Using a humidifier with MAC

Posted by rmason @rmason, Nov 15, 2018

Would it be reasonable to use a humidifier this winter with MAC if the water was boiled first?

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@rmason I may be wrong. But my understanding is that MAC likes humid/damp environment. And water is not the only place where MAC exists. So even if you boil the water, the vapor will still add humidity to your living environment causing MAC to grow there.

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@ling123

@rmason I may be wrong. But my understanding is that MAC likes humid/damp environment. And water is not the only place where MAC exists. So even if you boil the water, the vapor will still add humidity to your living environment causing MAC to grow there.

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Agreed! Both my husband’s pulmonologist and my ID doctor say nix on humidifiers.

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I use a bowl of boiled water and leave it in my bedroom, changing the water every few days

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@ling123

@rmason I may be wrong. But my understanding is that MAC likes humid/damp environment. And water is not the only place where MAC exists. So even if you boil the water, the vapor will still add humidity to your living environment causing MAC to grow there.

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@mason...hi there...I use a bowl of boiled water in bedroom...change it when needed...no humidifiers

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Is there any particular climate recommended for MAC sufferers?

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I am thinking of moving to Texas, around Dallas area...It is hot there, but the humidity factor is very low.

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@spencersok I live in Michigan in the summer and Tucson in the winter. When I was diagnosed with MAC, my Infectious Disease doc told me that it's very unusual to see MAC in Michigan, and thinks I got it in Arizona, which is terribly dry. @windwalker (Terri M), wrote in a comment to me in the "New Diagnosis of MAC/MAI & I'm scared" thread: "I caught my mac in Tucson, Az. pretty sure from our hot tub. Arizona is one of our country's 'Hot Spots' for mac. Some other states are: Florida, California, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and I think New Hampshire. Well water is supposed to be void of mac in most cases." @sueinmn wrote: "according to my doc, and the reading I have done, the bacterium is endemic in MANY places – in fact, just about everywhere. I too was diagnosed after several winters in South Texas and Arizona – and several bouts of what appeared to be desert fever or valley fever."

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@spencersok

I am thinking of moving to Texas, around Dallas area...It is hot there, but the humidity factor is very low.

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I have spent several miserable summers in the heat and HUMIDITY of Dallas. And it is terribly damp and chilly there for many days in winter. Please consult with a pulmonologist who specializes in treating MAC before moving anywhere in hopes of "escaping" exposure - it is everywhere. Better you should choose to locate where you have good medical care for this chronic disease, and where there are other features to attract you and make your life more pleasant...

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@spencersok I totally agree with @sueinmn about moving. The MAC bacteria is too prevalent for you to escape by moving, especially for those with weakened immune system. If you are going to move anyway and do not have much constraint as to the location, maybe pick a place that is close to a Mayo Clinic. That is what I would do.

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@sueinmn

I have spent several miserable summers in the heat and HUMIDITY of Dallas. And it is terribly damp and chilly there for many days in winter. Please consult with a pulmonologist who specializes in treating MAC before moving anywhere in hopes of "escaping" exposure - it is everywhere. Better you should choose to locate where you have good medical care for this chronic disease, and where there are other features to attract you and make your life more pleasant...

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Spent almost eight years in the Dallas/FT Worth area and was not diagnosis until moved back to Virginia. Anyway, I will check, before moving, what type of care can be gotten in Dallas Area...

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