Do Bronchiectasis and MAC go together?

@russt, Thank you for the information you provided. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. As in the group, "Patient" that you participate in, we are not here to give medical advice. This site is used for connecting with other people who are here sharing similar diagnoses and medical experiences. I am not a physician, nor do I have a medical degree.

Your post was somewhat familiar to me in the sense that I was recently talking to a distant family member who was diagnosed with Valley Fever- up until then I had never heard of it.
As far as having your sinus surgery; Did you have sinus polyps or how was the surgical aspect approached or decided? When are you seeing the infectious disease doctor? Please keep us updated and let us know what they tell you- it will be a great help to future readers.

I have worked at Mayo Clinic for 17 years so I am quite biased to Mother Mayo. I cannot answer the question whether you should come to Rochester for evaluation but in my honest opinion, I wish everyone could encounter a patient experience like what we offer. I do know that we provide a multidisciplinary approach meaning our ENT surgeons work directly with the Pulmonologists, Allergy specialists and Immunology. If you are interested in seeking care in Rochester- here is the link to make an appointment http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

I can understand your concern with long term use of antibiotics. I would like to introduce you to other members here discussing the same thing- Please meet @pamelasc1, @ilgrp4e and @windwalker. Have any of you been patients here at Mayo Clinic that you would be willing to advise @russt?

Also, please review some of the information offered within the posts on this link in our MAC group. http://mayocl.in/2qMZJDM You will find some of the information very helpful.

Jamie, thnks for reply. I dont know if you caught it in my text but I was a RN for 30 years, so have to say that I'm not a doctor either.
To answer your question about nasal polyps; I think the surgery was to remove areas of infection.
I have asked my Pulmonologist to give a referral for Mayo to my insurance company. I feel like I'm saying to him that I think I can get better care somewhere else. He should be happy for me right? Sticky situation.
I liked you describtion of Mayo being a coperative experience between the disciplines.
I noticed that Mayo does Stem Cell therapy. My impression is that the success rate is in the lower percentages, but if Mayo is doing it perhaps they have a different success rate. It's $10,000 or more.
I would like to hear more about your experience with antibiotics if you would like to share it.
Best
Russ

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I was diagnosed with MAC about 11 years ago, at the age of 39, after a chest x-ray for suspected pneumonia. They found nodules on my lungs. I went for about 5 years of pulmonologists "just watching it"... I tried the MAC prescription protocol 3 times and could not tolerate it, last time, put me in hospital 5 days with acute kidney failure. I've been through 4 pulmonologists and an Infectious Disease clinic. My latest pulmonologist did bronch, CT scan and blood word on Jan 13 and found I had bronchiectasis and multiple additional bacteria and fungus in my right lung. I have a small portion of my middle right lobe that is "dead." I am guessing that associates the MAC and bronchiectasis. I am now at a point where they are sending me to another Infectious Disease specialist and have discussed removing that portion of my right lobe that is "not functioning." I'm looking for anyone in a similar situation that has tried the protocol (ethambutol, rifampin, and azithromycin that could not tolerate it to see what your 2nd and further options were.

Teresa, I have the same as you! What are the antibiotics they have you on? How are you tolerating them?

Welcome to the forum. I have been on that drug protocol twice in the last year and cannot tolerate them. I have now been referred to an infectious disease specialist. Waiting until June 20 for appointment. Other than the standard drugs, has anyone else had luck with others.

Hi new members @suzylulu @russt @kate1320 @tfritschy @dcathell.
How are you doing? I hope that you feel welcome in our MAC group. I also invite you to read through our main discussion

- MAC/MAI) MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE/BRONCHIECTASIS http://mayocl.in/2pMrIB

In this thread, you'll find a wealth of information from an incredible group of knowledgeable and supportive members. Come on over. Introduce yourselves and ask anything.

Hello, I have a dead portion in my lung too, a good size chunk actually. My
lungs are so bad that they are considering a double lung transplant. Although to
meet me, you would think I was just fine. I owe my good condition now to
treatment at the Mayo Clinic in JAX. Don't know how long I will feel this good,
but for now I will just enjoy it!
 

I have the same thing too. I never did the three drug combo. I started
monthly prophylactic antibiotics in 2013. I was diagnosed with MAC in 2005 and
was treated with azithromycin for a short period. Unbeknownst to me, my lungs
were deteriorating steadily until I started at the Mayo in 2013.
 

Hi Suzy, ask your doctor about inhaled antibiotics. Learned at a recent
conference that combining tobramycin with another antibiotic like cipro for two
weeks is good.
 

Did they indicate at the conference how long to do this regimen?