← Return to (MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@sweethighland

Hi Sue, I always have this color sputum. As you know I have B.cepecia colonized and wondering if I have infection from it. It shows 2+ in last culture. Doctors, both pul and ID are not treating 🙁 I cough when I have mucus. After airway clearance, cough tend to stop. I'm confused. I apologize for sending you my sputum, it is not a good sight to look at. I want to know if you have the same color.

Jump to this post


Replies to "Hi Sue, I always have this color sputum. As you know I have B.cepecia colonized and..."

Sorry, I will repeat, we are not doctors and cannot make a diagnosis or treatment recommendation for anyone else. I believe your doctor recommended that you focus on symptoms - breathing, fever, shortness of breath - and concentrate on managing that, because eradication is unlikely. It is not useful to compare sputum colors between patients as we are all individuals with our own unique characteristics.

What I have found most useful is to listen to and trust my docs. Then let the rest go and live my best life. So, if I get a fever, more coughing, inability to clear mucus using airway clearance, increased shortness of breath, I follow my "emergency" plan - worked out with my primary, ID doc and pulmonologist. Otherwise, I just do my daily self-care (which may be different than yours) and go on with life.

For example, I have had some long days this week, tomorrow is my "rest day" - my alarm is shut off, and I will do limited strenuous activity, maybe even nap in the afternoon for a bit.

Have you and your doc worked out a plan of what to do if symptoms - fever, shortness of breath, inability to clear lungs or increased fatigue - happen?
Sue