Hello, I will share; not sure this will help but hope so.
I was diagnosed with MAC and bronchiectasis in 2020.
I had no cough, produced zero sputum. I was SOB when climbing any amount of stairs, could not walk fast, and was waisting away with exhaustion and depression from not understanding what was happening to my body. I was a 64, very physically active (daily exercise run, walk, bike, golf, gardening, etc) and Covid hit…the world was scary. I dove into questioning any and all doctors I could. The pulmonologist treated me for late onset asthma (there as absolutely no asthma in my family)…I got worse. I became hypertensive, cardiac workup said basically I was very very healthy. This continued and I became depressed. One morning I fell to the floor with chest pain and my doctor said rush to the hospital where they checked or a PE (pulmonary embolism). He radiologist saw my bronchiectasis and said I should consult a pulmonary doctor. Story continues. I repeated the CAT scan with my pulmonary doc and was scheduled for a bronchoscopy. Remember, I had no cough or sputum production. Pulmonologist did a lavage and cultured what he could scrap off or unplug from my airway…it came back MAC.
To this day, with all the saline (7%) I nebulize daily, exercise, Aerobika, saltroom therapy, huffing etc…I have no sputum. The ID doctor says I am a subtype…Lady Windermere’s Syndrome. I have autoimmune markers that light up in my blood work, but to this date not RA. My genetic inheritance has me set up for autoimmune…type 1 diabetes, BRCA positive, Raynaud's, but I am diagnosed with MAC and bronchiectasis.
I hope my story helps you with some questions/answers.
I go yearly to NJH in Denver and Dr Daley says I am stable, bronchiectasis stable, and I continue with no cough or sputum. I maintain my regimen of care and practice gratitude daily.

Please stay healthy.
Regina