Hello Russ, JAX is short for Jacksonville, Fl. everybody down there uses
that abbreviation. It took several months before I could get an appt. It all
depends on how busy they are. They do not require a referral, you just call them
and ask for an appt. They will ask that you bring all of the medical records you
can get your hands on. They will then scan your records right there on the spot
and create a file. I love the Mayo because they operate like a well oiled
machine. Generally, they do labs first thing in the morning, x-rays and/or CT
scans, and any other tests they might need; then you meet with the doctor at the
end of the day. He has all results back and are in his computer. He then goes
over the findings and discusses treatment.
 

Hi @russt,
You'll find the online appointment request form, as well as phone numbers for Mayo Clinic Jacksonville at the link http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

Just what I hope to hear. Have you ever been to the site in Rochester? I tried to make an appointment at JAX and they told me they don't have any for some time, like you said, and refered me to an afiliate site in Pensacola. I work on the "Roman Coin Principal":
the futher you get away from Rome (Mayo) the less recognizable the coins (medical care) are to the coins struct in Rome, so Im setting my sites on Rodchester, since JAX is not available.
Hope you doing well.
Russ

Thank you Colleen.
Russ

Wow! I had no idea they were so booked up now. Good for you to make
sure you get the BEST care.
 

I'm told by my pulmology-infectious disease Dr. at Stanford Medical (he's one of the best), if you have MAC you have bronchiectasis. However, you can have bronchiectasis without having MAC. I have both. Symptoms started with a persistent cough. However, I wasn't diagnosed until I had coughed up some blood. My PCP ordered a chest Xray right away. This came out abnormal. I then had a series of 3 sputum tests ( 3 days in a row). They did a fast culture, which came out to be NTM: non-tuberculosis myco- bacteria, or better known as MAC. The sputum test was then followed up with a CT scan.
One can have MAC for years without symptoms. My lung Dr. guessed I had it for months to years before coughing up the blood.

@ronaf, do you have a first name .. more personal! @ronaf, you are right on! By the way .. what is the name of you doctor at Stanford .. if you feel he is good I will add him to my File Cabinet .. we are always looking for good references! When you say "However, you can have bronchiectasis without having MAC." .. the PROBLEM is that the Bronchiectasis becomes a BREEDING ground for the MAC as well as other nasty bacteria .. sometimes before our Members even REALIZED they had the Bronchiectasis. It is a vicious cycle!

So glad you had a good doctor and got diagnosed. What meds are you on now and how are you doing? Glad you found us! Hugs! Katherine

@ronaf, my situation is very similar to yours. I had persistent dry cough and thick mucus for many, many years. My initial diagnosis was allergies and had been treated as such until one day out of the blue I coughed up blood. They thought it might be TB but 3 sputum tests suggested it was not TB. Then another series of 3 sputum tests (they did not look for MAC for the first round test) confirmed that I had MAC. My pulmonary doctor believed that I had had bronchiectasis for a very long time and caught MAC later on because of damaged bronchi. Although I have had a long history of bronchiectasis, so far I do not suffer from diminished lung function, at least not anything that is evident to me. I play tennis 2-3 times a week with no negative effect on my lungs.

My first name is Rona. Hi.
I realize one affects the other...i.e. bronchiectasis and MAC. My guess is, there are many who have MAC & may not know it because they haven't had symptoms, thus haven't been tested and diagnosed. My sister was diagnosed with bronchiectasis years ago. But never tested for MAC.I though of suggesting it to her. But decided against it. One of my exercise instructors has bronchiectasis, but evidently not MAC. I have no idea if she's been tested.
In any case, my Dr. is Dr. Stephen Ruoss. A busy guy, who also does clinical studies and research. I'm on 4 antibiotics. The orals are rifampin, azithromycin, and ethambutol. I was on IV amikacin for 5 months, because I have a cavity on my right upper lung. My Dr. wanted to "hit" it hard. I'm now on inhaled amikacin. I've been on treatment since August of 2016.
I'm doing better, feeling better mostly. As long as I sleep long and well, I feel fine.
My lungs were looking better in Jan. from my CT scan results, so, my Dr. took me off the IV & put me on the inhaled amikacin. I'll be going in for another CT in July.

Hi, Sounds similar. My coughing up blood came 2 months after the cough. My PCP gave me a cough suppressant. Didn't do a darn thing. Then when I coughed up blood I called her & she sent me in right away for the lung Xray. I've always had what I thought was allergies. Sneezing, blowing my nose. My Mom did also. I wouldn't be surprised if she had bronchiectasis. My sister was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis years ago. But has never went in for anymore tests. She feels fine and has no symptoms. My Dr. doesn't know which came first; the MAC or bronchiectasis.