← Return to How is MAC not contagious to another person with lung disease?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Side effects are a common experience with long-term antibiotic therapy. I had several issues, including early nausea & diarrhea - resolved by taking a probiotic and timing the medication so I slept through the worst discomfort. I also had serious fatigue, but whether it was from the drugs or the infection is hard to say. I also had to switch one antibiotic early on due to intolerable nausea - long time ago, so I don't remember which one.

As for serious side effects, I avoided all alcohol and NSAIDs to protect my liver, since some of the meds are hard on it. I have had tinnitus for years - but whether the drugs made it worse, or aging or something else, I cannot say. My hearing was never great, but didn't get any worse with the meds; it is still monitored every year and seems to be in a slow downward slide, more related to age and heredity than the drugs. I had my eyes checked every 6 months based on my ophthalmologist's recommendation and had no eye issues.

All that said, the infection was severe - it would not have gone away by itself. I couldn't walk one block without coughing and having to rest. I had severe fatigue, a constant low-grade fever and was losing weight.

My diagnosis was MAC & Pseudomonas with Nodular Bronchiectasis & ground glass opacities, but no cavities. Knowing what I do now, if I had been less ill, I would have asked to try airway clearance with 7% saline for 6 months to see if I could knock the infection back.

Jump to this post


Replies to "Side effects are a common experience with long-term antibiotic therapy. I had several issues, including early..."

@sueinmn thank you for comment back. That really helps!

@sueinmn I am curious, knowing what you do now, would you take an antibiotic on a regular basis? my ID is putting me on an antibiotic 3x a week.

@sueinmn Sue...I must have missed this on the 13th. WOW....how did and do you manage it all. I know there are others with different and multiple health concerns and my thoughts are with 'you all' as I read these things.
I feel so spoiled but so thankful that my problem at this time is just the BE and low load count of MAI. So far no cavities, ground glass, so shortness of breath etc. etc. and I think, hope, I cleared the mucus plug that the pulmonologists said showed a worsening. Brought up what looked like a plug attached to a plug....really. The total size looked like nearly an inch long. So maybe it is cleared. C Scan scheduled for next late fall.
Hope all those you have on your mind in MN are O.K.
Barbara