Reference input node

Is there a way to get controls from the input tool/node without referencing it by name? Like if I create a macro that has input nodes, so when putting the macro into other compositions, I can connect nodes in that composition to the macro as in node, connecting it to a node inside the macro. But if I want to read a user control named "MyNumber" on the node inside that macro from the node connected to it from outside the macro (since I don't know the name of that macro then, only what input like Foreground or Background it is on), is that possible? I get an object when I read "Background" for instance, but "Background.MyNumber" does not work. Any other way?