@isabellad & @bbeers The decision on whether to take the antibiotics is a very difficult one. Especially if we don't "feel really sick" - just coughing, or tired. Even harder to decide as we get a little older, and our bodies are more sensitive to medications.

But remember, "treatment" isn't only about the drugs. There is a lot you can do to help your body fight the infection without them - daily airway clearance, 7% saline nebs, good diet and exercise.

Here is a great video from NJH about how the experts make the decision to treat now or to wait and watch. They are talking specifically about hard to treat cases, but their explanation is very good. It's a little long, with a lot of numbers, but the bottom line is that there are choices.

Watching it and making a few notes might give you a great starting point for talking with your doctors. Don't be surprised if you get shrugs from your primary docs - this infection is uncommon enough that even a lot of pulmonologists only see a few cases in the course of their careers. That is why specialty centers like Mayo, NJH, and a few others are so important to our understanding.

Good luck with your decisions, whatever they may be. The group is always here to answer questions and give encouragement.
Sue