In shock after MAC diagnosis

What you are describing is a similar circumstances stance I had when I had a fungal infection. I was working in a hospital lab and started to cough and felt lightheaded all the time and my blood pressure was a erratic.

To make a long story short after seeing several doctors and having several test done, I took it upon myself to put a mold testing dish in the vent in my lab. Sure enough there was all kinds of mold growth. So a doctor I work with gave me a prescription for an anti-fungal medication. Such as Diflucan. When you have a fungal infection taking antibiotics makes it worse and makes it spread.

I would suggest you talk to your doctor, even if they argue with you, insist you want to be tested with an antifungal medication. There have been instances where people have had lung issues and other issues thinking it was some kind of cancer, and it really was fungus growing.

@sueinmn Hi Sue! Just wanted you to know that I appreciate your spot-on comments. You always provide accurate info. to the newcomers. I have been extremely busy with a building roject and helping a dear friend care for two parents with dementia. I feel good knowing that you are here and catch some 'newbies' that I may not get to right away. My appreciation extends to all of you that pitch in daily and keep our network strong. I got my annual test results back from Mayo today. NEGATIVE for all organisms. That makes three yrs free of infection! Yayyyyy!!

@sueinmn Hi Sue! Just wanted you to know that I appreciate your spot-on comments. You always provide accurate info. to the newcomers. I have been extremely busy with a building roject and helping a dear friend care for two parents with dementia. I feel good knowing that you are here and catch some 'newbies' that I may not get to right away. My appreciation extends to all of you that pitch in daily and keep our network strong. I got my annual test results back from Mayo today. NEGATIVE for all organisms. That makes three yrs free of infection! Yayyyyy!!

@sueinmn....I also have psedomonas, mine being much more difficult to treat...tobi doesn’t wrk for me, but Colistin does...depending on your sensitivites as well makes a huge difference and how colonized it is...it is s very dangerous bacteria, and can be difficult to treat, as I’m experiencing...tks for the onfo

sueinmn --- I read with much interest the fact that toby did not help you. I'm half way through my 5th session of toby and I sometimes think I cough more than I did before I started it. Maybe not, but tremendous coughing and heavy green phlegm It does not seem to be helping me at all. I just did a sputum sample and sure enough -- pseudomonas as usual. I took Levaquin about a year ago --- and clindamycin prior to that. None of those have helped. I hate to be a constant complainer, but was interested in Colistin. I have the list of susceptibility results and they are aztreonam, celepime, cefazidime, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, levofloxacin, and piperacillin/tazoactam. Has anyone on this forum not been helped by toby -- and found any of the above meds to eradicate the pseudomonas. I would love to know what others have found. I need help (I'm with Rochester Mayo's and I've faxed my report to them so hopefully he'll try something else. I know Terri has used toby and another antibiotic on alternate months and I'm wondering if anyone else is on a program like hers. Thanks for all the info I can gather. Jan

sueinmn --- I read with much interest the fact that toby did not help you. I'm half way through my 5th session of toby and I sometimes think I cough more than I did before I started it. Maybe not, but tremendous coughing and heavy green phlegm It does not seem to be helping me at all. I just did a sputum sample and sure enough -- pseudomonas as usual. I took Levaquin about a year ago --- and clindamycin prior to that. None of those have helped. I hate to be a constant complainer, but was interested in Colistin. I have the list of susceptibility results and they are aztreonam, celepime, cefazidime, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, levofloxacin, and piperacillin/tazoactam. Has anyone on this forum not been helped by toby -- and found any of the above meds to eradicate the pseudomonas. I would love to know what others have found. I need help (I'm with Rochester Mayo's and I've faxed my report to them so hopefully he'll try something else. I know Terri has used toby and another antibiotic on alternate months and I'm wondering if anyone else is on a program like hers. Thanks for all the info I can gather. Jan

hi aunt nanny...I too have psedo...did sensitivites as well..I am using Colistin every other month to keep the psedo at bay...I’m not doing a drug in between, because these drugs cipro and levaquin have hard sideceffects...I’m going all also for a second opinion with our head of infectious disease..drs feel that for now this might be a better plan...I have Toby and Cayston as a back up...my drs say your chances r better not to develop s tolerance if u r doing drug every other month with nothing in between..better on your kidneys and liver..will see what second opinion dr says

hi aunt nanny...I too have psedo...did sensitivites as well..I am using Colistin every other month to keep the psedo at bay...I’m not doing a drug in between, because these drugs cipro and levaquin have hard sideceffects...I’m going all also for a second opinion with our head of infectious disease..drs feel that for now this might be a better plan...I have Toby and Cayston as a back up...my drs say your chances r better not to develop s tolerance if u r doing drug every other month with nothing in between..better on your kidneys and liver..will see what second opinion dr says