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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 21 5:21pm | Replies (9354)Comment receiving replies
Hi. This is only my 2nd time writing on this site. I have been diagnosed with MAC about a month ago, and now see a pulmonologist & a infectious disease Dr. I start my cocktail of meds on 5-2-16. Actually, I should have started them this week, but I am having such panic attacks that I am waiting until Monday, I am sooo scared. I am a caregiver to my elderly parents who are sick and an adult (34) yr old son who is handicap. I am afraid I will be too sick to take care of them. I have never been this scared in my life. I have decided if the meds, all 4 to start with make me to ill, I am going to stop taking them. I can't imagine being so sick for the next 18 months. I think I would rather die. I am just a mess and cry constantly. Ok, I won't bring my problems to this anymore. I just needed to get this off my chest. SCARED!!!!!
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Janet. Very generous of you. I will check out the list.
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Hello cacallahan, welcome! I’m so glad you have found this forum. I think you will find a great deal of comfort if you make the time to read back through previous posts .. it is just FILLED with good information about our disease .. our journey .. and you will find it is really not as scary ONCE you have a better understanding of just what it is about. Remember .. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!! I am also a caretaker .. I call myself my husband’s “unpaid medical secretary”! He is Stage 4 cancer .. is doing well on a newly approved chemotherapy .. but also has Diabetes, heart issues etc. Life goes on!
It is IMPORTANT for you to think about the mind/body connection that is VERY strong!! When we go into situations with knowledge .. which you can gain on this forum .. a positive mental attitude .. which you can gain from the supportive people on this forum .. you will be MUCH more able to handle EACH area of your life more easily. Fear is negative energy .. feeling empowered is positive energy .. try to empower yourself. I feel for you .. because I started this journey without a forum of this nature .. I also was scared like you are .. but keep coming back here .. we are all on this shared journey. PLUS keep in mind that because I stuck with it .. I have been off antibiotics and STABLE!! since May 2014!! Yeah!! There IS light at the end of the tunnel!! Go in serenity .. seek it .. find it .. live in it!