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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 21 5:21pm | Replies (9354)Comment receiving replies
Thank you, Sue—I don’t seem to have mucous. (Wouldn’t I feel a need to cough?). Could I have it in my lungs and not know it?
Replies to "Thank you, Sue—I don’t seem to have mucous. (Wouldn’t I feel a need to cough?). Could..."
That's a great question. I'm like @cavlover - if I get lax about using my saline nebs & airway clearance, I don't really cough. Then a few days pass, and allergy or asthma prompts a coughing spell, and the "gunk" is there. Or I begin to feel a "heavy spot" in my chest, or notice a little shortness of breath. When I begin to neb faithfully again, out comes the mucus.
Over the past 4 years, I have noticed a very encouraging trend in this group - people who faithfully neb and/or use a mucus-thinner, and do airway clearance seem to be able to stay healthier. Maybe not totally, and maybe not everyone, but a significant number of us. Hereis a discussion about airway clearance that may interes you :https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-is-considered-successfuly-airway-clearance/
To me, it is a small sacrifice of time to avoid the meds that seem to make me so ill and to maintain my quality of life.
Is your doctor a pulmonologist? Do they have experience treating bronchiectasis specifically?
Sue
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I didn’t think I had mucous until I started using the Aerobica. Now I also use the vest while nebbing Levabuterol, 7 % saline and huff coughing twice a day. I do all of this for preventative measures hoping to avoid an NTM infection. I’ve heard that even if you don’t cough up anything, you are still keeping your lungs clean with AC.