Hi @128128terry11t, we all know the feeling of depression, fear and aloneness only too well with the MAC diagnosis, you are not alone anymore.

@128128terry11t, Terry you do NOT need to respond to each and every post you receive! We all know how overwhelming all this feels in the beginning .. your PRIMARY responsibility right now is to take care of YOURSELF!! You are working .. trying to get a handle on your MAC disease .. trying to understand all this. We know you are grateful for our help and support!

IF you feel a need to respond .. all you REALLY need to do is just "click on the heart" below "Reply" .. the person will get an email saying you "Liked" their post! That is quick for you after you have read a post .. alerts the poster that you have read their post .. BUT then you can get on to all the other responsibilities of your life. Right now .. just take care of YOU! Hugs! Katherine

The "65 year old" train station is in my rearview mirror. I will be ordering those products. Halo spray will be my new pepper spray for germs instead of people. Thanks, Terry

I want to get in on these conversations. How do I do thi?  

You made my day.  I thought I was the only one with a severe computer skills deficiency.  I just hit "respond", write and send it off.  I can only hope that it reaches the intended destination.I am looking for a heart under reply to acknowledge that I have read an email.  I have a MAC so if someone is out there reading this, would enjoy knowing where to find the "heart".Terry

Annie, you're HERE! You're IN! All you have to do now is post .. just like you did with this one! Any questions .. comments .. tips .. whatever! Welcome! Hugs, Katherine

@128128terry11t, Terry, LOVED the way you put it! At age 73 now I say my "gratitudes" .. I have a good life with many things to be grateful for! Hugs! Katherine

Bronchiectasis .. just listened to a GREAT video .. give it a try! Really good info! Thanks to Mayrjo I am learning SO much more about my own Disease Bronchiectasis than I've ever taken the time to learn! Frankly when first diagnosed I read a lot .. but kind of forgot about it .. just cough away. This is really helpful .. thank you Maryjo! Hugs! Katherine

WONDERFUL INFO FROM M.D. Dr. William Girard of University of Texas Health

Hi,<br>I did not read your previous report about changing doctors. I know many feel that they have to go to someone associated with big centers. Personally, I am very comfortable with the pulmonologist I see. Everyone takes the same medicines and abide by the same guidelines.<br>As long as I continue on the regimens of medicines, improve and have the excepted follow up with imaging and sputum cultures, I see no reason to go to the expense and time to travel to a major clinic. If those things are not met, I will seek help elsewhere. At first I had to get another opinion because the doctor I was seeing did not start MAC meds. I got an opinion on the same tests he had done and was sent back to see another for treatment. Saw the new doc every month and had chest x-rays each time. 1st month on meds big improvement. Was on the meds 3 months, sputum came back negative. Took the medicines next 12 months with 3 mo visits and x-ray improvement each time. I have been off meds for 4 mos. Had visit and x-ray @1 mo post and x-ray and visit @4 mo post. Have a sputum culturing now. Had blood drawn a few times. What more could anyone have been done?<br><br>Now if, after reading from others on this forum, he had not done everything, I would have probably sought another doctor.<br><br>It is a difficult disease and hard to cure, thus the time taking medicines. I tried to not let it consume me and tried to do the best I could and not keep it on my mind constantly, but still do everything right. <br> The reason I have written this is I feel like there might be some out there that for one reason or another can't go to the major centers and I don't want them to think they may not be getting adequate care.<br><br>

Anyone have a name for an ID doctor on Long Island, NY who specializes in MAC or has seen a lot of patients with MAC?Terry