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Is treatment for Mac and airway clearance really necessary
I am 75 years old and I’m Weighing treatment options for Bronch and Mac
I would appreciate the input of older members of this group
I have had a series of -pneumonias for two years and I was recently diagnosed with Mac. Also Ucla did two surgeries during this time remove a huge Hernia and the then a sinus surgery
I have had a series of pneumonias and it felt like most of the year was one big exacerbation. I started airway clearance two months ago, and I absolutely loath it because it robs me of so much energy and time that I cannot do many other activities. Otherwise, I’ve been very active and good shape and have traveled extensively before all this
Here is my big question. At 75 life expectancy average is for women are about 80. I’m really weighing the benefit of starting Mac treatment and continuing the grueling airway clearance against just letting nature take its courses I …living my remaining life as best I can at least what remains of it
during the past two years, the bronch spread from one lobe to three, but I was not treated with airway clearance until two months ago. I also had an abscess and necrotizing tissue last year and my upper right lobe is a mess. I have it in three lobes… Osats and pulmonary function are OK
So here’s my question to those of you that are older
Do you think all this treatment is worth it?
I can’t imagine being on three airway clearance 2x day or two forever. Also starting treatment for Mac is a big commitmentShould I just let nature take it’s course Maybe I’ll be lucky and I won’t have too many recurrences. Otherwise I’m very active and healthy. I am mostly asymptomatic between recurrences.. no respiratory symptoms except for runny nose no cough ever, no fever etc.
However, I do feel somewhat ill a lot of the time from weakness and severe muscle pain perhaps Caused by ongoing infection, inflammation or mac.. I don’t know.
I would greatly appreciate your thoughts as I am wrestling with this decision.
I would love to hear from anybody out there who is older and has considered these issues
Thank you so much, Jill
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@scoop
Thank you for your input. As to the fatigue: I am fatigued basically all the time but the level seems to increase after I do my twice a day airways clearance treatment.
@ubaldo45 When airway clearance causes additional fatigue, it is possible you are working too hard.
At first, we think we must clear "every last bit" of mucus from our lungs. Remember, our airways are meant to be bathed in mucus, so we just need to move the excess, Trying to get rid of it all can cause us to produce even more mucus.
And unless we have had it clearly demonstrated, the active cycle of breathing and huff coughing may become coughing too hard - tiring, irritating to the throat, and possibly even making our ribs hurt.
There are numerous helpful videos on how to do better, easier clearance, including demonstrations of active breathing, huff-coughing and other techniques.
Here is a longer video that is pretty comprehensive:
@becleartoday and @scoop, are there any videos you recommend?
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3 Reactions@sueinmn
There are so many and I have watched so many! Airway clearance remained mysterious to me for quite some time. What made a giant difference for me was adding hypertonic saline, which helped immeasurably. I finally had something to cough up.
I suppose the very first website I found on the subject is among my favorites. Even then it takes time to master and figure out what works for you. Adding the aerobika also very helpful. https://bronchiectasis.com.au/physiotherapy
The other memorable airway clearance video was posted by @becleartoday , but I do not remember his name. He's based in NYC, kinda nutty, with dyed blonde hair, with tats and piercings. Very engaging effective presentation not to mention memorable! He refers to his work as complex physical therapy. 100% agree!
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4 Reactions@scoop I think you are referring to Dr Noah Greenspan's Ultimate Pulmonary Wellness
I am trying to find the video...maybe this will help one of us to find it.
Barbara
P.S. Found it: ThreadL Dr Noah Greenspan's Airway Clearance recording--now available!!
Posted by becleartoday @becleartoday, Apr 17 6:24am 2026
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3 Reactions@scoop
Thank you for your input. Last yera I was rather negligent in doing my treatment and now
as a reaction I may be be going overboard doing albuterul, sodium chloride/aerobika with result for me that I am totally fatigued and constant sore throat and hoarsness.
Thank again
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1 Reaction@ubaldo45
One of the most helpful suggestions I’ve received was from my pulmonologist who said to set a timer for some length of time for clearance. That helps keep you from going overboard and trying to clear more than necessary. As Sue mentioned our lungs are lined in mucus. What we want to get rid of is the phlegm not the clear mucus. A reasonable time for airway clearance, not including nebulizer time, is 20 to 30 minutes. Keep in mind that the amount of gunk you might need to clear can vary from day-to-day. It also varies person to person as we all are different in subtle and sometimes significant ways. I hope this is helpful and I hope you get some relief from the exhaustion.
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