Connect
MAC and "Stabbing" Back Pain
I have been on the Big 3 for almost 11 months, with manageable side effects. Last week I got the word that not only was my sputum still positive for MAC, but that I also have a new "spot" on my lung. Beginning Monday, I am switching to DAILY doses of the Big 3 until my tests are negative. So, I'm not in the best place mentally and emotionally right now.
New symptom - for the last few days I have had what could best be described as a stabbing pain in my back, between the shoulder blades but more to the left. I tried my favorite chiropractor, and got little relief. It was manageable by position change and ibuprofen until yesterday when nothing seemed to help.
Last night, while out camping miles from home, it was accompanied by nausea, an ache in my left arm and up the side of my neck.
Panic time - is it heart? My EMT husband promptly took me to the nearest ER where they did a full heart and blood workup - result - no conclusion, but my heart is fine. Today it's back to a persistent ache (on 400 mg ibuprofen every 4-6 hours, cannot take tylenol.) Of course this happens on a holiday! I'll be calling my docs first thing tomorrow.
(Before anyone yells at me for not calling 911 - my husband checked my vitals and concluded it probably wasn't heart, that any help would be first responders, not EMTs or paramedics, coming from quite a distance, and that he could get me directly to the ER faster than they.)
Has anyone else had symptoms like this? Was it diagnosed by an ER or your doc?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Connect
@sueinmn...I went through many heart tests for pain similar to yours. It turned out that the nerves in my back and around my chest were firing from agitation. Acupuncture resolved the problem. The heart and lung doctors were unable to suggest anything to help. It was my Chinese doctor who diagnosed and treated the problem.
Sueinmn. I have had pain in my ribs on my right side that radiates to my back. Doc sent me for a cat scan that revealed more modules had formed. They attributed the pain to coughing so much and so hard.
Thank you for the recommendations. I have had great success with acupuncture in the past. Unless my doctors have a different idea I'll be giving her a call.
@sueinmn I was on the Big 3 for 17 months and had the same thing happen. A new spot. I had a biopsy to confirm the spot was MAC It was a Granuloma but did culture MAC. Then they sent a susceptibility test to make sure it was still sensitive to Azithromycin.. Have they sent any susceptibility tests for you? I am still on the same regimen and going to get an opinion at Mayo in Rochester.
@sueinmn Hello. I apologize for the delayed response, I have been out of town enjoying the holidays with my daughter. I too had that constant pain in my back near the shoulder blade. I called it 'my rotten spot'. That pain nagged me for years. I used ibuprophen and a heating pad. I don't know the real cause of that pain, but I had always guessed it was a pulled muscle from the constant and violent coughing I would do. I just figured I had kept re-injuring that same muscle. Ever since I tested negative for mac and pseudo; the cough went away, as did that 'rotten spot'.