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MAC with sinus issues

Posted by pamelasc @pamelasc1, Aug 9 4:22pm

Hello - this is Pam in Sudbury, MA. I have not been online for some time but have always found this group smart and helpful! I seem to be dealing with some sort of sinus infection AND a good deal of coughing. I had my sputum tested for pseudomonas but it came up negative. I now have a sample out for MAC which I had back in 2015-2016. That was treated with the Big 3 and I have been clear of MAC since. Has anyone had coughing with a sinus infection? I have been on Doxy for 6 days now and it does not seem to be helping at all. I assumed it might clear up the sinus and in turn, stop the coughing. But it has not. Has anyone been diagnosed with MAC or any other bacteria in the sinuses? If so, how was that treated? Pam

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pamelasc | @pamelasc1 | Nov 10 9:40am
In reply to @nac1 "I have MAC which is controlled so far with nebulizing, exercising and eating well. However, I..." + (show)
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I have MAC which is controlled so far with nebulizing, exercising and eating well. However, I just had Sinus surgery for a bad infection which turned out to be a staph. So now I am taking Ciproflaxin HCI 500 MG along with rinsing my nose with a saline solution. I suspected that MAC had something to do with the sinus infection but no confirmation from my doctor. And, of course, the MAC and coughing has stopped. Guess I will find out after I finish taking the antibiotic

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@nac1 Hello Nancy - This is interesting... when you were diagnosed with MAC did you take any antibiotics for just that? Were you coughing a lot when you got the diagnosis? What cleared up the coughing? Pam

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 10 10:26am
In reply to @nac1 "I have MAC which is controlled so far with nebulizing, exercising and eating well. However, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for Nancy C @nac1

I have MAC which is controlled so far with nebulizing, exercising and eating well. However, I just had Sinus surgery for a bad infection which turned out to be a staph. So now I am taking Ciproflaxin HCI 500 MG along with rinsing my nose with a saline solution. I suspected that MAC had something to do with the sinus infection but no confirmation from my doctor. And, of course, the MAC and coughing has stopped. Guess I will find out after I finish taking the antibiotic

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@nac1 This may well be a "chicken and egg" question. Some people may develop bronchiectasis or MAC as the result of chronic sinusitis - the constant irritation of secretions dripping into the back of the throat and being aspirated. Others may have MAC/BE which lowers their resistance to infection, and other infections take up residence. You may never know which way yours occurred.
The cipro is unlikely to have any effect on the MAC, but getting healthy might help your body overcome it. You may want to ask for a sputum culture after the ENT confirms that your staph infection has cleared.

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Nancy C | @nac1 | Nov 11 4:44pm
In reply to @sueinmn "@nac1 This may well be a "chicken and egg" question. Some people may develop bronchiectasis or..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@nac1 This may well be a "chicken and egg" question. Some people may develop bronchiectasis or MAC as the result of chronic sinusitis - the constant irritation of secretions dripping into the back of the throat and being aspirated. Others may have MAC/BE which lowers their resistance to infection, and other infections take up residence. You may never know which way yours occurred.
The cipro is unlikely to have any effect on the MAC, but getting healthy might help your body overcome it. You may want to ask for a sputum culture after the ENT confirms that your staph infection has cleared.

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Thank you Sue!

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Nancy C | @nac1 | Nov 11 4:51pm
In reply to @pamelasc1 "@nac1 Hello Nancy - This is interesting... when you were diagnosed with MAC did you take..." + (show)
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@nac1 Hello Nancy - This is interesting... when you were diagnosed with MAC did you take any antibiotics for just that? Were you coughing a lot when you got the diagnosis? What cleared up the coughing? Pam

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@pamelasc1 No, I haven’t taken any antibiotics for MAC. Yes, I was coughing a lot. And was again before the Sinus Surgery. I am not coughing now probably due to the antibiotic I am taking.

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susanrg20 | @susanrg20 | Nov 11 9:06pm

I had MAC in March of 2021. I got that cleared up and then had horrible allergies. My PCP wasn’t helpful. I finally went to an allergist and she ran all the tests. I was finally diagnosed with ABPA and I don’t have asthma or COPD. I ended up with horrible sinus congestion and infections which I’ve never had before. I became a mouth breather and I couldn’t breathe through my nose. I finally had sinus surgery in July and that has helped tremendously but I’m still getting sinus infections. My pulmonologist won’t say if I will continue having sinus infections due to my ABPA.

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pacathy | @pacathy | Nov 12 7:25am

I haven't had ABPA and can't give helpful advice, but I was just reading about it and am curious if you are on steroids or antifungal meds. Do you use sinus rinses with or without meds?

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amap2025 | @amap2025 | Nov 14 6:11am

Hi Pam, I have struggled with sinus issues for a very long time. I am convinced the nasal Lavage 1 to two times a day has saved me from serious infections and antibiotics countless times. Good luck to you!
Ann P

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