@doberdoo First, please take a deep breath, and know that your are in good company here! I certainly was frightened when I got my diagnosis and started to learn about MAC (also called NTM.) Then I found this support group at Mayo Connect, and learned I was not alone and everything changed for me.

MAC is a very slow-growing bacteria, so delaying a few weeks or longer to get a safe, customized plan in place for you and your other health issues does not mean the infection will grow rapidly out of control in that time.

Let's start with some basics - given your other health conditions, PLEASE consult you primary care provider, cardiologist and nephrologist before you start taking the medications. With all of your other conditions, it is vital to have a pulmonologist on your team who is knowledgeable about MAC and can work with your other doctors to develop a safe plan for you. The ID doc will manage your infection, but there is a lot more to do to get your lungs healthy again.

Not every person experiences every side effect with these drugs. They would not be on the market if that was the case. Some people report very few side effects, like some diarrhea, maybe fatigue... And a lot of the side effects can be alleviated or managed, if not, one drug or another may be stopped.

Many people here with other health conditions choose to try to manage their infections with conservative measures like twice daily airway clearance using saline in a nebulizer to break up mucus - some have even managed to clear the infection this way like @becleartoday

May I ask how your MAC was discovered in the first place? Have you also been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis or COPD? Do you already have a pulmonologist on your team who has talked to you about the other methods of caring for your lungs?

We're always here for you - and we know the path your are walking. Probably when you say MAC to most people, they don't even know what it is!