I remember when i start my meds I got very sick, cramping on my stomach, shortness of breath, everything that can go wrong. I almost stop taking them but tried different time taking them and my body got used to it now. I'm on meds now for 9 months and sometimes I still fell that side effect once in a while but not like the first time I started. It will get better and I will pray for your Mom and everyone in this forum. God Bless you all ! We need to look at the bright side and keep our body healthy. Hugs to all of you! Cila

@ilgrp4e, PLEASE!! Have her Infectious Disease doctor STOP the meds until she is stabilized. THEN work with her .. start just ONE antibiotic perhaps for ONE week .. watch WHAT side effect .. THEN a second antibiotic perhaps for ONE week .. watch WHAT side effect .. THEN a third antibiotic perhaps for ONE week .. watch WHAT side effect ! DO NOT start all THREE at once!! No WONDER your poor Mom is so Ill. Keep coming back .. we will help you!! Hugs! Katherine

@ilgrp4e, I wanted to quickly get that one post to you. After you have done what I said .. take a list of all your Mom's meds PLUS the new antibiotics .. go to a local pharmacy. Ask to speak to the PHARMACY MANAGER. Now you have to speak up .. YOU have to be your Mom's BEST ADVOCATE! Don't let them put you off! Explain the whole situation to the Pharmacy Manager. Show the list to the Pharmacy Manager .. ask them to help you put together a "Daily "Medication Schedule" for your Mom. Times/with or without food etc.

That should help alleviate some of her issues. Only a pharmacist can tell you WHICH med can be taken with WHICH med without it affecting each other .. deleting some of it's efficiency etc.

Then as you have time .. read some of the back pages of our Forum to see what others have done to alleviate some of the symptoms .. you will learn a lot! @ilgrp4e, .. your Mom is REALLY lucky to have a daughter like you! Good luck to both of you .. I am sending BOTH of you big hugs an LOTS of positive energy in this tough time! Keep coming back .. we will try to help you in any way we can. Katherine

@beatitnow, Amy, be SURE you do NOT start all the meds at one time!! Allow at least 4-5 day between or preferably a week to see which/what side effect belong to what med? Has your doctor told you this? Also .. did your doctor tell you to start a probiotic in advance? These are the notes I have on starting:

I requested that I start ONE DRUG at a time for ONE WEEK .. or at LEAST 4 days before adding a second drug .. so I could tell EXACTLY which/what drug was causing ANY potential side effect and I could isolate it .. hopefully watch for a side effect dwindle etc. THEN introduce a SECOND DRUG. Frankly WE are in the driver’s seat in our own lives .. our own bodies. Take charge and request that type of schedule if you want it!

PROBIOTIC: take probiotic half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach (when on meds I also took a 2nd probiotic in the evening on an empty stomach)

Amy, these are just my thoughts .. you are in the driver's seat .. your body .. your life! Hugs! Katherine

@kaystrand, Hello Kay, I am BETTER today .. not to worry! Sorry about your being uncomfortable about the article on Bronchiectasis but truthfully our Forum is MAC and Bronchiectasis .. WHY .. because as Dr. Aksamit told me when I was diagnosed with BOTH at the same time .. the doctors do NOT know which comes first .. chicken/egg thing. Do some people get MAC first and THEN Bronchiectasis? OR do they get Bronchiectasis and THEN get MAC. None of the doctors really know which comes first because there is no money for research to find out.

That is why that article is on our Forum .. because Bronchiectasis is so related to MAC. Because knowledge is power .. when we know better .. we can do better. Knowledge of something can never hurt you .. it can only expand your mind to possibilities to change your universe.

You are indeed blessed if you only have MAC. You are one of the lucky ones! So do NOT worry .. it does not apply to you. Just stay as healthy .. happy and serene as you possibly can .. live your life as well and fully as you can! Keep us posted on your progress .. here's hoping August is a GREAT month for you! Sending you a hug! Katherine

@ilgrp4e, .. do you have a first name? Much more personal! Yes, @ilgrp4e, there is ALWAYS hope! As the old saying goes .. where there is life .. there is ALWAYS hope! And I would say .. where there is a wonderful daughter .. there will ALWAYS be hope! You go Girl! Hugs! Katherine

Sent in separate post a link to University of Chicago...she clearly cannot tolerate the MAC meds when taken all together...others here have spoken of starting one at a time with a few days or a week in between to make sure there's no bad reaction and if there is, to which one...I'm thinking she can also see a Rheumatologist there too and from there have the two docs coordinate her care. What RA meds is she taking?

@128128terry11t .. Terry , I am really glad you jumped in with this advice .. too often we sit back .. BUT this kind of help may help MANY others .. thank you so much! I also had not heard of a pulmonologist using TWO weeks between the meds .. GREAT idea! If you don't mind I am going to add this to my File Cabinet .. just full of good advice .. again .. thank you! Hugs! Katherine

by @heathert, Hey Heather what kind of magic wand do YOU have! I just WISH I was clear of that nasty Pseudomonas Aeruginosa bacteria! Dr. Aksamit says Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is like MAC .. you can "treat it but cannot cure it" .. but HOPEFULLY after 28 days of 2x a day of Cipro .. I will be stabilized like I have been with MAC since May 2014! Even today after just 3 pills of Cipro I feel somewhat better .. not ready to run any races .. but not in bed either! YEAH! I know it is from all the positive energy I have been feeling from all my wonderful Forum members .. feels all warm and fuzzy! Thank you ALL! Katherine

So relieved to hear you are feeling a bit better Katherine. Hopefully every day you will get better and stronger. Irene