1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Aspergillus with MAC

Posted by franthony @franthony, Feb 20, 2019

Has anyone else picked up aspergillus (pulmonary fungal infection) while being treated for MAC? MY ID doc has it on watch because it can't be treated while I am being treated for the MAC, due to drug interactions. It doesn't help that my local clinic threw out my last two culture specimens for fungus because there was not enough for AFB cultures even though I wrote on big Sharpie twice on the second one was for fungus. I also have colonized pseudomonas, and am not currently being treated for that.

If you do have this situation, how has your doc been handling it?

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

Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 9, 2019
In reply to @dulwich "Thanks for this article. I see that a number of people are using 7% saline in..." + (show)
@dulwich

Thanks for this article. I see that a number of people are using 7% saline in their nebulizer but the doctors I have seen have only recommended 3%. Would be interested in comments on this. Also for brigby, there are devices that can help you clear your airways more easily, even if you have limited pulmonary function and also medications to help liquefy sputum and clear your lungs. I wonder whether you were able to discuss this with your doctor?

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@dulwich Hi there! Not sure if you saw the saline chart or not. To be honest, I am not totally sure how to interpret it. 7% may be overkill for avium m. (Mac) but I do know that you become accustomed to the saline and it doesn't irritate like it originally does after awhile. The whole point of inducing the irritation is that is causes you to cough up the gunk. My Mayo Clinic dr put me on 7% and I trust him implicitly. We are all diffirent, your dr may have had a reason for your 3%.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Jun 18, 2019
In reply to @windwalker "Here is the saline (sodium chloride) chart Across the top is the % (strength) of the..." + (show)
@windwalker

Here is the saline (sodium chloride) chart Across the top is the % (strength) of the saline. Down the far left column is the list of the bacteriums that it kills. The chart shows that 7% saline will help to kill back mac, and mai. I presently test negative on everything, but doing the saline treatment helps keep it away. I hope this helps you to understand why we use it.

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@lampstone, Hi Pam. Did the saline chart come through?

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Feb 9, 2020
In reply to @windwalker "Here is the saline (sodium chloride) chart Across the top is the % (strength) of the..." + (show)
@windwalker

Here is the saline (sodium chloride) chart Across the top is the % (strength) of the saline. Down the far left column is the list of the bacteriums that it kills. The chart shows that 7% saline will help to kill back mac, and mai. I presently test negative on everything, but doing the saline treatment helps keep it away. I hope this helps you to understand why we use it.

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@poodledoc, I have been trying to import that saline chart for you. Having trouble doing it. I will have to get with IT tomorrow.

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Mar 1, 2020

Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?

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3 replies
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Mar 3, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?" + (show)
@thumperguy

Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?

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@thumperguy Hi there. Aspergillus is one of the other fungal things we mac patients can sometimes pick up. Another one to look out for is pseudomonas. You can enter these key words in the search box at the top of this page and it should bring up past posts on the subject. Are you asking about it because it showed up in your labwork?

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1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Mar 3, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?" + (show)
@thumperguy

Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?

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Hi. Had you seen this link already? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aspergillosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369619 [...]

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Mar 3, 2020
In reply to @thumperguy "Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?" + (show)
@thumperguy

Anyone on the forum have experience with this or related ailments?

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@thumperguy I had pseudomonas in 2016, was treated and it was gone in 30 days. I also had picked up another fungal type around 2013, but I cannot remember the name of it. Anyhow, the antibiotics I went on for mac took care of it.(can click on my photo icon to read about my treatment plan) It is common for patients with bronchiectasis and/or mac to also be suseptible to other fungals and mycobacteriums. I remain on maintenance antibiotics to this day to keep misc infections away.

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Mar 3, 2020
In reply to @windwalker "@thumperguy Hi there. Aspergillus is one of the other fungal things we mac patients can sometimes..." + (show)
@windwalker

@thumperguy Hi there. Aspergillus is one of the other fungal things we mac patients can sometimes pick up. Another one to look out for is pseudomonas. You can enter these key words in the search box at the top of this page and it should bring up past posts on the subject. Are you asking about it because it showed up in your labwork?

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Thanks Teri. It's my son who's been dx'd. with it. He's been having lots of trouble with it for several months now. He lives in northern Illinois and is close enough to Chicago to be able to drive in to Northwestern University Medical where he is being treated by, I presume, a faculty member. He's buoyed by her competence and though busy, she is supportive; recently emailing him an Rx for a med after he contacted her while vacationing in Mexico.

I'll send the him the Mayo link that you furnished. Don

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crackergirl | @crackergirl | Feb 23, 2022

Has anyone else had both of these and how did they manage to treat both?

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 25, 2022
In reply to @crackergirl "Has anyone else had both of these and how did they manage to treat both?" + (show)
@crackergirl

Has anyone else had both of these and how did they manage to treat both?

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Hi Crackergirl, welcome to the MAC group. I moved your question about how to manage both MAC and aspergillosis to this existing discussion:
- Aspergillus with MAC https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/aspergillus-with-mac/

I did this so you can easily connect with fellow members like @franthony @windwalker @thumperguy @brigby @heathert @marilynk who have also had both.

Crackergirl, have you or are you currently receiving treatment for MAC? Is the diagnosis of aspergillosis new or were you diagnosed with both at the same time?

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