1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Negative sputum results without treatment

Posted by sayaboleh @sayaboleh, May 12, 2019

Has anyone had spontaneous sputum conversion without taking the big 3? I was told recently that my latest samples produced no pathogens -- i.e. MAC organisms. That is great news of course -- I had no idea that would happen but found some studies that 40- 60% can spontaneously convert without the benefit of treatment. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago and just assumed I would always have it. I have had no symptoms other than a flare up recently when I caught a cold, hence the sputum samples to figure out what was going on. I was given a long explanation by my pulmonologist which was a little difficult to follow. Would love to hear from others if they know anything about this.
Mary

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

lorifilipek | @lorifilipek | Dec 12, 2019
In reply to @baz10 "Hello shooei@shooei Yes, I have coughed up blood. It doesn't seem as though I cough it..." + (show)
@baz10

Hello shooei@shooei
Yes, I have coughed up blood. It doesn't seem as though I cough it up, but I can hear a gurgling sound and know that the blood will be coming, and it is sooo scary. I was diagnosed with pneumonia both times that I went to the ER and a CT was done, and the last time, almost 3 years ago, the radiologist said the symptoms were pneumonia and possibly MAC. That was the first time that I had heard of MAC and no one explained what it was, so I went on-line and looked. The allergy/asthma doc that I see, didn't agree that it was MAC, yet when I had the yearly CT in his office, the radiologist report was "consistent with MAC". Having COPD, bronchiectasis, and asthma, I nebulize with Brovana twice daily followed by one puff of Alvesco inhaler. It has been almost 3 years since last having any blood come up, but we live on the edge that it might. The blood appears very liquid and would sometimes be a couple of tablespoons. It first happened about 20 years ago, and at that time was diagnosed as pneumonia. Has happened twice since then. IF I seem to get a chest congestion, I start on 250 mg of an antibiotic for 5 days. It is a child's dose, but I have problems with most antibiotics and have had C-diff in the past due to them. Hope this helps you a bit.

Jump to this post

@baz10 Thanks for responding. I'm investigating whether coughing up blood may actually be a good thing in MAC. In my reading of MAC articles, I found one called "Retrospective study of the predictors of mortality and radiographic deterioration in 782 patients with nodular/brochiectatic MAC lung disease" by Gochi et al. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26246077 ) Very few people die of MAC-related issues. The women with bloody sputum fared the best. I'm trying to find out why.

REPLY
2 replies
shooei | @shooei | Dec 12, 2019
In reply to @lorifilipek "@baz10 Thanks for responding. I'm investigating whether coughing up blood may actually be a good thing..." + (show)
@lorifilipek

@baz10 Thanks for responding. I'm investigating whether coughing up blood may actually be a good thing in MAC. In my reading of MAC articles, I found one called "Retrospective study of the predictors of mortality and radiographic deterioration in 782 patients with nodular/brochiectatic MAC lung disease" by Gochi et al. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26246077 ) Very few people die of MAC-related issues. The women with bloody sputum fared the best. I'm trying to find out why.

Jump to this post

I read the same thing @lorifilipek . I've not found that they know why or if there is any real correlation - sort of like why do many with our condition tend to be tall, thin, mitral valve prolapse, "older" women....just a coincidence, or some correlation or connection? So many questions!

REPLY
heathert | @heathert | Dec 12, 2019
In reply to @lorifilipek "@baz10 Thanks for responding. I'm investigating whether coughing up blood may actually be a good thing..." + (show)
@lorifilipek

@baz10 Thanks for responding. I'm investigating whether coughing up blood may actually be a good thing in MAC. In my reading of MAC articles, I found one called "Retrospective study of the predictors of mortality and radiographic deterioration in 782 patients with nodular/brochiectatic MAC lung disease" by Gochi et al. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26246077 ) Very few people die of MAC-related issues. The women with bloody sputum fared the best. I'm trying to find out why.

Jump to this post

@lorifilipek Thank you for that positive comment about very few dying from MAC, and for me personally about the blood. I feel so much better.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.