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Lung cavities
I’m 68 with Bronchiectasis. Two year ago I was diagnosed with Pseudomonas and two lung cavities. The pulmonologist has only prescribed an antibiotic for a week when I have flareups which cause me to cough up blood. I have a hard time getting phlegm up even though I use a saline nebulizer once a day. I’m pretty active but I have had at least three flareups this past year. My recent CT scan showed one of my cavities grew some ( I believe they’re only one centimeter). He’s considering doing a biopsy but told me to wait 6 months. Hearing the word biopsy worries me to think it could be something more serious.
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I did read that Pseudomonas can cause lung cavities but it sounded like it atypical. I have been on this site for almost a year and have seen the subject come up and you may want to do a search on Pseudomonas treatment. I do recall people had said they were being treated with long term anti-biotics, at least over 2 months. In May, I tested for positive for A. pseudomonas and my ID doctor at NJH put me on anti-biotics immediately. It was a really strong dose but my follow up test came back negative. I was fortunate since I was sending in monthly sputum samples for about 6 months (due to M. Abscessus diagnosis) and it just popped up as a positive. Are you being seen at a certified BE Clinic? When my local pulm DR diagnosed me with MABC, I then went to a local ID doctor and also called NJH in Denver and made an appointment there.
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2 Reactions@kathyjjb
Thank you for responding. I live in Naples Florida ( moved from Washington State 4 yrs ago). I’m not aware of any clinic that deals with Bronchiectasis near me. Thanks for your suggestions!
@maxraether You're welcome. If you go to:
http://www.bronchiectasisandNTMinitiative.org you should be able to enter your zip code to find an BE Clinic in or close to your area. Or just google BE NTM Clinics. People with Bronchiectasis should see doctors that specialize in that. Keep in mind, there's PULM doctors out there that say they specialize in it but from reading comments posted on this site-beware. I have my story as well. I recently listened to the 2025 NJH Patient Conference presentation, and it was mentioned that most of their patients come from these certified BE Clinics.
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2 Reactions@maxraether Dr William Miller is at TGH in Tampa and also Jacksonville. He is a BE specialist and fabulous.
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2 ReactionsThank you!
AWC twice or three times a day! Saline 7% plus aerobika every time! Two vials of saline each time! Need to start four antibiotics as soon as possible!
@helen1000 Helen is this your protocol? Or are you recommending this to someone else?
@helen1000 Did your pulmonologist recommend two vials of saline each time or was that your decision for yourself. Have you had Pseudomonas and cleared it doing all, plus two vials of saline each session?
Hope you are doing better after your NJH visit early last year and as well with the help of your local pulmonologist.
Barbara
@sueinmn Yes Sue, this is my protocol. I would like to share my experience with anyone with MAC cavities. Thanks!
@blm1007blm1007 Two vials of saline is just my decision. It clears the mucus better than one vial. I have MAC/ Cavities not pseudomonas.
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