Dear Dr. Mahler:

I am 66 years old and read your recent blog on the presence of mucus plugs in airways on CT scanning. About one month ago I had a low dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer. The nurse called and said that there was no evidence of lung cancer.

However, I signed on to the patient portal and the report stated that I had several mucus plugs in both lower lobes. I was upset that I was not told of this and had to find out myself.

My last breathing tests were nine months ago and I was told that the Trelegy inhaler was keeping my COPD stable. I am writing to ask you what should I do now to get rid of these plugs. Last winter I had two different times that my breathing got worse. On one occasion, I went to urgent care and was treated with an antibiotic and prednisone. About 6 weeks later, I got real sick, went to the ED, and was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.

I understand from your blog that mucus plugs increase the risk for flare-ups as I have experienced. What can I do? I read about a flutter valve on the internet. Can a flutter valve help me?

Kim from Lake Placid, NY