Nanette, thank you so much for responding. Yeh for the cheerleaders! What my doctor told me had me truly depressed. This forum gives the whole picture - knowledge based on experience. Kathryn

Kay how will the doctors know how the drugs are working when you see them on 10/6 if l may ask?
terri d

Hi, I'm Elaine. I had a very large accumulation in my upper lung. I had chest X-rays done every month for 6 months. Each month there was clearing. Now I have some scarring that will always be there. As a retired X-ray technologist, I could recognize the difference. My first film was frightening.

EK

Elaine...so that is how progress (hopfully) is done..sequential chest xrays? how convenient to have the expertise from your Professional expertise.. Scary also.. All my chest xrays are negative..CAT scans also...only the bronchial washings from the bronchoscopy gave the answer that l had MAC....and the cough/ mucus symptom of a 2 year duration. So if and when l go on the meds....will my...hopeful progress....only be measured when the cough/mucus leaves and l have a repeat bronchoscopy and specimens obtained from that...looking to see if MAC still there??
thanks
terri D

I also had sputum cultures. After 3 months of treatment, cultures negative<br>for bacteria. Had culture done after 1 year still negative. I am 2 weeks<br>off medicine. Will return for X-ray in I month. I have not asked about<br>possibility of relapse or how rapidly it grows in that case.<br>EK<br><br>

EK
Did you have CT scans or X-rays?
What meds are you taking? Sorry if you've already said that!

They give me sputum cultures and ct scans. Hoping mine clears up, and all of us who are taking all of these meds! Good to hear your cultures are negative after 3 months.
Kay S

I had an X-ray at my regular doctor because after 3 weeks of seeing him and taking antibiotics, my wbc was elevated. Chest X-ray then revealed large accumulation of infection. I was sent to hospital for 10 days of IV antibiotics and followed by 10 more days IV antibiotics at home. A CT scan was done in hospital. Kept seeing that pulmonologist for follow up X-rays every week. When no improvement, I went back to regular dr. And asked him to refer me to Vanderbilt. In the meantime I found out I had tested positive for MAC while in hospital but the results had been overlooked. From the records I carried, Vanderbilt called my regular Doctor and I was referred for treatment to another doctor. One month later, I finally was started on the treatment. 900 mg Ethambutol, 600 mg Rifabutin and 200 mg Azithromycin everyday. After 1 month of treatment, there was a big improvement on X-ray. I completed 15 months of treatment 2 weeks ago. As I look back, I think this had been going on for about 6 months before I realized something was wrong. Circumstances kept me from realizing that I was sick.

If your chest X-rays are negative, they will have to rely on sputum cultures. I guess if you can produce a collection, they will have to get from bronchoscope. <br><br>