I am 61 year old female like you I have a autoimmune decease, I've had RA for 5 years. I was recently diagnosed with MCA/MAI with little or no symptoms. I was tested after a couple bouts with pneumonia that raised suspicion. My RA Doctor has taken me off my medications due to them causing some skin cancer which is a side effect. My RA Doctor won't put me on any other RA drugs until the MAC has been treated because my low immune system which could make the MAC worse. This is a problem because the last couple months I've had some pretty intense RA flair ups. I've seen an infectious disease Dr. who told me if I don't have any systems & feel ok to wait and see since the MAC treatment brings a person to near death.I'm afraid to start the treatment for MAC with good reason by the sound of these posts. Another worry is how will my RA be managed? Should I be retested to be sure I have MAC? I'm worried sick! Any comments would be appreciated.

I also want to add a suspicion I have, two years ago my family rented an VRBO in northern for a month. It was the rainiest spring CA had seen for years. I noticed the house we stayed had a slight mold or mildew smell. Could that have caused my MAC? I did have a cough for a couple months after returning from that trip.

Hi @jonigc, welcome to the group. I'm tagging @boomerexpert who has RA and MAC. I'm hoping she has some insights for you.

@gonigc
Hello I also have RA and was diagnosed with Mac for a year but now am stable and not showing Mac without any antibiotic treatment.
For the my Ra I'm on minocycline 100 mg two times a day three times a week Monday Wednesday and Friday.
Im also on plaquinil also called hydroxcychloquine dosage 300 mg a day.
I have checked with four different Dr's and they all agreed that the plaquinil doesn't lower your immune system...just have to have a eye exam once a year.
I was taken off humira 7 years ago when I got pseudomonas in the lungs and almost didn't survive until they finally figured out it was because of the humira.
My Ra was quite severe but since the minocycline and plaquinil in doing fine.
Ask your doctor about these maybe you could take one or the other or both depending on how severe your Ra is.
Listen to the dr don't use the immune lower drugs it's a catch 22 your Ra will be better but serious infections and cancer happen with them.
How this helps hang in there!
Shari

@jonigc Terri aka BoomerExpert here... I too had to d/c biologics since their main mechanism is immune system suppression (seems rather lame to me, but it's all medicine can come up with for now...). I get a Kenolog injection (steroid) every quarter (minimal immune suppression), take Naproxym 500 mgs every other day (would do more but can't as it upsets the ol' stomach), use Charlotte's Web CBD oil (1/4 dropper twice a day), get an accupuncture treatment once a week, and now taking Enzyme Defense Pro (for RA) and Himalaya Ashwagandha (for fatigue). This combo seems to be helping pretty well...and once the enzymes kick in fully (takes time) expect to do even better. As you can see, many of these are natural (alternative) treatments that work without the toxic side-effects of standard drugs, to augment the lowest dose of drugs I can handle. I've also gotten a .2micron whole-house water filter to eliminate the mycobacteria from my home's water system. @gonigc mentioned some other options that work without suppressing the immune system. We have lots of options that don't entail biologics (with their nasty side-effects). You now have lots to try to manage your RA as you accommodate your MAC! Oh, and I'm not as yet on antibiotics as I'm still asymptomatic like you. Hope that will continue for many years!

Shari, So you're saying your MAC went away on its own? I'm on plaquinil now and will ask about your other med. Thank you for the feedback...I'll keep you posted.Joni

@jonigc
Joni I tested positive for a year and the Dr's and myself wanted to take a wait and see attitude. Mine was mycobacterium abcessus also which is the one that's more resistant to treatment, it would take longer and they would of had me on iv's that i would give myself for 6 weeks. Well anyway it had been testing negative since last spring. The last test was a brochialscope last fall which should be accurate and that was negative also.
My Dr also said he would do several brochialscopes a year if needed to keep things washed out. Also I was prescribed a vest airway clearance therapy twice a day for a half hour. It shakes the phlehm loose so I can cough it out. I'm taking some herbs I learned about from the book Herbal Antibiotics. I started all these things at the time I started testing negative.
Hope this helps!
You can read about minocycline therapy for RA on "The Road Back Forum."
Shari

Shari,
I saw my RA Doctor Friday he prescribed minocycline for me. He thought it was worth trying after I told him all I've read on this blog and your experience. I have to have lung scans every 6 months also have contact with the infectious decease doctor. Thanks so much for your input I'll keep you posted.