Hi, Everyone! I am new here. I found this forum a few days ago when Googling MAC, which I have been diagnosed with. I also have bronchiectasis (diagnosed in 2014 but also showed up in a previous 2008 CT scan but never addressed) but in addition to that, was diagnosed last December with Atypical Cystic Fibrosis. I took the genetic test and do not have the gene mutation but I do have the symptoms. I do a saline breathing treatment 2xday and use the Aerobika and get up anywhere from 2 - 3 tbsps. of mucus each time I do a treatment. I have a sporadic, typically dry cough unless I have some mucous floating around, in which case I have to clear that but that's not always easy if I'm in public. I began my MAC treatment on 12/17, starting with the Azythromycin 250 mg. Today I begin the Ethambutol 1200 mgs and next week the Rifampin 300 mg. I'm blessed to have someone in my office who has Cystic Fibrosis and also have MAC (although I feel horrible feeling blessed from her illness). She has been able to help me and give me some advice on the meds. Just seeing her show up at work every day tells me there is hope for a "normal" life - even if it's a new normal! This forum is amazing and am glad to have you all as I have learned so much in the first 11 pages! I am replying on your post, Sophie, as I am a prayer warrior and am surrounded by prayer warriors. I believe that is my first line of defense! I am completely dependent on my relationship with God to get me through this. I prayed over my medicine (as strange as that sounds!) and my Sunday School class laid hands on me and prayed over me for protection against the side effects. I will not let this disease become who I am but just an annoyance that I will deal with as needed. I have too much to do! I have stopped working out for a few weeks but will go back to it in the next month. I was having trouble breathing and felt like I wasn't getting the full benefit of my workout. I look forward to reading the rest of the posts (8 more pages to go before I'm caught up!) and benefitting from the knowledge and experience from you all. Oh, BTW, I'm 65 yrs old, female and live in Phoenix, Arizona. I had pneumonia a couple of times in the 90's and Valley Fever in 2008. This was all originally diagnosed as allergies after a persistent cough wouldn't go away in the mid-90's.

I have been on the big "3" since july. At first my stomach hurt a lot, but now no problems. Make sure you get a hearing test and also keep your eyes checked as one of the meds can affect hearing/vision..

Thank you! I have an appointment with the opthamologist at the end of this month and he will check me quarterly. I will call the audiologist tomorrow as their office is closed today. Linda

My vision is great and,so is my hearing. I go back to the eye doc in February. Also if you hsve a smartphone, my pulmonogist recommended i download the color blindness test, the meds could possibly make you colorblind.

Yes, that is correct. I was advised by my doctor to download the colorblind test as well. I am required to go for an eye exam every six months. Irene

I did that yesterday, thanks to this group!

Hi @lindam272, I'd like to add my welcome. I'm so glad you found us here on Connect's oldest and longest discussion. There's a wealth of information being exchanged, and lots to read -- 19 pages of discussion! As you start treatment and perhaps have questions, you'll find the answers here. If this group doesn't have the answers, they go searching for them. @Paula_MAC2007 @kaystrand @kwilbur @heathert @tdrell will you join me in welcoming Linda?

Hi @lindam272 welcome to our group, I hope you can find lots of great information here, MAC/MAI is quite complicated, please dont hesitate to ask us anything, we are all in ths together and help each other along the way.

Thank you, all! I am so much more knowledgeable after reading all these posts! I look forward to the support this group offers and hope that I can help someone else as we venture through this journey.

Welcome Linda
I started meds for MAC in July and the support of this group helped me through the beginning. I was very nauseated at first but good now for the most part. For me worry was the worst part. That's much better thanks to the forum and just acceptance.

I just try to live healthy and then forget about the MAC as much as possible. I was depressed till I learned to let go. This group is positive.

Ask questions and keep letting us know how you are doing. Lots of folks have this crazy disease. It goes into a kind of remission, but we don't know if there might be people out there who are totally well after meds and don't bother being on this website. I know one personally who had MAC and her doc says she is fine now.

It's very different for everyone. Hope you do well with it.

Darling picture of you. Take care. Good 2017 with healing!
Kay S