Hello Julia. The chest pain and discomfort that I experience is constantly isolated in my lower left lung and diaphragm. It feels almost as if my lung is 'rooted' into my ribcage when I breath, therefore I am always taking shallow breaths. In an effort to isolate the MAC in my sinus cavity, a sinus flush was recently performed, and instead of finding Mycobacterium avium, I have a colony of Mycobacterium terrae up there!

Is your CT Scan being performed WITH or without contrast? Please keep us posted with the results. I pray that you are on the mend.

Best wishes,,
Melissa

Julia, I periodically have aches or discomfort in my chest - had it years before MAC diagnosis. I also have lost half of my hearing, due to the drugs I'm on - am told it's a side effect of one of the drugs. But the drugs (and exercise and sleep/rest) have kept me well! Inhalers never worked for me - have tried 3-4 different ones. For me, I can't be outside when the dew point is high - causes real tightness and very shallow breaths. My blood work is monitored yearly and it's always been good - sounds like you have a tougher situation with MAC than me. I've adjusted very well although the first 2 years were really rocky. My advice -- find the BEST doctor who knows how to treat MAC, ask him/her tons of questions and follow their advice. My best to you.

Paula

Hi everyone<br />
After being diagnosed with MAC in the beginning of 2015 I have now<br />
been diagnosed with TB and are on the meds for 2 mnths. I have been<br />
in hospital for a week with pleurisy. The pain in my lungs are<br />
killing me. I just feel sick the whole time. I am sick and tired of<br />
being sick and tired!!!!!<br />
<br />

Finding a doctor who will TALK to you is the answer. I messed around with one for 6 months and yesterday found the right one. I took 5 pages of notes and he spent 55 minutes with me answering questions. I feel like I am on the right road now! Spent lots of $$$$ on drugs that he could not believe I was taking such high dosages of. True......he, too, says all of us need to get the drug companies to research MAI/MAC now that many of us are coming down with it...........wonder how we go about that? I will ask him the next time I see him!

there is research in this area- go to NTMinfo.org website for more information- you may qualify for a trial.

Hello Digmeme, good for you that you did NOT give up! Just keep educating yourself .. sharing your knowledge on this Forum and taking good care of yourself! We are all here for you on our shared journey! Hugs to you! Katherine

@jms64 I have the same kind of chest pain too. Chest discomfort, tightness and pressure... not a good sign. Mine followed by some coughing up blood and hospital stay...