Bless you @jameck ! You will be ok! I was DX in 2015. I cannot take the Big 3 , but as my doctor said... For you the cure is worse than the disease! This bacteria is environmental and is in air, water and soil. My immune system was clearly weakened as I had pneumonia 3 times in a 12 month period. My advice! Find a doctor who is knowledgeable about NTM. I travel 2 hours. Others just throw out the Big 3 as that is truly all they know to do for treatment! Above all.... DON'T PANIC! We are here for you! Hugs and prayers!

Thank you @janovr I appreciate the encouragement. I need all I can get. I am concerned about taking that Meds. I am allergic to everything. Can I ask what you did instead of those?

@jameck We have all been in your shoes and I remember how scary it was in the beginning. The big 3 can knock you at first but things get better so dont worry and they do a good job. Lots is happening in the medical world for Mac so hopefully soon an easy cure will be developed for us. hang in there and do your due dilligence, speak out until you get your answers from your specialist, the not knowing is so much worse. Take care and ask as many questions on here as you wish!

I can identify with what you are feeling. I think this support group will come up with some good ideas to problems that seem to be overwhelming. I can't seem to find these answers to taking BIG 3 near us. I got so violently ill and have had such difficulty sleeping. I am planning to seek out answers from our support group as others can identify what we experience. Use the group often. I use a CPAP that I am now questioning. I also think my lack of energy has allowed too much dust and disorganization mentally and physically to take over. Ironically, ran into some people last week who sought second opinions from Mayo. I think you will find this support group incredible.

Thank you so much. So far this group has helped a lot. Good know I have a place to go for info and encouragement!

@jameck, Hello and welcome to our group. Please read from the 'Discussion' board that is located on our Mac & Bronchiectasis face page. There, you can find good information about dealing with this disease. Older posts also hold a wealth of info. What we have is a frightening diagnosis, no doubt. It is a disease that requires careful management. We can live out our lives with this disease, provided we stay on top of it. Learn all that you can about it on this site, as well as other reputable places like http://www.nih.gov. and http://www.ntminfo.org This site here on Connect is a place to share whatever you feel comfortable with concerning our illness. It is a place to ask questions, share experiences and get support. Learn how to use this site, for example, you can click on a member's @name if you want to learn more about that person. I am glad that you found this support group. Please know that I am here for you, and so are others in this group. Do you have a first name? - Terri

@jameck I Hi. I was diagnosed with mac in 2005. I refused treatment at that time. I sought treatment from the Mayo in 2013 where I started a diff treatment other than the Big 3. I am still here and have had mac free sputem tests since 2014. I did catch pseudomonas in 2016 and was treated for that. Presently, I am infection free and haven't coughed since 2016. I still have the God aweful fatigue that comes and goes on any given day. This makes it difficult to make plans to do things with friends or travel. Despite everything, I have chosen to be happy anyway. We are so much more than this stupid disease.

Thank you. I will check out these sites. I really like my Doctor but I feel that he is hard to get a hold of when I am having questions. When I was diagnosed I felt I was not well educated on what I have. Like how do you handle having the flu like symptoms? I find they can be debilitating. Is there something I can take, drink more water, tylenol? Any suggestions? Small things like this I just need someone to ask.

My name is Jane 🙂

@jameck, I did have flu-like symptoms when I was infected. Be careful, it is easy to over medicate on over the counter meds. Now that I am in remission, I do not have those symptoms.

@jameck Jane, you are like the third person to say that they got tjat God aweful flu this past Jan and got so sick amd it resulted in the discovery of Mac. Very strange...