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Extreme fatigue with MAC

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 29, 2022 | Replies (310)

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@migizii

I seem to be having some trouble navigating the bronchiectasis site lately, but wanted to share that I have been diagnosed for about three years and have not had MAC or NTM infections. I have had a couple illnesses that I became more sick than most people and required short antibiotic interventions. However, fatigue has been an issue that has overridden my life since this illness has taken hold of my life. It just happens to wax and wane in whatever nature it feels like taking......I concentrate on keeping everything as regular as I can-eating, sleeping, exercising (very lightly or I get exhausted).....and I try to keep doing my twice daily treatments as regular as possible.....I am grateful for my “new normal” and all of you as you give me so many wonderful ideas and support!

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Replies to "I seem to be having some trouble navigating the bronchiectasis site lately, but wanted to share..."

What is NTM? I want to know the whole words. Thanks.

@migizii Aaah, fatigue! The bane of my existence! I had a long discussion about it with my ID doc this week, because it can blast me without notice! He explained that with bronch & MAC and antibiotics and poor sleep, it's a grand slam - each one alone can cause fatigue, taken together it's almost a certain thing.
One thing I have learned - except on my very worst days, when I will lie down and try to sleep for one hour, then force myself to get up, I force myself to keep going instead of settling in on the couch. "Keep going" is relative - it may mean going to an event and walking from bench to bench, resting a few minutes at each then moving on. Or it may mean like today (after three insanely busy days) - a load of laundry, sit and work at the computer a bit, another load, sit and eat something, a short stint in the gardens, sit and enjoy the pond, a short walk...
This promotes better sleep, leaves me less frustrated as bits are still accomplished, and seems to make the heavy fatigue days less frequent. Too much giving in to the urge to plop down and not move seems to make it worse.
And, if I have little energy, I eat poorly, so I force-feed myself. My house is stocked with low-sugar energy bars, cashews, protein shakes, cheese, fruits, high-protein smoothies - all grab'n'eat things - which I eat in small portions every hour or two. I find a little caffeine helps too.