You can feel better!

@windwalker Terri...good suggestions for comfort measures to @jameck. I would only add that when taking any type of NSAID (non steroidal ant iinflammant drug) such as Advil or motrin -which contain Ibuprofen etc- to be cautious. First one might be allergic to the whole category! I am...ended up in ER after taking one Celebrex for a neck ache.
All Nsaids can be very irritating to stomach and must be taken with food. Also they can destroy kidney function. The list might go on....so be cautious and judicious when taking NSAIDS.
I am only able to take tyelenol (acetaminophen)….which is hard on liver....I do not drink alcohol and try to minimize tyelenol use. tdrell terri

@america I think the problem is when the soil (potting soil included) is disturbed. So you should be OK if you wear a face mask when you repot the plant. Watering the plants should not cause you to catch MAC.

ling123, Thank you. I love gardening and the flowers, it makes me so happy and also the green plants.. like the house plants. I’m not sure how I got MAC but I don’t want it to destroy all the beauty in my life. Having RA and sjoghrens has keep me from many things. Life has many surprises but we have so much to be grateful for. Thanks Rita.

@america Rita, you are so right. We shouldn't let MAC, or any disease, get the upper hand. If green plants make you happy, keep enjoying them. Just be cautious when you need to stir up soil, like repotting. The plants themselves will not do harm to you. Actually plants provide clean air and should only be beneficial to your health. Besides, MAC can be found in soil as well as in water. So it is not for certain that you got yours from soil.

@heathert, I would miss you too!!!

@ling123 and @america Rita, the majority of what I read points more and more to mac infection source being in water. Mostly in misted water from shower steam, hot tubs, indoor pools, sprinkler systems, still waters like ponds & lakes, and medical equiptment in hospitals and dental offices. Since you love to garden like I do, beware of potting soil containing PEAT. It has over a million parts per teaspoon of mac in it. Also, beware clipping and handling leafy things in your yard. Because you are suseptible to mac, you can also be prone to pseudomonas and aspergillus. These are found on leaves, both living and rotting. Also found in compost piles. Be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands well after handling. Live and do what you enjoy, just do it with more caution. When gardening we should wear masks. The best one I have found is the N95. They have a tiny respirator built into the front so that you can breathe with ease and not get sweaty. It keeps out 95% of particulate matter. You can find them at a paint supply store. A two-pack may run about $8.99. Well worth it. Please don't be too alarmed. Not all of us with mac become infected with many other mycobacteriums or fungus'. BUT some of us are more fragile and suseptible and these things can over-run our bodies. It is better to take precautions than to catch them and find that they are resitant to drugs.

@tdrell Good advice Terri. Popping any NSAIDS like candy can be a threat to liver and kidneys. I usually don't use any, but here lately I have. But I do it sparingly. For example, for the last three days, I have taken two ibuprophen a day. I will likely not need them much longer.

@windwalker terri...do you always have some food in your tummy before the NSAID?@tdrell

Hi Terri, Thank you. It’s good to know about all this! I have learned so much since I’m here. It’s unbelievable how this all comes in such a whole big different picture. I can see clearly now that my eyes are opened! Doctors don’t say a single word about any of this. Thanks so much for the information and I’ll be living life in a whole new way. Rita

@america, Rita, it does my heart good when I hear that this site has helped someone. I hope are arming yourself with the info. You can still live a good life with proper disease management.