@cmi Please consider staying with us - your personality sounds very much like mine, as does your family. My first months after the MAC diagnosis were marked by fear, insecurity & depression, then I found Connect. Like you, I was overwhelmed by the frightening details and unsure if I could continue. Then I looked "under the hood" and realized that most of the people here were projecting hope, and determined to live their best possible lives. When you see the "depressing" parts, please realize that we are often venting, or asking for help, from the only people who can really understand what we are experiencing.

Over time, I developed a philosophy. I decided to live my fullest possible life with bronchiectasis and MAC, taking prudent precautions, but not allowing it to rule my life. My body tolerated the meds for 18 months, not well, but enough to get the infection under control. From this forum, far more than from my doctors, I learned how to cope with medication side effects, the importance of daily airway clearance, the efficacy of 7% saline nebs, and the absolute necessity of finding the best possible care team and advocating for myself (even though this did get me "fired" as a patient by my first pulmonologist.) I also found this group to be much more of a source of research-based information that a typical blog since it is moderated both by Mayo staff and volunteer mentors.

Now, with the MAC controlled but not cured, I take obvious precautions, like not using hot tubs, keeping my equipment clean and avoiding sick people, but I have made the personal decision not to curtail travel or visits with my grandchildren. Others whose disease is worse, or who have other major concerns, may take more.

Whatever decision you make about continuing to visit us, I wish you all the best in your treatment.
Sue

@cmi I’m sure it must seem a bit overwhelming and depressing to read about others treatments. But there are those of us on here who don’t take any antibiotics. Some of us just exercise and watch what kinds of foods they eat, some of us just do lung clearance exercises, some inhale 3 or 7 % sodium chloride, and some do a combination of the above. We may all have bronchiectasis and/or NTMs but are all on different journeys with our disease. Personally, I come on for support and to know that IF I have to go on medication I know there is a place and people who are here to help me navigate. For me when I say “bronchiectasis” and people have never heard of it, I just say “kind of the opposite of asthma, bronchial tubes stay open instead of close up, causing mucus to build up making it hard to clear or breathe.” I know it’s a very simple description but its close enough. Some people ask for more info or clarification and others understand it it.
I think we’ve all felt as you do at some point.