Long-term Antibiotics for Bronchiectasis & MAC

Irene, I think the more we know or pass on like this, is a great way to learn more. Just the two days of being on this has helped me so much. Thank you for your support and answers.

You are such a positive person to me.

What surgery did your husband have and how long ago?

It was diagnosed at the University of Michigan hospital while other hospitals did not known even mention this.

If my brother didn't mention it and I got our neighbor's medical texts to look it up. Our neighbor was shocked that he and others never heard of it during school except very briefly.

@macjane , Hi Jane. I looked up 'achalasia'. I like to learn about various medical conditions, especially those that affect our Connect members. You may have read that many on this site suffer from a similar disorder of inhaling bits of acid reflux, thus causing lung damage.

@irene5, A very strange coincidence....

There was asbestos under the cracked floor tiles and in the registers. ( probably other places as well) I frequently cleaned/vacuumed my own classroom! The custodians loved me!

Has asbestos ever been discussed with MAC?

Irene, the Reserve Center was inspected and FAILED years before I volunteered when over 1000 people were suddenly called to active duty. The heat registers were covered with gross wads of dust so thick yet this was never corrected. People in this unit had Bell's Palsy, one had a temperature in the low 90's and I developed Sarcoid and possibly the MAC infection in this filthy area. As the 80 hour volunteer time progressed, I became sicker and sicker. What is painful to remember is our health insurance and the company doctor telling me, sarcoidosis had no need for treatment. It goes away on its own. What we found out was we had NO Pulmonary doctor as part of our horrific program. A year or so before, I came back from NY/CT with Lyme Disease and I called the County Medical Director who spoke to me at length. It was this doctor who first got me admitted for an ER visit at the U of M hospital in Ann Arbor. I had sarcoid in the lungs and eyes. My PCP refused to follow any directives and a major health insurer refused to pay the $8000.00 plus dollars for the needed care. The state tried to step in but the insurer reminded them, that the huge company was set up in Delaware - a state that allows for gross contractual agreements. At my husband's company, this dramatic change came about in just over a week. The company employees were angered by the wait list for people on chemo therapy. The company doctor made the most awful presentation. Doctors were not under an HMO plan but instead were rewarded monetary for the less spent in insurance care.