Difficutly breathing in the shower
Hi. I was diagnosed with MAI several months ago and have opted to be monitored before starting treatment. My oxygen level is mostly 92, a drop from my average 93-94. Lately, I find that I can't breathe properly in the shower. Has anyone with MAI or MAC experienced such?
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@happyhealthyme - I know a lot of people are very worried about whether their showers may increase their exposure to MAC. A few years ago, I found myself trying to breath shallowly or as little as possible in the shower, until I almost fainted one day. Then I sternly told myself, "you are being as safe as you can, it's only 4 minutes a day, stop it!"
Do you think you are (consciously or unconsciously) anxious about this, and perhaps holding your breath?
Thanks, Sue, for your response. It's just a general feeling of being unable to breathe in the shower.
I read that we should be taking baths to avoid more MAC getting in our lungs from the shower. We try to disinfect the shower head by putting vinegar in a baggie and wrap around shower head overnight. I love my shower! I have a window in my bathroom which I try to keep open.
Thought the steam would be good but I have also felt a little winded.
I don't have MAC but I have had occasional difficulty breathing in the shower - humidity or heat or something but...now I take a puff of albuterol a few minutes before and I don't have trouble...I either sit on a stool or stand depending on how I feel at any one time. Oddly I seem to do best with the door fully closed.
A shower can be the toughest part if our day sometimes. Most days I get more sputum cleared during my shower than the rest of the day with the nebulizer. If I get excessive coughing, then I can get exhausted and SOB
Me too! Fatigue is horrible, ruins your whole day.
My doctor forbid showering. The aeration of the water allows you to breathe the mycobacteria
I was also told to boil my water a minimum of 10 minutes because that's how long it takes to kill the bacteria and I do that
I hate not being able to take a shower. But I do the baths and pour the water over my hair to rinse it because I have to. I also boil my water 12 minutes because it takes 10 to kill the bacteria. My point of view is to do everything I know And I'm told to avoid that bacteria. I am stable and somewhat improved.
We all have our own levels of caution and comfort. I grew up without a shower, spent most summers at my grandma's who didn't even have a bathtub. We "bathed" by soaping up and rinsing with a washcloth. Now, unless I get really dirty and sweaty, I try to shower only a couple times a week. I'm quick about it, leave the door open, fan on, and water at a temp that doesn't get too steamy. I also have my water heater set to 130 degrees, which Dr. Falkingham (sp?) reported from at least one study, eliminated MAC in the house. I try to avoid showers in places where I am not familiar with the water system
I have MAC and too eas having trouble with Shortness of breath in the shower. I keep the door to the bathroom open, I keep the water to the coolest temp,(without freezing)😂 and I I crack the shower curtain. This helps a lot. It may not be the most pleasant shower but it keeps me from falling.