@irenea8 i will try to answer all your questions. I was 45 (1998) when I started having respiratory issues. I am now 69. I was not correctly diagnosed until I was 51 and was seen by doctors at Mayo Clinic. I had lots of side effects of the different oral antibiotics I have taken over the years, but tried to tolerate as long as I possibly could as I was desperate to feel better. After the MAC diagnosis and treatment I had a few good years with only the normal colds and other viruses. The first time I had pseudomonas show up in a sputum culture was 2003. After that they would show up about any time I was sick with respiratory issues. I have other health problems but they are not related to my lungs. IV Meropenem was 3 times a day for 28 days and I drove to a regional hospital for those infusions. (I put a lot of miles on my car that month). I had no side effects that I remember and it did help. With Cayston, it seemed to help for about 5 months but gradually became ineffective. After 7 months of it I went back to Tobi and now currently Colistin. I now have gone several months without Pseudomonas showing up. However, there were several times sputum cultures came back with gram negative bacilli. I think my combined health regimen with the Colistin, Advair, nose spray, sodium chloride, airway clearance vest, staying hydrated, knowing my limitations, and regular aerobic exercise has greatly contributed to doing my best to stay healthy as possible with bronchiectasis. It is not easy and really is a full time job and requires full support from friends and family members. I hope I have answered your questions. Remain positive and advocate for yourself!