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Need help with gut issues - feeling discouraged.
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Apr 9 10:27am | Replies (70)Comment receiving replies
Thank you Sue! I did see a gastroenterologist a couple years ago, but it definitely wasn't the right one. They did an upper endoscopy, tried a med, and then offered to take my gallbladder out and sent me on my way. Makes you not too excited to try again, but I definitely need to.
I have an appointment with my pulmo coming up, so will ask for sputum tests. They haven't done any since diagnosis and they never could tell me bacterial load/count, and said that is not done. I will push to see if they can send to a different lab. If I didn't have all of you saying some of these things are necessary & possible, I wouldn't know what to ask for so thanks to everyone here!!! I'm sure I am known as the "problem patient", but I'd rather be that and get the right care!
Thank you!
sherri
Replies to "Thank you Sue! I did see a gastroenterologist a couple years ago, but it definitely wasn't..."
Hello @shooei, Did the GI doc say why he wanted to remove your gallbladder? I just read your original post and I think some of your symptoms could be gallbladder related. You are doing a lot of good things to keep the Bronchiectasis/MAC under control. You might try adding Mucinex along with NAC. As far as diet if you are eating animal protein you could eliminate the Famotidine and Pepsin from your regime by going with a WFPB diet (whole food plant based). Regarding the lung-gut axis question it is proven that reflux/aspiration can definitely contribute to lung problems. I don't see how lung issues could cause gut problems unless of course you are taking antibiotics for the MAC. Just my 2 cents worth. Bill
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Most labs can't give the bacterial load or even the specific bacteria, they just say its Mac. As far as I know only National Jewish and Tyler have labs that can be specific. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to National Jewish is because they have a really good lab and can provide the bacterial load and specific bacteria. I had several cultures that came back with Abscessus and then I was told the lab made a mistake and it was really Mac.