Do Bronchiectasis and MAC go together?

Posted by conniec @conniec, Apr 27, 2017

I was diagnosed with this in January. Had pneumonia in November. My dr didn't tell me to get a sputum sample til my second visit this past week. He started me On nebs and aerobika treatment. I had a second Ct scan and am not sure if there were changes. Does bronchiectasis and MAC go together. It seems like most people here talk about MAC and not bronchiectasis?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Hi Connie,
Several members sharing in this group have bronchiectasis. Some have both MAC and bronchiectasis.
@chinasmom @katemn @beatitnow @megan123 @ling123 @chinasmom @jock007 @flib @mmteach, Connie is asking about the relationship between bronchiectasis and MAC. I hope you can help answer her questions. This is all very new to her.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Hi Connie,
Several members sharing in this group have bronchiectasis. Some have both MAC and bronchiectasis.
@chinasmom @katemn @beatitnow @megan123 @ling123 @chinasmom @jock007 @flib @mmteach, Connie is asking about the relationship between bronchiectasis and MAC. I hope you can help answer her questions. This is all very new to her.

Jump to this post

@colleengyoung Colleen, I assume everybody's situation is different. In my case, what I have learned from the pulmonary specialist I have been seeing is this: my bronchiectasis has caused the walls of my bronchi to thicken, which in turn makes it difficult to expel mucus. Bacteria, including the ones causing MAC, are more easily caught in the thick mucus and fester. So I have MAC because I have bronchectasis.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Hi Connie,
Several members sharing in this group have bronchiectasis. Some have both MAC and bronchiectasis.
@chinasmom @katemn @beatitnow @megan123 @ling123 @chinasmom @jock007 @flib @mmteach, Connie is asking about the relationship between bronchiectasis and MAC. I hope you can help answer her questions. This is all very new to her.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your reply. I do know I have widening of my bronchial tree and therefore collection of mucous but don't know if I have infection. I have very few symptoms and my lung function is normal. I do cough up sputum sometimes and am now on nebs and aerobika to treat that and induce sputum. I have signed up with Mayo to get a second opinion but due to volume can't get in for awhile. I guess I am wondering if I'm festering infection that I don't know about and should be treated. When I was last in pulmonary clinic, they did induce a little sputum so I should get a read on that soon. However, it seemed more like saliva to me. I realize I am kind of rambling here. Just am glad to have a place to do that about this problem. Thanks.

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Hi Connie,
Several members sharing in this group have bronchiectasis. Some have both MAC and bronchiectasis.
@chinasmom @katemn @beatitnow @megan123 @ling123 @chinasmom @jock007 @flib @mmteach, Connie is asking about the relationship between bronchiectasis and MAC. I hope you can help answer her questions. This is all very new to her.

Jump to this post

Hi Colleen, Thank you for your reply. I am just wondering what percentage of people with bronchiectasis have or develop MAC as that is what is most of the posts are about. I have some sputum production but very seldom and no other symptoms that I can tell. No testable decreased pulmonary function. Am on nebs and aribika now. Had second Ct scan that shoes bronchiectasis with numerous mucous areas and one nodule that they are following for changes. Does that mucous sitting down there create infection that doesn't create overt symptoms? I have tried to get ahold of my clinic to clarify things but they are not responding and I won't be seen for 3 to 6 months. I am registered to eventually come to Mayo but was going to wait til fall. Now think I should try to get in sooner. Just presenting the thoughts that roll through my head. Thanks for this site and listening.:)

REPLY

Good Morning: New to the group wish to share personal experience with BRONCHIECTASIS.
Bronchiectasis would first introduce itself to me as a 28 year young Mom just 3 months
shy of giving birth to my second Child. Three years of respiratory infections, non productive
cough and repeated hospital admissions for " pneumonia ", diagnosis would be confirmed
when an experienced Physician who was only known to me because of so many Emergency
Room visits, spoke to my Husband with respect to what he believed warranted further respiratory
investigations to accurately define what was causing these reoccurring Pneumonia's.
The end result ... Bronchiectasis, with severe damage to the right lung. A right middle lobectomy
would give me my life back with only one Respiratory hospital admission in 20 years.
In 2006, I would become symptomatic of this Disease again. Repeated respiratory infections, non productive cough and the familiar associated Lung pain is dictating my life once again some
36 years later. Thought to be a hands on educated glass half full kind of person with respect
to my Disease, the medical team who have guided me on my Respiratory journey, have since retired or have passed on. Enter a new medical Team. Young textbook smart recent Graduates in the field of Medicine has created a new symptom to my respiratory treatment plan ... Fear!
Bronchiectasis patients should not all be treated with the same brush. I have spent the last
two years of valuable time defending my symptoms, my personal respiratory experiences including
the rationale behind the right middle lobectomy and the existing treatment plan designed
for me by Respiratory Physicians at a Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. New knowledge
of the risks associated with the long term use of Antibiotics, the pro's and cons of Arosols
versus multi doses of Puffers during flare ups and the precious success of preventative
measures to reduce inflammation and trapped mucous plugs and the accompanying
Lung, rib cage and body pain associated with excessive coughing, inflammation, scaring
pockets of atelectasis and from diffused bilateral Bronchiectasis has left me exhausted
physically and emotionally. It is difficult enough to co exist with Bronchiectasis. The
one size fits all approach to treating Lung Disease dictated by my new Physician,
has come with a price. THE LOSS OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE!

