Surgery concerns

Hello Baz. You were diagnosed five yrs ago with asthma and bronchiectasis. Did you ever test positive for mac?

Hello Heather! I was diagnosed all of my adult life with asthma and put on inhalers. I have been going to the Mayo Clinic since 2013 and they have never mentioned me having asthma and it is not in my medical records either. So, I do not know if I do or not. I nebulize albuterol daily, so it really doesn't matter either way. I have a feeling that I went for many yrs with serious lung issues and it got blamed on asthma. I was treated short term for recurring pneumonia over the yrs, and I have a feeling it was mac or pseudo instead, My sputem was never tested back in the day; so, who knows??

Hi Kathy. What date is your surgery in Sept?

Hi Heather.....I also have asthma which we confirmed by pulmonologist after my MAC diagnosis. I have been treated for asthma for years, and he thought perhaps it was all MAC, but it is both.

Hi Terri, I have coughed up liquid blood on occasion and was always diagnosed with pneumonia when having CT's and X-rays, then a couple of times the radiologist stated that the findings on the film from the scans/X-rays were consistent with MAC but my allergy/asthma doc dismissed that analogy, so no I have never been tested for MAC.

September 25.

Thanks to this group, I’ve gotten my GP on board to send all recent specialist reports to the surgeon and ask for a consult with anaesthesiology. I’ll give it some time and then follow up with the surgeon.

Once again, I’m reminded how important it is to be on top of things.

I've never coughed up blood (how horrible that must be!) or had pneumonia. However, the radiologists who were following my recurring nodules started reporting that the
Ct scans sbowed that the nodules were either a mycobacteria infection or the result of aspiration. I researched and asked my pulmonogist to have me bring in a sputum sample. I had done several when I was first diagnosed with copd and bronchiectasis but it had been several years since testing.

My pulmonologist refused. She said that my increasing mucus was caused by the bronchiectssis and aspiration. I could not understand why she wouldn't order the test so I went to a different pulmonologist in different medical practice. My new doctor gave me a sputum sample container at my first visit.

Several weeks later, she called to tell me that my sputum was positive for MAC.

baz10, What do you think about asking for a sputem test? If you decide to get one, ask that they test for mac and pseudomonas, and tell them you want a suseptibilty test done as well. Do you know what that is? There are still many drs out there that don't know to check that out as an option. I was told I had pneumonia 8 times. I was given a one week prescription of a broad spectrum antibiotic each time I 'had' pneumonia. I was never checked for mac. It is my belief that I had mac all along and not pneumonia.

baz10, I just re-read this post of yours. I think you should insist on a sputem test and know for sure. I don't mean to tell you what you should do, I just don't want you to fall between the cracks. We have all learned here that being your own best health advocate is of upmost importance.

@windwalker yes I wonder if it is MAC lung damage rather than asthma, I will ask my specialist next time I go if they can tel the difference or not. Last time my tests were the best ever for me, think its because I hold my breath alot when inhale saline, it helps me get stuff up.