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Anyone have cavitary MAC?

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Sep 12, 2023 | Replies (67)

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@thorne

Hi @bluesplashgirl, @melissa08, @maureen2022, @onana, @extracare808 and @colleenyoung

This is my first post after joining this forum last week. I am a 56 year old woman with a history of bronchiectasis. During descent on an international plane flight in early June, I had terrible chest pain and ended up in the ER. They found a 1.5 cm cavitary and sent me immediately back to US. Fortunately I live near Mayo Jax and my doctors are there. My questions for you guys are -- other than the cavity and the plane episode (which I think had to do the depressurization of the plane?) I have no symptoms: no cough, no sputum, no fatigue, weigh loss, shortness of breath, etc. I do have chest wall pain but I often get costochondritis when I have something wrong in my body. My first MAC test showed 17 colonies and my second one is pending. I am wondering does having a cavity mandate the Big 3 even though I have no other pulmonary symptoms? My Mayo doctor absolutely wants to put me on all 3 plus arikayce right off the bat if my second culture is also positive but based on some of the things I have read on this forum, it doesn't seem so clear cut to me. HAs anyone every had their cavity go away without the big 3 (I am doing 7% saline twice a day)? has anyone ever done any "watchful waiting" -- seeing if symptoms develop or getting CT scans to see if the cavity grows? Thanks for any input!!

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Replies to "Hi @bluesplashgirl, @melissa08, @maureen2022, @onana, @extracare808 and @colleenyoung This is my first post after joining this..."

Hello,
My cavitary lesion went away after I stopped doing the nebs of 7% saline. I replaced the nebs with. Dry salt inhaler. I have also been negative for MAC now for a few months. My doctor at Mayo in Rochester is Dr Clain. Following his instructions to continue the Big 3 and raise the head of my bed 4” may have contributed to the cavity collapsing, as well. I did go against his advice and stopped nebulizing in Nov 2021. I do not produce sputum easily and the twice daily nebs may have contributed to the cavity? Purely anecdotal but it worked for me. Good luck!