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Starting BIG 3 tonight ….
Hello , I am starting my BIG 3 tonight .I was diagnosed with Mac Avium and have 2 cavities in upper right lung .My only symptoms have been a chronic cough since I had walking pneumonia at christmas time. Doctor thought maybe asthma or reflux and eventually after a Bronchoscopy they grew the bacteria . This was in May and I got diagnosed in June . However over the summer it has gotten worse ( I was away in Asia /Europe for 2 months) - the CT scan confirmed that .. I am a healthy 56 year old. No other issues or medications . However I am freaked out about the antibiotics Azithromyci 500mg, Ethambutol 1000mg, Rifampin 600 mg / my doctor said to take with food at dinner .
I have been reading so much about all the side effects 🙁 And how other people space out the meds. In 1 week I see a ID doctor to determine if I will add on the IV... .It is overwhelming, and I don t know what to expect.... most people get sick I think ? of the side effects?
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UPDATE from after 1.5 weeks on the BIG 3 .So far so good, only tired + loss of appetite and some body aches (getting use to the meds I guess?) However Tuesday I get the PICC line installed for Amakacin to be given me 3 times a week for 2 months. I am nervous for side effects and the procedure itself. Anyone else have had a PICC line? I still have to cook for my family etc. and I worry about the logistics of it all. Apparently I will do it myself after training ..... Is that common ?
Thank you for all your answers.
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1 Reaction@lynncat I've had PICC lines for chemo. Have them insert it in your NON-dominant arm if it's healthy! Makes a world of difference in getting through treatment time. The procedure is simple, though Google would have you believe otherwise. Hopefully your doc has good reasons for IV versus inhaled. Inhaled Amikacin goes directly to the lungs where it's needed, whereas IV can possibly cause systemic side effects. But, maybe you'll continue to be lucky and not have intolerable side effects. Either way, keep fighting with a strong Can-Do attitude and those 12 weeks will be done in no time!
Terri
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1 Reaction@lynncat I had a PICC line in the beginning and it was no problem going in and I had no problem with it or doing the treatments. I bought the shower cover in this attachment and it worked great. The same company also has arm covers in different colors and I bought those also. They worked well to cover the line.
https://mighty-well.com/collections/picc-line-shower-cover/products/picc-line-waterproof-shower-protector. I will add, however, that my PICC line was only in for about 1 week and my sensitivity testing came back and said I was not sensitive to it. So dr took me off Amakacin IV and put me on Arikayce. Hopefully your dr got sensitivity testing done and results back before you have the PICC line put in 😁
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1 ReactionI was on IV Amikacin for Mycobacterium Abbsess. I had to be taken off because of hearing loss and a loud ringing in my ear. I was on Amikacin for 7 weeks, been off since mid-August and the ringing hasn't stop.