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Newly diagnosed and can’t get a handle on my anxiety
Hello All. I am very happy to have found this group. I am awaiting my cultures but I have been advised to expect an NTM diagnosis. My nodules and other pulmonary changes were found incidentally with a Calcium scoring test.
I am 68 y.o. “healthy” female and my entire adult life has centered around an active and healthy lifestyle. I run, swim, bike ride with my husband and it’s what our life is all about. Since my diagnosis, I am in an extreme state of anxiety and panic and cannot “settle myself down”. I am not sleeping well and I have a horrible knot in my stomach.
I am filled with grief and sadness. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information and now feel completely constrained from living a normal life. I’ve ordered .2 micron filters for the tap and my shower as well as the Life Straw and Steri Pen. I am terrified now to do anything- go out to eat, shower, ride my bike if windy and chance of dust blowing.
I guess my question is related to feeling this way and I wonder how long this stage lasts until I can find a balance and some type of normalcy. At this point, I do not see how I am going to deal with this diagnosis and enjoy my life. Please share how you were able to deal with these feelings and any tips to get out of this horrible state of mind. Thank you all so much, Lynda Saathoff
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thanks. can you send me a pic of it all attached? @linda1334
@lizjlb csn you send me a pic of it all attached? thanks
@linda1334 can you send me a pic of all attacked. thanks.
@mjb24 Arikayce is rather dense for an inhaled medication, so my guess would be that people have experienced clogging or reduced output. A few members here have mentioned that they save the old heads and use them to nebulize saline.
Yikes. I was just diagnosed with mild bronch--no symptoms, no idea if infected but my sister has NTM at a scary level. My mom died I believ of effects of NTM but had been over radiated in the 60s for breast cancer. I am terrified--maybe for no reason but told in the interest of caution not to do many of the things I love--steam showers, hot tubs, I have a pet parrot, love to garden. Cannot expen anything from my lungs. But I want to keep it safe even if not infected. QUESTION: Instead of boiling water, which I have not been told to do at this point, will a home water distillation system work for drinking and cooking water? Seems like it should and much better than boiling and probably less in the long run than using distilled water.
@lizjlb Actually I do something better. Here is a link to a video made by one of our group members, @bronchiectasaurus. She goes through the whole process of how to connect the equipment and complete the nebulizing. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/short-video-on-nebbing-saline/ It was very helpful for me and I'm sure a lot of other group members.