Did I make a terrible mistake? And what to do next?

I haven’t dealt with antibiotics for MAC, but from reading the posts here know that an infectious disease doc, preferably one quite familiar with MAC, is best for determining AB treatment. It’s good you have one scheduled.

Welcome to the forum, though I’m sorry you need to be here. It’s a great resource and many here have dealt with Mac for quite a long time. I believe they’ll be posting advice soon.

Airway clearance is a basic mainstay for bronchiectasis and many of us use hypertonic saline of 3-7% It’s available on Amazon, but some insurances cover. My pulmonologist says it’s like flossing-good preventive practice. I don’t produce sputum and do daily clearance. Those who produce sputum do it twice daily. You didn’t say if you use an Aerobika or acapella device. One of those after nebbing can help. Exercise is also helpful.
Take care. You are taking the correct steps to learn more about how to managing bronchiectasis.

I' m sorry to hear you are struggling with bronchiectasis and have no luck coughing up the mucus. Going to an ID doctor is the right move. I had MAC 11 years ago and have been free of it since taking the Big 3. They work. Do not be afraid of antibiotics. The infections can spread insidiously while you feel good. While I am able to get 95 % O2 with one dead lobe and another compromised, I would not suggest ignoring a specialist's advice. Since I was diagnosed, many more pulmonologists have become educated about it and more research is being done. You are lucky to have them available.
About your mucus. I use postural drainage, the flutter valve and nebulizer twice a day. I agree with @pacathy Good luck

You will find a lot of good support & info here. Besides the helpful comments already, I would add to ask yr infectious disease doc about respiratory therapy (aka chest therapy). I was not productive until I had help learning how to do airway clearance.
I should also mention I've 6 mos in on antibiotics for MAC w minimal side effects & just had my first negative sputum :-). There are quite a few of us here being successfully treated.

So very sorry you’re experiencing this. I’m new to bronchiectasis and MAC so I’m experimenting with different techniques. I have a small amount of sputum and it’s hard to get it up. Things Ive found super helpful: exercise brings up the most gunk. I got a rebounder trampoline and 15 minutes on it is not only fun and great exercise but brings up the most gunk! Something about the bounce really loosens it. I do it after Levalbuterol and saline. I also just got a compression vest through insurance…weirdest thing ever but it is really helping. I also double up on saline …two vials. Best wishes to you!!

I also bought a little rebounder to use for a few minutes when it’s too windy or rainy to go outside to exercise. I like it.

How lovely to hear you have been free of MAC for 11 years. You are the first person I’ve heard say that. Everyone I’ve spoken to have had MAC return after a year or so and go back on the big 3 again!
What were the 3 you took and how often. Also did you make changes to avoid reinfection? Love to hear back from you.

@yorkieyoli
@sueinmn, a well informed volunteer mentor on this site posted this information in Sept 2023:

“ So here is a list of places you can find a concise description of diagnosis, treatment and terminology, and some of the basics on airway clearance, which is so important to our healthy:
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculous-mycobacteria/learn-about-nontuberculosis-mycobacteria
https://www.bronchiectasisandntminitiative.org/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478409/ “

Hope this helps you! There are many helpful posts on this site and thankfully we have access to this information through a search.

daily airway clearance IS Treatment. Like flossing your teeth. Hydration, exercise, and avoidance of ... it does get complicated, I must leave off from trying to state a complete list here. This group is phenomenal at educating about the diversity of patient symptoms, solutions and frustrations and successes. Like you I feel that approximately a third of my life is ahead of me, (though you could claim more)! Fear and anxiety is to be expected, and taking action to educate and advocate for yourself will help dispel the fear and anxiety. I am two and a half years into this and I am finally going to spend two weeks at National Jewish Health in Denver. I'm in the Medicare age group and so I believe the care will mostly be covered. They put together an intensive investigative two weeks of appointments covering many specialized components of this difficult complex of disease. I hope your quest for health will be amplified by being here in this extraordinary group.

Thank you! This is very helpful as there is so much on the web that it's overwhelming knowing where to start!

Thank you for your response. I have an aerobikia and I'm not sure what setting to put it on, but I have an appt coming up with a respiratory therapist in a few weeks.