Thank you for letting me vent. A Mom and Grandmother I tend not to share with them
the day to day challenges of living with Bronchirctasis. During flare ups they worry
enough about my care. I will find my strong self again and I give myself permission
to sit for a moment in feeling defeated for the first time in the 36 years of living with
Bronchiectasis. In my 65 years I know not to define all Physicians by the
mis-guided actions and personal bias of another.
Blessings to fellow Respiratory patients.

Sincerely

REPLY
@daviseyes

Good Morning: New to the group wish to share personal experience with BRONCHIECTASIS.
Bronchiectasis would first introduce itself to me as a 28 year young Mom just 3 months
shy of giving birth to my second Child. Three years of respiratory infections, non productive
cough and repeated hospital admissions for " pneumonia ", diagnosis would be confirmed
when an experienced Physician who was only known to me because of so many Emergency
Room visits, spoke to my Husband with respect to what he believed warranted further respiratory
investigations to accurately define what was causing these reoccurring Pneumonia's.
The end result ... Bronchiectasis, with severe damage to the right lung. A right middle lobectomy
would give me my life back with only one Respiratory hospital admission in 20 years.
In 2006, I would become symptomatic of this Disease again. Repeated respiratory infections, non productive cough and the familiar associated Lung pain is dictating my life once again some
36 years later. Thought to be a hands on educated glass half full kind of person with respect
to my Disease, the medical team who have guided me on my Respiratory journey, have since retired or have passed on. Enter a new medical Team. Young textbook smart recent Graduates in the field of Medicine has created a new symptom to my respiratory treatment plan ... Fear!
Bronchiectasis patients should not all be treated with the same brush. I have spent the last
two years of valuable time defending my symptoms, my personal respiratory experiences including
the rationale behind the right middle lobectomy and the existing treatment plan designed
for me by Respiratory Physicians at a Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. New knowledge
of the risks associated with the long term use of Antibiotics, the pro's and cons of Arosols
versus multi doses of Puffers during flare ups and the precious success of preventative
measures to reduce inflammation and trapped mucous plugs and the accompanying
Lung, rib cage and body pain associated with excessive coughing, inflammation, scaring
pockets of atelectasis and from diffused bilateral Bronchiectasis has left me exhausted
physically and emotionally. It is difficult enough to co exist with Bronchiectasis. The
one size fits all approach to treating Lung Disease dictated by my new Physician,
has come with a price. THE LOSS OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE!

Thank you for letting me vent. A Mom and Grandmother I tend not to share with them
the day to day challenges of living with Bronchirctasis. During flare ups they worry
enough about my care. I will find my strong self again and I give myself permission
to sit for a moment in feeling defeated for the first time in the 36 years of living with
Bronchiectasis. In my 65 years I know not to define all Physicians by the
mis-guided actions and personal bias of another.
Blessings to fellow Respiratory patients.

Sincerely

Jump to this post

Welcome to Connect, @daviseyes. Thank you for sharing your experience with handover in care. It is so challenging when our health care teams have to change. You will many great people on this forum who will listen, share their experiences and tips, as well as offer a shoulder to lean. In particular, I'd like to introduce to Jennifer @megan123 who is also from Ontario, Canada.

With so many years of living with bronchiectasis, I'm confident that you have a wealth of information and experience to share with the group. Welcome!

