust when the trimmers and air handling systems malfunctioned. Interesting enough, most of my Mom's coworkers who smoked got emphysema, the rest chronic bronchitis, and unfortunate few like Mom and her close friend got Bronchiectasis.

Sue,
I thought emphysema and chronic bronchitis were more serious conditions than Bronchiectasis.

Here comes my dreaded answer - It depends.
Each disease has its own path, and all can be serious. And, as far as I know, none is curable except in some cases chronic bronchitis, if the trigger is found and removed before you progress to other issues.
The problem with emphysema is that it typically occurs in lungs already compromised by smoking or another irritant and because the person already has a cough, the increasing severity and shortness of breath may be ignored until the disease is well progressed, and halting progressive damage is difficult.
There are people who have chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the airways) for many years without progression to emphysema or another disease.
Then there those of us with bronchiectasis, which can be mild, moderate or severe, and stable or progressive - often depending on our ability to avoid infection. Or other diseases that share our lungs. Some, like my Mom, have it for many years and die in their 80's of other causes. Others may have such progression as to need lobes removed, or even a lung transplant.

Sue

You are so right. People need to understand what they are getting. I have original Medicare - and I have medigap policy. Not the cheapest option, but I can self-refer to any doctor that takes Medicare. I never see a bill. I have some serious issues now and I self-referred to Mayo without worrying if insurance would pay.

Exactly! Just paid $10 for the prescription after an urgent care visit with tests. The bill says $490, and it's all covered - just had to find someone in the Blue Cross network - had 11 choices in my smallish county.
Sue