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Did your MAC symptoms improve once you started Big3?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jul 6, 2025 | Replies (90)Comment receiving replies
Hi Laura -
Thank you so much for your honest question. I experience lots of anxiety - on and off. I was diagnosed just over two years ago with BE and MAC, and I'm in the "watch and wait" phase, dping my airway clearance and treatment for newly discovered silent GERD. I experience pretty consistent anxiety about whether the disease is getting worse, what will happen if (and when?) I have to start antibiotics. I'm also anxious about the radiation exposure from the regular CT scans. I appreciate Toni's sharing about finding a therapist well-versed in chronic disease and may look into this. I also recently heard about self-compassion training, and am looking into doing that as a way to cope with my ongoing anxiety. I had always been a healthy person, and the diagnosis has made me think about my mortality with a level of frequency that troubles and saddens me. I would love to find and stay in the "positive thinking lane," but so far it is eluding me. I'd love to hear how others have accomplished this! Thank you to everyone for their sharing on this forum. It is a huge help in my life.
Jill
Replies to "Hi Laura - Thank you so much for your honest question. I experience lots of anxiety..."
Hi Jill, I appreciate your comments and thoughts as well. I’ve been struggling with feeling well taking the antibiotics and it’s been difficult coping with all the side effects along with the anxiety and depression taking the medication has caused me to feel. My doctor temporarily had me to stop the antibiotics since I’ve been so sick. I’m hopeful we can find a better routine for me to tolerate the medicine. I’m the mean time, I have my energy back. I’m still dealing with feeling like my heart is racing and struggling with dry mouth. I understand it takes a while for the medication to get out of my system. I will continue with nebulizing albuterol and the 7% saline. Hopeful that I can manage with this treatment alone for awhile without the antibiotics. All the best to you as you manage your treatment and look into the best ways to cope with anxiety too.
Connect
Hi Jill, Chronic illness does have a way of changing our thinking, doesn't it?
When I was first diagnosed with MAC and Bronchiectasis, whether or not to treat wasn't even presented as an option - I was so ill I couldn't even walk 1/2 block without stopping, and I had been coughing non-stop for over 6 months - I had both MAC and Pseudomonas as well as uncontrolled asthma. To say I was miserable would be an understatement. I was so happy to find Mayo Connect, and the wonderful people here, it was a lifesaver.
I don't know your age, but the Aging Well Group discussions are really applicable and helpful to anyone with a chronic condition - it helps us find new ways to think about "what's next?" This discussion, started by the ever-helpful member @edsutton might be a good place to start reading:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/happiness-for-old-folks/
Another thing I remember vividly from my first pulmonologist is "Bronchiectasis is a disease you live with, not die from. Do your best and get on with your life." I thought it was a callous thing to say when I was so sick, but he was a crusty old dude... This has been repeated a number of times, and in a number of ways, by my primary, ID doc and 2 subsequent pulmonologists over the past 7 years.
And here I am, still hanging in there - taking a break from major garage cleaning with my husband to have a telehealth visit with my two pulmonologists.
PS My Mom had Bronchiectasis and MAC for years, never took antibiotics except for exacerbations, and died of a completely unrelated disease in her mid-80's. I guess that helps me believe in what the doctors say ( and management, with 7% saline & airway clearance is so far advanced to 15 years ago!)