REPLY
@daviseyes

Good Morning: New to the group wish to share personal experience with BRONCHIECTASIS.
Bronchiectasis would first introduce itself to me as a 28 year young Mom just 3 months
shy of giving birth to my second Child. Three years of respiratory infections, non productive
cough and repeated hospital admissions for " pneumonia ", diagnosis would be confirmed
when an experienced Physician who was only known to me because of so many Emergency
Room visits, spoke to my Husband with respect to what he believed warranted further respiratory
investigations to accurately define what was causing these reoccurring Pneumonia's.
The end result ... Bronchiectasis, with severe damage to the right lung. A right middle lobectomy
would give me my life back with only one Respiratory hospital admission in 20 years.
In 2006, I would become symptomatic of this Disease again. Repeated respiratory infections, non productive cough and the familiar associated Lung pain is dictating my life once again some
36 years later. Thought to be a hands on educated glass half full kind of person with respect
to my Disease, the medical team who have guided me on my Respiratory journey, have since retired or have passed on. Enter a new medical Team. Young textbook smart recent Graduates in the field of Medicine has created a new symptom to my respiratory treatment plan ... Fear!
Bronchiectasis patients should not all be treated with the same brush. I have spent the last
two years of valuable time defending my symptoms, my personal respiratory experiences including
the rationale behind the right middle lobectomy and the existing treatment plan designed
for me by Respiratory Physicians at a Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. New knowledge
of the risks associated with the long term use of Antibiotics, the pro's and cons of Arosols
versus multi doses of Puffers during flare ups and the precious success of preventative
measures to reduce inflammation and trapped mucous plugs and the accompanying
Lung, rib cage and body pain associated with excessive coughing, inflammation, scaring
pockets of atelectasis and from diffused bilateral Bronchiectasis has left me exhausted
physically and emotionally. It is difficult enough to co exist with Bronchiectasis. The
one size fits all approach to treating Lung Disease dictated by my new Physician,
has come with a price. THE LOSS OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE!

Thank you for letting me vent. A Mom and Grandmother I tend not to share with them
the day to day challenges of living with Bronchirctasis. During flare ups they worry
enough about my care. I will find my strong self again and I give myself permission
to sit for a moment in feeling defeated for the first time in the 36 years of living with
Bronchiectasis. In my 65 years I know not to define all Physicians by the
mis-guided actions and personal bias of another.
Blessings to fellow Respiratory patients.

Sincerely

Jump to this post

@daviseyes, Welcome and thank you for shareing your story. It makes me mad and sad because it is so familiar to most of us. We go through alot on a daily basis and tend to keep it to ourselves as not to worry others. We try very hard to keep up, but eventally our lungs remind us that they are in charge. Then we have to stop and do the work and research and learn from fellow patients. If you havent done so, go back and read through the posts on this forum. You will find resouces within the post that fellow MAC and bronchiectasis patients have found helpful. Priceless information and a truly careing group of people are here. Oh, And venting is very much encouraged. Stay strong and take care!
Becky

REPLY
@colleenyoung

Hi Connie,
Several members sharing in this group have bronchiectasis. Some have both MAC and bronchiectasis.
@chinasmom @katemn @beatitnow @megan123 @ling123 @chinasmom @jock007 @flib @mmteach, Connie is asking about the relationship between bronchiectasis and MAC. I hope you can help answer her questions. This is all very new to her.

Jump to this post

@conniec, so glad you found the forum. You will find lots of great information here just by reading through the past and present post that others share. There is a news letter that's called Bronchiectasis news today. Its fairly new and free to sign up and full of really good stuff. You can search for and print articles that interest you. There are also seminar videos for 2015 & 2016 that National Jewish Health sponsers and hosts. Its for health provider's, Patients, families and friends and can be watched in small increments or a whole day. There is nordphysicianguids.org/nontuberulous-mycobacterial-lung-disease-ntm/ its from The national organization for rare disorders and is good easy to understand info. The american thorasic society, American lung association, and of course the mayo clinics website all are good references. You cant get all the little tid bits of priceless information that poeple in this forum share anywhere but here. So I hope this helps and keep coming back.
Becky

