Long-term Antibiotics for Bronchiectasis & MAC

Posted by pejohnston @pejohnston, Feb 26, 2018

Diagnosed w/Bronchiectasis in 2008, MAC in 2011 and have been on many medications since then. Under control for several years, but reinfected a couple of years ago while on antibiotics. My body became somewhat immune to some of meds I was on. I am now taking several more drugs that have pretty significant side affects. Fortunately, I've been okay with them. Anyone else been on antibiotics for this length of time?

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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@macjane I have not seen any discussion on the relationship between these two. And so far I have not found any discussion about direct link between MAC and asbestos online. There is though some kind of indirect link between the two. Asbestos exposure has been linked to lung cancer. And some studies of MAC seem to suggest that a certain percentage of lung cancer patients are tested positive for MAC infection. That is as far as the association between the two goes from my search on the Internet. Have not seen anything to suggest there is a direct link.

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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That is why I am “watched” - well my nodules because they are growing, and my mom and aunt both died of lung cancer. I am sure my aunt had undiagnosed MAC first based on what I remember was going on with her at the time. Her home from the early 1900’s was full of asbestos in the attic where she worked from home. I don’t think there is conclusive research on the relationship just conjecture based on comorbidity.

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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This support group is great. I have never heard of so much info and basically support. I got an appointment to talk on line and I see how this mystery illness is so darn complicated.

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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The air ducts in both of our schools were not working for quite some time - when they were finally “on” they were filthy - and that is an understatement. We had an OSCA visit. My girl friend actually called them. She told me “after the fact.” I think that was a contributing factor (Not all) to her losing her job. She ruffled a lot of feathers. The thing with MAC is that we can ask why and how we got it, but that will ultimately make us crazy. The bottom line is that we have to have a genetic predisposition or body type, a compromised immune system or some other contributing factor for this opportunistic infection to snag us! Not everyone gets it!

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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I like your response. Thanks

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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Not everybody who has MAC has bronchiectasis. But for those of us who do, bronchiectasis is a major factor for catching MAC infections.

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@windwalker

@macjane, Thank you so much for the kudos. It is nice to get those.

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Terri: I don't see where anyone proved to be severely allergic to one of the meds. There are meds that seemed to have been changed. Can you tell me the three antibiotics used to treat MAC/MAI infections typically. Many thanks, Jane

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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Does anyone have to sleep with head raised by hospital type bed like Sleep Number?

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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I have to use CPAP and oxygen at night? Does anyone exercise with swimming, biking.....??????????

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@jkiemen

Which antibiotics are they? Have your CT's been stable?

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Just using a wedge.

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