N-A-C and apo-Lactoferrin helping MAC and Bronchiectasis
I've been having great success with taking a couple of supplements for the last 7 months. I wonder if anyone else has tried these particular two supplements regularly over a number of months and found success in that. I have been taking the Apo-Lactoferrin bought through Life Extension once a day and the N-A-C 600mg Sustain by Jarrow for about 7 months now.
I keep getting better and better. My lungs seem stronger though I haven't had them tested and my heavy almost constant chronic cough that I had for a couple of years is pretty much gone. I have a brief few coughs right after extensive exercise that brings up and clears a bit of thick mucus most days that I exercise but it's only for a moment about 10 minutes after an hours worth of exercise. My pulmonary doc appt isn't till October, so I don't have any diagnostic proof without tests to see if I'm rid of the heavy concentration of MAC and Aspergillus that I was diagnosed with after a Bronchcospy in January.
I have not yet taken any antibiotics or medicine for treating the MAC as I wanted to see what I could do on my own. I also use some light saline nasal spray in the mornings. I could be just lucky, but it seems those supplements are doing what some research said they might do and are helping break up the biofilms of the mycobacteria and helping my immune system keep them at bay (or maybe even rid me of them!).
I also take Jarrow Curcumin once a day for good measure to help prevent any possible inflammation for the last 4 months and have been taking 500mg of D3 sublingually but I've taken the D3 for a couple of years, so I think it's been the N-A-C and the app-lactoferrin that's working for me!
Anyone else tried N-A-C in a consistent dosing over a number of months? I think the long-term consistent dosing with the N-A-C supplement is important not just to get at and break up the hard to reach MAC that hides in its biofilms, but to prevent any new NTM from getting a deep hold in the lungs. Again, I don't know whether it's the N-A-C alone or with apo-lactoferrin, there's just much more research on N-A-C since it's been used for other useful things in medicine, like preventing liver toxicity.
Here's an initial study on it from last April in relation to lowering problems with bronchiectasis: https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-019-1042-x.
Here's another research paper on N-A-C and it's effects on breaking up resistant bacterial biofilms: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=N-acetylcysteine+as+powerful+molecule+to+destroy+bacterial+biofilms.+A+systematic+review
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
@eileent ..Glad to hear you are doing so well. I too have used NAC for several years now (600 mg 2x a day) and think it has been very helpful. I also use CLear Lungs by Ridgecrest (blue bottle,, extra strength)1 cap 1x a day. I learned of it on this Mayo site. Hard to say but think they have both kept me mostly asymptomatic along with nebulizing saline. Hope you continue with good health. Kate
@alleycatkate Where on this site did you see information on CLear Lungs? (I am new here) thanks.
@sylvermoon8 I saw no posting on this site but read many MAC patients are using it with good success. I cannot find any studies done. It is a combination of Chinese Herbs that clear the passages. If interested, check the 700+ reviews on this amazon site. https://www.amazon.com/RidgeCrest-Clearlungs-Strength-Decongestant-Capsules/dp/B0016AV5IE#customerReviews
@sylvermoon8 To clarify. Many on this site mentioned using Clear Lungs with good results clearing sputum and easing breathing.
@alleycatkate I posted about blue label Clear Lung several times back in early 2018. It
is a great product.
For whatever reason... I am now MAI free as of April, 2019.
A friend in Ga. told me about it.
@janovr Wow!! That is terrific news!! Would be great if the Clear Lung was responsible. I take several things so never sure what is doing what...but they are working well so I continue. Thanks for your wonderful update. It is so nice to hear the positive new. Kate
Thank you
@janovr , thank you so much.
I was given Stiolto Repimat for shortness of breathe. Just looked at the side effects which were discouraging. Now I just ordered "clear lungs"! I'll give it a try for one month.
@catalin I now take it when I feel a congestion starting! I too take other things but know this stopped the coughing!
It sounds like these should not be taken while on treatment for Mac because of possible interaction? Has anyone had experience with that?