How often should I be tested for MAC

@picartist I asked my pulmonologist because I have been "apparently " MAC free for several years. She said she wants a specimen every couple years unless every couple years unless I develop symptoms of infection, including fever, weight loss, worsened coughing, fatigue, then I am to submit a specimen ASAP (I have a standing order at the lab and cups st home.)

According to her, sputum colors alone don't always indicate infection - but sudden changes from clear to green, transparent to opaque or viscous to very sticky should be reported.

I've read the symptoms and when I saw my internist the other day she said I did not have MAC, sounded very confident. What are the symptoms. Tired and weight loss doesn't say much, I'm an old Dud and being tired goes with the job. Are the symptoms like the flu or mild covid, worse or less? In otherwards, will I know it if I get it? Is it inevitable? I was losing weight for about a year or so a few years ago and despite eating regularly, could not explain it. Can MAC or these other infections disappear on their own? I'm not losing weight now and actually trying to lose a few pounds.

I am confused by your internist's diagnosis. What tests did she perform to make this decision? MAC/NTM is diagnosed by a combination of evidence on a CT scan, a sputum culture - either one sample from a bronchoscopy or two consecutive positive cultures for sputum specimens, and symptoms. What did she suggest was causing your symptoms?

Do you have a pulmonologist? When is the last time you had a CT scan and sputum culture reviewed by them? Were you also tested for other infections like Pseudomonas, Pneumonia, Strep and Aspergillis or other fungus? That is how a pulmonologist or ID doc diagnoses these infections.

I have a pulmonologist but the reason I saw her were pains in my side that she feels is muscular and referred me to therapy and an MRI. I did not see her for MAC nor did I feel I had MAC, I casually mentioned it to her wondering if MAC could cause these pains. She is pretty good, taught Geriatric medicine at Harvard but is always refers me out to specialists for problems. I only mentioned her to round out my question which is: How do you know whether or not you "may have" Mac? I mean physically, what really happens to a person with this for the first time? I had a negative culture when I had a lavage a year ago so I presume somewhere along the way my Pulmonologist will check this won't he?

My Neurologist said I have mild bronchiectasis. I have had bronchiectasis, and it does not go away. I take a host of antibiotics, but never get well. I have a cough, accompanied by mucus that is sometimes clear, yellow, or cloudy. I have lost weight, and I have had 6mm, multiple (5) right lung granulomas for many years now, from scarring of an enlarged spleen, by granulomotosis disease found by a recent CT. I have had SARS-CoV-2 twice now, and I am auto-immune. I have emphysema in both lungs and asthma. There is no diagnosis from my Cancer Center since 1999 on the lung nodules, only yearly CTs. No treatment. The doctor at my Cancer Center does not know (NETS) DIPNECK, a Type of Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Cancer. He only tells me I do not have Cancer. No cancer test to date of any kind. My Mother had Myelodysplasia, and my Dad had leukemia, with the Philadelphia chromosome. I continue to work on my health issues. It is a great comfort to be able to learn of others who are pursuing their health issues

@picartist I asked Dr Chalmers, one of the leading experts on BE, how frequently BE patients should have sputum testing done in the absence of symptoms and his answer was no less than once a year.