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MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: May 7 10:36am | Replies (37)

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@tiredgranny2

I also have BE, MAC, and ABPA, as well secondary adrenal insufficiency from years of treating my asthma with steroids. I also live in California!

I am currently on a biologic, Fascenra, to suppress my asthma reactivity. Also Spireva and a steroid inhaler. I'm not sure these meds have been effective. What has been effective is my anti-fungal course, itraconazole 200 mg x 2 - I've been healthier this year than I have been in a very long time. I'm not sure why my pulmonologist was reluctant to endorse the antifungal, but for me it has been a complete game changer. I also nebulize levabuterol and 7% saline twice a day, and I really feel the difference if I neglect those treatments. My ID doc has not pushed me to address the MAC, I presume because my ABPA has been uncontrolled and I've been hospitalized with pneumonia/sepsis/fungus five times in the past two years.

At some point, once I've stabilized (now dealing with another bout of steroid induced adrenal insufficiency), I will tackle the MAC problem. It's my understanding that it's a slow growing bug and it's my hope that there could be new treatments online in the next year or so. I also just don't feel strong enough to deal with the side effects of the BIG 3.

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Replies to "I also have BE, MAC, and ABPA, as well secondary adrenal insufficiency from years of treating..."

It sounds very hit or miss. My Dr is leaving me on azithromiacin & ethambutol for now since rif is so hard on my body. But a lot of people handle it well. I started taking Seed probiotic and it has really helped. It's a capsule with another inside. First capsule delivers to your gut, second releases in the intestines. I swear by it.