HEALTHY LIFE: You can continue to live a healthy happy life! I have had cavitary NTM/MAC since 2015. Still alive and doing relatively well. I'm super active. AEROBIC activity daily is key. Staying active and doing the right things for your health become even more important. Wish I didn't have this awful disease, but so many of these comments were very helpful. I wish I had known about and utilized the resources on this website. All of these comments in response to the person recently diagnosed with NTM/MAC are so very helpful. It's a process and each person's journey is so individual. Going through cancer was less lonely, because everyone knows someone who has cancer. NTM/MAC is like the secret disease.
My advice: Your PULMONOLOGIST is super important. Having a team of doctors is important. Don't settle for a doctor that doesn't match up with you. There are many good doctors, but s/he must match with you.
YOUR DECISION: Everything is ultimately your decision.
MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE: This is antiquated. Money is not out there to research this disease, no sex appeal. Pulmonologists have a difficult time with this. Not popular. I have HOPE that there's starting to be movement toward research and there are ways that we can all help progress that. You will share in the decision making in your health.
REACH OUT: I started giving my name and phone number to health professionals telling them they may share my phone number with someone else who has MAC/NTM in the community that they know of. I've told trusted indidivudals. I now know personally a grand total of 5 others. I'm so sorry that each of them has it, but it has been a great comfort and positive experience for each of us.