REPLY
@daviseyes

Good Morning: New to the group wish to share personal experience with BRONCHIECTASIS.
Bronchiectasis would first introduce itself to me as a 28 year young Mom just 3 months
shy of giving birth to my second Child. Three years of respiratory infections, non productive
cough and repeated hospital admissions for " pneumonia ", diagnosis would be confirmed
when an experienced Physician who was only known to me because of so many Emergency
Room visits, spoke to my Husband with respect to what he believed warranted further respiratory
investigations to accurately define what was causing these reoccurring Pneumonia's.
The end result ... Bronchiectasis, with severe damage to the right lung. A right middle lobectomy
would give me my life back with only one Respiratory hospital admission in 20 years.
In 2006, I would become symptomatic of this Disease again. Repeated respiratory infections, non productive cough and the familiar associated Lung pain is dictating my life once again some
36 years later. Thought to be a hands on educated glass half full kind of person with respect
to my Disease, the medical team who have guided me on my Respiratory journey, have since retired or have passed on. Enter a new medical Team. Young textbook smart recent Graduates in the field of Medicine has created a new symptom to my respiratory treatment plan ... Fear!
Bronchiectasis patients should not all be treated with the same brush. I have spent the last
two years of valuable time defending my symptoms, my personal respiratory experiences including
the rationale behind the right middle lobectomy and the existing treatment plan designed
for me by Respiratory Physicians at a Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. New knowledge
of the risks associated with the long term use of Antibiotics, the pro's and cons of Arosols
versus multi doses of Puffers during flare ups and the precious success of preventative
measures to reduce inflammation and trapped mucous plugs and the accompanying
Lung, rib cage and body pain associated with excessive coughing, inflammation, scaring
pockets of atelectasis and from diffused bilateral Bronchiectasis has left me exhausted
physically and emotionally. It is difficult enough to co exist with Bronchiectasis. The
one size fits all approach to treating Lung Disease dictated by my new Physician,
has come with a price. THE LOSS OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE!

Thank you for letting me vent. A Mom and Grandmother I tend not to share with them
the day to day challenges of living with Bronchirctasis. During flare ups they worry
enough about my care. I will find my strong self again and I give myself permission
to sit for a moment in feeling defeated for the first time in the 36 years of living with
Bronchiectasis. In my 65 years I know not to define all Physicians by the
mis-guided actions and personal bias of another.
Blessings to fellow Respiratory patients.

Sincerely

Jump to this post

Hellooooo my fellow Canadian. I live in Toronto and have been diagnosed with MAc NTM and Bronchiectasis app 5 months ago...I find the emotional component to this just as important as dealing with chronic disease. I have a psychotherapist MD, covered by ohip
London would have this support as well......we cry because we have been to strong for
To long...❤️

REPLY
@daviseyes

Good Morning: New to the group wish to share personal experience with BRONCHIECTASIS.
Bronchiectasis would first introduce itself to me as a 28 year young Mom just 3 months
shy of giving birth to my second Child. Three years of respiratory infections, non productive
cough and repeated hospital admissions for " pneumonia ", diagnosis would be confirmed
when an experienced Physician who was only known to me because of so many Emergency
Room visits, spoke to my Husband with respect to what he believed warranted further respiratory
investigations to accurately define what was causing these reoccurring Pneumonia's.
The end result ... Bronchiectasis, with severe damage to the right lung. A right middle lobectomy
would give me my life back with only one Respiratory hospital admission in 20 years.
In 2006, I would become symptomatic of this Disease again. Repeated respiratory infections, non productive cough and the familiar associated Lung pain is dictating my life once again some
36 years later. Thought to be a hands on educated glass half full kind of person with respect
to my Disease, the medical team who have guided me on my Respiratory journey, have since retired or have passed on. Enter a new medical Team. Young textbook smart recent Graduates in the field of Medicine has created a new symptom to my respiratory treatment plan ... Fear!
Bronchiectasis patients should not all be treated with the same brush. I have spent the last
two years of valuable time defending my symptoms, my personal respiratory experiences including
the rationale behind the right middle lobectomy and the existing treatment plan designed
for me by Respiratory Physicians at a Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. New knowledge
of the risks associated with the long term use of Antibiotics, the pro's and cons of Arosols
versus multi doses of Puffers during flare ups and the precious success of preventative
measures to reduce inflammation and trapped mucous plugs and the accompanying
Lung, rib cage and body pain associated with excessive coughing, inflammation, scaring
pockets of atelectasis and from diffused bilateral Bronchiectasis has left me exhausted
physically and emotionally. It is difficult enough to co exist with Bronchiectasis. The
one size fits all approach to treating Lung Disease dictated by my new Physician,
has come with a price. THE LOSS OF MY QUALITY OF LIFE!

Thank you for letting me vent. A Mom and Grandmother I tend not to share with them
the day to day challenges of living with Bronchirctasis. During flare ups they worry
enough about my care. I will find my strong self again and I give myself permission
to sit for a moment in feeling defeated for the first time in the 36 years of living with
Bronchiectasis. In my 65 years I know not to define all Physicians by the
mis-guided actions and personal bias of another.
Blessings to fellow Respiratory patients.

Sincerely

Jump to this post

Thank you for responding fellow Canadian.
Busy time. A recent flare up sent me to the ER
and after 2 days was able to produce sputum for culture.
It tested positive for Aspergillis. Will do a further test by
my Respiratory Physician by weeks end. Anyone heard of it?
Thanks

REPLY
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