Moraxella Catarrhalis

@kdiago1564 Hmm...yet another puzzle for those of us with Bronchiectasis to solve.
Here is what I read about it:
https://www.webmd.com/lung/what-to-know-about-m-catarrhalis
There doesn't seem to be a lot of literature, but chances are this might be one of the "bugs" that causes our exacerbations and responds quickly to 10 days of Azithromycin.

And you just gave me something else to think about - my grandsons are the 4th generation in my family to suffer persistent middle ear infections. I see my ENT this week and will be asking about what they know now since both "littles" are just finishing their 3rd round of antibiotics since school started, I was Grandma Daycare at the acute phase of their illnesses, and I have a suspicion that I also have an infection - my eardrum is stiff, fluid-filled and muffled but not red.

As a friend said this week, if its' not one thing, it's twenty others!

My sister and daughter both suffered from ear infections. I don't know how many and often my sister had, but she was almost 5 before they put the tubes in and removed her adenoids. My daughter had 9 infections in 6 months. She had tubes put in and has never had another ear infection since. Do those in your family with infections have tubes?

As a side, my sister could not hear in her formative years and talks way too loud now. So when my genetic hearing loss started, I went the other way and talked too softly most of the time. Now I have hearing aids and can usually judge my voice levels.

My concern is that anything that causes hearing loss will lead to problems in the future. For me, I couldn't afford hearing aids for 30 years (My hearing loss is in specific frequency, so I can't understand what someone is saying in that range), and I will never fully understand them with the aid. It is much better, but I would have done better to have better hearing way sooner. My daughter, on the other hand, has no issues because she was helped early.

And finally, if those around you aren't getting sick, then they can't pass it on.

Thanks for your post and paragraph about what the doctors mentioned. "(Addrizzo-Harris) and also met Dr. Chuck Daley from NJH both of whom agree that if you're young it's not a bad idea to just hit it aggressively in hopes that it wards off additional infections for several years." I am floundering, as many have heard me say several times on this site about starting the antibiotics. I have not had an exacerbation and feel well and have gained some weight. MAI is at a low load. I just need to clear my throat of what appears to come up on its own all day long and especially after I eat or drink water.
QUESTIONS:
Did they happen to also say anything about if you are in your 80's and the decision to take or not take antibiotics.??? Just wondering if they tagged something on like that???
I mask (N95) all the time when out in public and I live in a complete adult world, no children. I avoid being around the children of friends...I do not want to take any chances. My big gamble is when I eat out at restaurants, which isn't often. Being 82 and having been able to have done much in life I can live with the cliche "been there done that."
Barbara

I am 80 and have decided not to take the antibiotics. I do have a CT scan and other testing at NJH every 6 months and am having no major problems at this point (diagnosed in 2023). I have tried the antibiotics but had unwanted/rare side effects from one in particular and decided I wanted to have a functional life rather than living out my life being more miserable. I also have 2 fungi.

No one knows the years we have left even when we don't take antibiotics but that may appear an easy answer, given my age. I do the daily Aerobika without saline or Albuterol. Unfortunately, I have hemoptysis when adding the latter mentioned -- and even when I don't. (I've had 2 episodes in the past 4 weeks, which isn't unusual when you have BE and MAC like me).

I walk a mile and sometimes more a day and for the past 20 years I've been on a Mediterranean diet. I do tire easily and take time for a nap here and there and have minimal coughing, making it difficult to obtain the samples I send to NJH and, thus my walking almost every day, depending on Colorado weather, helps with airway clearance.

I do not have children and wear a mask when I go to the grocery or am around a lot of people and am able to have a reasonably functional life otherwise. I will go to restaurants but not to crowded theaters or places such as those.

Most doctors allow us to be "captains of our own ships." I believe this is the best decision for me, as my doctor does, but I support others who have made their own choices. Wishing you the best as we journey together!

You are an inspiration @pmmar1
I think you're doing everything exactly right and prioritizing your health.

@blm1007blm1007 It's such a personal choice in deciding whether to go on the medication—and that was what was stressed at the conference. Dr. Marras from Toronto gave a presentation about the 'algorithm' he uses to make the decision on whether to treat, but in the end, the doctors agreed it's a subjective decision that also involves the patients' own wishes, what seems medically necessary depending on the severity of symptoms, bacteria involved and condition (cavitary vs nodular) and so just seems to depend on a lot!
What Dr. Addrizzo-Harris did tell me was that all of the new centers that are being accredited to treat BE patients must adhere to the same method and approach. One requirement is that the BE doctors at each treatment center meet as a team weekly to review and discuss their patients' records. They must reach a consensus about how to proceed with each patient which takes the 'subjective' piece—based on each doctor's individual experience—out of the equation. It gave me a lot of peace of mind to know that there is thoughtful discussion happening between the doctors. Also, that less experienced doctors are able to gain experience through that process and unique scenarios or outlier cases are heard which leads to learning.

@sueinmn it is very interesting! Good thought to ask your ENT and would love to hear what they have to say. I also read it's a common cause of pink eye which several of my toddlers' peers had.

I wanted to share this series of videos about . Dr. Shannon Kasperbauer from NJH who also spoke at the recent conference in NYC and so I looked her up after and found this educational video series to be very informative.
https://009968.iqanda-cme.com/participant/shannon-kasperbauer-md

Thank you for sharing.
You did give the antibiotics a go and then made your decision.
With my feeling well, no fatigue, eating healthy, similar to the Mediterranean diet, doing airway clearance and exercising with no problem, good pulmonary function test, I am able to do all I need to do for myself for the BE/MAI etc. etc. I just haven't built a wonderful "brick house" but have the hot water tank turned up and the aerators off of the faucets and boil all waters. It is just the clearing of my 'throat' nearly all the time, which does bring up clear mucus most of the time and other times a light colored mucus, mucus plugs and all the other substances like moisture and saliva etc.
I was diagnosed with BE in 2022 by my primary doctor via C Scan and confirmed all in Oct. 2023 by NJH. Small amount of MAI. I started telling my primary doctor something was wrong and that I was bringing up a small deep colored section of mucus, that started in 2018. It took a 25 lb weight loss for him to say: "We need to do a C Scan." I still feel as well as I did prior to 2018.
P.S. I am ahead of you by two years, I'm 82. Always good to hear from those in my age category to know how they are doing etc.
Yes, thank you for "captains of our own ships."
Barbara

I lost my previous try of responding to you.
So here I go again.
Thank you for your follow-up post.
After reading it, reading pmmar1's post and referring back to a post Sue made in another thread I have a few more questions to ask the pulmonologist.
Barbara

Barbara,
Thank you for your reply and I'm glad you are doing okay also.

When I was diagnosed last year, I was referred to a dietician because I have such a low BMI and a weight, at the time, of 89 lbs. and the fear was that I may lose weight as my condition progresses, and the antibiotics themselves can cause some weight loss as a body adjusts. My weight has always been around 95 pounds and rarely over that in my adulthood. (I was a competitive runner in my earlier years and my metabolism has been "stuck" in the 95 pound range for many years).

The key to my living with MAC/BE is to keep mentally busy. Being artistic, I have taught myself Adobe's Illustrator and Photoshop programs and have learned so much. For me, focusing on something other than my condition and worrying about my future is counterproductive. My creative side provides "rest" from my health issues and gives me more time to enjoy life, though not ideal by any means. My mother lived to 101 years and my father lived to 96. Neither had what we have health wise -- but they did have longevity with few health issues. I will strive for longevity too, which may or may not be reality as nothing in life is guaranteed.

Take care and best wishes.