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Nebulizer and saline treatment with daily exercise
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jan 8 9:46pm | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and MAC in Feb 2020. In my readings, I found that one can get rid of MAC through regular airway clearance. Because I was asymptomatic, my pulmonologist said he'd take the "watchful waiting" approach. To avoid the Big Three, I did airway clearance for a year and a half - nebulizing, aerobika, percussion clapping three times a day along with daily exercise of at least 30 minutes each. I did acupuncture and herbal medicine also. But alas, my sputum samples kept coming back positive for MAC. When I started having fatigue and weight loss (lose 10% of my body weight) I gave up and in August 2021 I went on the Big 3. Fortunately, the side effects are mild. My last two sputum samples have come back negative and I'm waiting for the third. If you can, send you next sputum sample to National Jewish Health and ask them to do a colony count. If your colony count is low enough, then NJH doctors would say you don't need to be on the Big 3.
lora jo
Replies to "I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and MAC in Feb 2020. In my readings, I found that..."
lora jo: I have been diagnosed with both Bronchiectasis and MAC and have been on the Big 3 (3 days a week) for about 5 months. I walk several days a week a brisk mile (should do more), and that's when I feel best - moving and in outside air. I take turmeric in water, and various vitamins. Apart from intestinal issues, I don't seem to have many other symptoms, but I do worry about the possible risks to my eyesight, hearing, and heart and I'd like to quit the antibiotics. I've been told that once the eyesight is damaged, it's not reversible. But one worry is that even if I have negative tests and eventual quitting, the bronchiectasis remains and can breed more bacteria. Is that a concern for anyone else? Also, how do you arrange to have a sputum sample sent to National Jewish Health for a colony count? That sounds promising.
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Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear the alternative route did not work but happy to hear you tolerated the meds. I wish you the best and continued negative sputum samples. I am so thankful for this group. It’s good to be able to talk to others with this disease that most people(and many Drs) have no clue about!