Thank you ling123 for your insights. Definitely helpful to know you’re not alone.

@1065408 You are right, Barbara. I don't share all the experiences with all the people on this site, but we are all here to support each other the best we can. Coming here to read everybody's postings, even though I can't relate to many situations that people describe, makes me feel that I'm not alone. And I would like to do my part to make other people feel the same.

@ling123, Ling, you have been a wonderful contributor over the past year. I, for one, really appreciate it.

Thank you. It’s so helpful and encouraging to me.@1065408

@windwalker Thank you for the compliments, Terri. But you and many others have done a whole lot more for everybody. Even though I do try my best, I can't hold a candle to you guys.

Hi, Ling. you sound a lot like me. No outward symptoms but a minor cough. I asked my Infectious Disease doctor about not treating but, without elaborating, she just shook her head as if it would be a dire outcome. I am so tempted not to start the meds but I am also afraid not to! My latest x-ray also showed some improvement of the lung nodules. I wonder how many people have had their doctor say it is okay to hold off on the meds?

Hi trussi. I was diagnosed April this year. Although I have a nasty cough and some shortness of breath, I do not feel badly. Due to other complications I possess with antibiotic allergies and a-fib, my physicians are monitoring the disease. I have not started treatment.

My husband was advised not to take the meds as the med's side effects can be so extreme.

@trissi Right now there is such a diversity in the opinions as to how to treatment this disease. That tells me that the doctors really don't know what is the best treatment plan. I guess putting someone on 3 antibiotics is a safer bet to many doctors. But from what I've read so far, the longer one goes on antibiotics, the more resistant the bacteria will become. And there is no guarantee that long-term drug treatment will even cure MAC because people can get re-infected and the bacteria can grow resistant to the drugs. So far I'm still happy with the decision that me and my pulmonary doctor had made 3 years ago: wait and watch. I don't know whether my condition will ever worsen. But since I can do anything anyone without MAC can do, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I will cross that bridge when I get there, if I ever get there. I can imagine your dilemma when your doctor wants you to take the drugs but you are very hesitant to take them. Is there a way to discuss with her whether the drugs can be taken in a way that will do the least damage and have the least negative effect on your daily living?

Thanks for your input. It's interesting that your pulmonary doctor agrees that you can wait and see. I still feel I need to get a second opinion but it seems that it depends on the doctor and they all have their own opinions. I assume your doctor is not in Arizona?