How is everybody doing?

Thanks, Jan. The cipro caused sleeplessness and diarrhea for me. The Bactrim caused some nausea, but not bad. Did you have any side effects, like nausea, with clindamycin? I suspect I will be on more antibiotics to keep the symptoms down. I get a low grade fever with flu-like symptoms (chills, body aches). The original MAC isn't too active, but there are other opportunistic bacteria that have caused my problems. I'm seeing an Infectious Diseases specialist, so this is a long term treatment. Considering that I am 89 yrs old, I just want to be comfortable. So I'll keep looking for an antibiotic which is easier on my body. Thanks again for your comments. I'm in California; are you a Texas gal? blessings, Robyn

Robyn, Hi -- I'm from the SE corner of Kansas -- five miles from the Okla state line. I'm 76. I have no trouble with the clindamycin but did suffer a little from cipro and bacterim (and I didn't think I got any help from bacterim). I take a large probiotic pill once daily when I'm on antibiotics. It has been good for me with clindamycin. I've not taken clinda for more than 2 weeks continuously...... and usually my symptoms are gone for about a month. Then, I go back to clinda for another 10 days-2weeks. I have had a small amount of MAC show up at Mayo's but they decided it was not enough to treat it. It's been two years since I was there and I probably need to do another culture to be sure it's not worsening. I just think that surely -- if it were -- I would be more ill. My basic problem is horrible, horrible coughing with green phlegm until I can't go to the store, restaurant or any public place. It's constant and people would think I had whopping cough. My sputum tests (the 24 hour testing) has shown various bacterias. I've had MRSA ---- MSSA ...... and pseudomonas that I'm aware of. I continue to work with Dr. Moua at Mayo's through the portal there and he's wonderful to answer my questions or prescribe right away. I'm not saying clindamycin will work for you but it is the best I've found. I hope this helps explain from where I'm coming and I surely hope you will have good luck with it if you give it a try. I take 150 mg 4 times daily. Jan

Thanks! What probiotic do you take? If I have to go back on antibiotics, I'll ask about Clindamycin. I took it in 2001 when I was first treated for MAC and I was so sick with the medications, but don't know which ones made me sick! I've been coughing up yellow sputum for a couple of years and diagnosed with asthma and COPD until my pulmonologist wised up and remembered the MAC. I have bronchiectasis from radiation in 1987 for breast cancer; that's why I'm having problems now. Lots of lung infections and pneumonias. We traveled a lot, so I always came home sick. The MAC may be back, but we won't treat it. Just try to keep the symptoms down. I felt really sick for 2 years, but am feeling better now. I've been referred to an infectious diseases doc so we'll see what he says. By the way, I live in the Bay Area, have been here since college, although I was born in Southern California. A true native! My parents were from Oklahoma and Indiana.
Take care, and thanks again, Robyn

I've used different probiotics and really never noticed any difference in the brands. The one I have currently came from either WalMart or Walgreens -- not sure which. Brand is Renew Life and it's 30 billion live cultures. At one time I continued probiotics after antibiotics just because I heard maybe everyone should be taking them, but I did get some diarrhea and when I told the doctor, he said to quit the probiotics -- I did and it cleared up immediately. Sometimes I have diarrhea from the antibiotics -- but not if I take the probiotics. It doesn't always make sense to me but that's how it works where I am. Hope this helps. Let me know. Jan

Wow, Robyn, you have had your hands full. I hope you have ways to alleviate the stress that must come with being a caregiver. Stress can bring on illness. Sending you cyber-hugs as our forum member, Linda, would say. - Terri M.

Carolyn, @cld120, The saline may be too weak for you. I am on 7% strength that I do twice daily. It seems to be working. You can ask to have a stronger solution. Every time I go to the Mayo and need to give a sputem sample, they induce me with the 10% saline because I cannot cough anything up either. There was a time when I could, but now that I am better, there isn't much phlegm.

Robyn, I wonder if they still use tamoxifen any more?

wait for it....

Windwalker....never heard of the yeast!!! Might it be from mouth????? Keep us posted....always something! Tdrell

It said it was "yeast-like" not actually a yeast. It is found in soil,bird droppings, on outside of tropical fruit, especially mangos and pineapples (which is why I wash everything!), hot tubs, steam rooms, and dishwashers!