Thank you for the info. I had IV for 2 months but I only take 3 pills twice a day. It is rough sometimes due to stomach painI see the dr in a couple of weeks and I will ask how many mac patients she has. 

Dear @patw, .. do you have a first name? When you see you doctor .. you might notice in previous posts up above from @tutti .. that she says "I feel very lucky that my doctor in Cleveland will be working with the doctors at the Mayo Clinic on my treatment.' Why not ask your doctor ALSO to consult about your treatment of mycobacterium abscessus .. BECAUSE it IS more difficult than the usual MAC. I would advice you to be your OWN best advocate! You are only given one body in this lifetime .. and NOBODY cares about it as much as you do! NO DOCTOR for sure .. YOU need to do your 'due diligence' in getting the very best medical care possible!

In terms of the stomach pain .. have you been diagnosed with GERD? Are you taking medication for it? It is very common with MAC. Ask your doctor about it. Until then:

* Prop up the bed. When you stick blocks under the head of your bed and raise it 6 to 8 inches, gravity will prevent the acids in your stomach from flowing into the esophagus during the night. Tight waistbands can aggravate your GERD symptoms. Wear looser clothing, especially at night. YOU COULD DO THIS .. which a good friend of ours did with his GERDS .. RAISED HIS BED VIA BED RISERS .. read the reviews $18. Home-it Adjustable Bed Risers or Furniture Riser bed lifts in Heights of 8, 5 or 3 Inches Heavy Duty Set of 4 bed riser
https://smile.amazon.com/Home-Adjustable-Risers-Furniture-Heights/dp/B00MH74S16/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1484857546&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=bed+raiser
ALSO Helpful: *fluid restriction 6 ounces an hour including yogurt ice cream....no eating 3 hours before sleep...no laying on right side when sleeping....anatomically it encourages fluid from stomach to go into lungs.

Another thing:
ANTIBIOTIC ..MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SCHEDULING ANTIBIOTICS
These would be my suggestions to you based on my experience and my research:
**Make SURE you request a “test for antibiotic sensitivity after your sputum culture showed MAC” .. so your doctor KNOWS exactly WHICH antibiotic will be effective for YOUR particular mycobacterium!!
**With my history to drug sensitivity .. I requested that I start ONE DRUG at a time for ONE WEEK .. or at LEAST 4 days before adding a second drug .. so I could tell EXACTLY which/what drug was causing ANY potential side effect and I could isolate it .. hopefully watch for a side effect dwindle etc. THEN introduce a SECOND DRUG. Frankly WE are in the driver’s seat in our own lives .. our own bodies. Take charge and request that type of schedule if you want it!
**Below is what worked for me .. but keep in mind .. Basically everyone experiments with what med schedule works best for them:
1. PROBIOTIC: take probiotic half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach (when on meds I also took a 2nd probiotic in the evening on an empty stomach)
2. RIFAMPIN: Take this medicine on an empty stomach .. OR either 1 hour before or 2 hours after food NOTE: take 4 hours after vitamins: as minerals and most other supplements weaken effect of meds! (Absorption of rifampin is reduced by about 30% when the drug is ingested with food. Be aware it can cause: Reddish discoloration of Stool or Urine etc.) FOR ME Rifampin caused sleep disturbance so I tried to take it FIRST THING in the morning!
3. ETHAMBUTOL AND AZITHROMYCIN: BEST with an empty stomach! .. BUT either 1 hour before, or two hours after meals! (taking BOTH at one time gives “greater punch!” (NOTE: take 4 hours after vitamins: as minerals and most other supplements weaken effect of meds!) * take with a LIGHT snack at most.

Hope some of the above helps! Sending you a hug! Katherine

Hello, my name is Bri. I am 25 years old and got diagnosed with Bronchiectasis about 1.5 years ago. I present with many symptoms and have a constant cough. I am lucky that I was able to be seen at Mayo so quickly after my diagnosis as it is very severe for an unknown reason. I did not have any illness or infection that is thought to have caused it. I am in the middle of being tested for everything under the sun... hopefully answers will come soon! Just wanted to introduce myself in hopes that this support will help ease some of the angst.

It is Pat. Thanks again for information. I called my dr this morning because my hands and face were red and swollen. No meds until I see her Tuesday. 

@patw .. Pat, I am so glad you called your doctor .. red and swollen extremities sound like a strange reaction. I would really like you to discuss with you doctor the fact that you have found our Mayo Clinic Connect .. that others on this Forum have doctors that CONSULT with doctors at Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota who are experts on Mycobacterium Avium-Intracellulare Pulmonary Disease. Will she please call them and consult. Pat, if she refuses .. I would STRONGLY suggest that you seek out an Infectious Disease doctor and get a second opinion on your situation. I can guide you if you choose to do this. This is YOUR body .. you are given just ONE body in this lifetime .. if you don't take care of it .. no one is going to do it for you. YOU must be your own best advocate .. no one is going to do it for you girlfriend!

I am so sorry you are going through this .. a tough situation .. a real rip. Get some rest .. take good care of yourself right now over the week end and know that I am thinking of you .. sending you lots of positive energy and a Big Hug! Katherine

Hello. I went to the dr and she said it was the Doxy-cycline      She said I had to keep taking it and to stay out of the sun! I may be going to Scott and White in Temple Texas. I am at a lost about all of this medicine. It causes so many side effects. I am going to take all of my records and X-rays with me if I go. Thank you for your e-mails

@patw .. Pat, I'm so glad you are checking in. Question: I may be going to Scott and White in Temple Texas .. are they specialist in MAC .. is there a special reason you are going there? I am so glad you are gathering all your records and Xrays .. get any CT Scans also if you have had any .. it will really help lay a foundation for any new doctor. Pat, please keep us posted .. I know it is a scary time with all the meds and not totally understanding it all. When you see the new doctor .. take LOTS of notes at the meetings and then after add to the notes. I know that after the appointment I always remember more things that I can add. I will be thinking of you. Let us know if there is anything else we can help you with! Sending you a big Hug .. I know this is a tough time! Katherine

<p>I was recently diagnosed with Bronchiectasis post pneumonia. I have no to few symptoms (very occasional productive cough). No sputum culture yet. Had second CT scan last Friday, definitive results not in. Pulmonologist started me on Hypertonic saline with albuterol nebs and flutter device twice a day to try to induce sputum. Will start today. Would like a second opinion at Mayo with pulmonologist specializing in Bronchiectasis. I don't know if I have MAC as no sputum has yet been analyzed.</p>

Hi @conniec, welcome to Connect.
I moved your message to this discussion about bronchiectasis so that you could meet other members who have it. Please meet
@katemn @mmteach @lauralynn @tutti @dixer @kaystrand and @_bri_, several of who are currently Mayo Clinic patients.

To request a second opinion, please contact Mayo Clinic at one of our 3 campuses in Minnesota, Florida or Arizona: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

You may also be interested in reading and joining in these discussions:
- (MAC/MAI) MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE/BRONCHIECTASIS http://mayocl.in/2cwX36M
- Bronchiectasis and staving off recurrent infections http://mayocl.in/2oEU1BY
- Have Bronchiectasis, recently diagnosed with pseumonas. http://mayocl.in/2pXkHio

Connie, when do you expect to get the results of the CT scan?