Just found out I have mycobacterium abscessus!

I too have just recently been diagnosed with abscesses after being MAC free for last 4 1/2 years. Like you, I was disappointed and anxious as I learned that this is a more agressive bacteria and more difficult to get rid of than MAC. My doctor at NJH, Dr. Huitt, said that right now she wouldn’t treat it as there are only a few colonies; however my pulmonologist at Stanford said I should be treated right away with Amikacin via IV 3 x a week, and take Azithromycin. I am currently seeing up a trip to NJH to see Dr. Huitt in person to discuss further. I will keep you posted. Thank you fir posting this. It is comforting to talk with others about this new and emerging bacteria.

I too have just recently been diagnosed with abscesses after being MAC free for last 4 1/2 years. Like you, I was disappointed and anxious as I learned that this is a more agressive bacteria and more difficult to get rid of than MAC. My doctor at NJH, Dr. Huitt, said that right now she wouldn’t treat it as there are only a few colonies; however my pulmonologist at Stanford said I should be treated right away with Amikacin via IV 3 x a week, and take Azithromycin. I am currently seeing up a trip to NJH to see Dr. Huitt in person to discuss further. I will keep you posted. Thank you fir posting this. It is comforting to talk with others about this new and emerging bacteria.

I too have just recently been diagnosed with abscesses after being MAC free for last 4 1/2 years. Like you, I was disappointed and anxious as I learned that this is a more agressive bacteria and more difficult to get rid of than MAC. My doctor at NJH, Dr. Huitt, said that right now she wouldn’t treat it as there are only a few colonies; however my pulmonologist at Stanford said I should be treated right away with Amikacin via IV 3 x a week, and take Azithromycin. I am currently seeing up a trip to NJH to see Dr. Huitt in person to discuss further. I will keep you posted. Thank you fir posting this. It is comforting to talk with others about this new and emerging bacteria.

Please let me know how your visit turns out. I have untreated MAC and my Dr.s are not recommending treatment. I would love to know how you met Dr Huitt and would you recommend him to others. Thank you, and bless you as you go forward.

@thielmann1 Who is your Pulmo @ Stanford? I see Dr. Sung.

Please let me know how your visit turns out. I have untreated MAC and my Dr.s are not recommending treatment. I would love to know how you met Dr Huitt and would you recommend him to others. Thank you, and bless you as you go forward.

After fighting MAC for 4 years with antibiotics and no change in my situation at Stanford, I decided to take myself to National Jewish Health and ask to be seen by Dr. Huitt, on the recommendation of a few infectious disease doctors. I called them, they interviewed me extensively, and then set up a 10 day visit at NJH in Denver. My time there was well spent as they gave my an extensive battery of tests and sent me to classes. I have been MAC free for 4 1/2 years now; however, this abscessus has just shown up in my sputum sample, which has been quite discouraging for me. Since Gwen Huitt only focuses on MAC, I found her to be much more knowledgeable than my 2 pulmonologists that treat a variety of diseases, of which MAC is one. I will let you know how visit goes with her. Nancy

I too have just recently been diagnosed with abscesses after being MAC free for last 4 1/2 years. Like you, I was disappointed and anxious as I learned that this is a more agressive bacteria and more difficult to get rid of than MAC. My doctor at NJH, Dr. Huitt, said that right now she wouldn’t treat it as there are only a few colonies; however my pulmonologist at Stanford said I should be treated right away with Amikacin via IV 3 x a week, and take Azithromycin. I am currently seeing up a trip to NJH to see Dr. Huitt in person to discuss further. I will keep you posted. Thank you fir posting this. It is comforting to talk with others about this new and emerging bacteria.