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Have you had your water tested?
There has been some recent discussion about having home water supply tested for MAC/NTM. People seem to be having difficulty finding a resource to have this done. If anyone has had their home tested, could you please let us know a few details? Here are some of the questions, but you don't have to answer all of them - any info you can provide will be helpful:
Which lab(s) did you use?
What was the approximate cost?
What was the sampling process?
What was the turnaround time?
What did you learn, how detailed was the report, and was it understandable to a layman who is not a microbiologist?
Did the lab have someone you could contact directly with questions, either by phone or email?
Overall, how satisfied were you with the test?
Thank you for any help you can give!
Sue
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Thanks Irene-just had my son deliver some distilled water. Will start using it today!
Good girl!! 😊👍Like Terri said, “never use tap water for a Neti pot.” May I add that CPAC machines for sleep apnea need to be filled with distilled water as well. Irene
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3 ReactionsI should have invested in distilled water. I use it for everything. I use it for my net pot in the morning. I clean my equipment with it. I use it to make coffee!
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1 ReactionI tell everyone I can about their shower heads being possible harboring points for MAC. It was something brought to my attention when I was first diagnosed in 2017. I since changed out my shower hose and head to one made of copper. ( helps kill bacteria ).
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1 ReactionHow do you clean your shower head? Do you hang a bucket from the shower with cleaning vinegar?
Fill a plastic bag with the vinegar solution and tie it up so the shower head is soaking in the solution.. Hope this helps.
When you call your water company and tell them you are interested in them testing for MAC, do they know that to do or did you have to provide them with some detailed information.? I would l like to call my water company. Thanks for your help.
Our local water company doesn't do these tests on either muni water or individual buildings.
I have read repeatedly that if you have pink slime mold it doesn't coexist with MAC. I have to clean diligently in both my homes to keep the slime away from kitchen, bathroom, etc. So I never bothered to pay for testing.
The other thing to remember is that MAC is everywhere- water, air and soil, so you really can't avoid it completely. I just try to be sensible- no long steamy showers, no hot tubs, keep water heater over 140°.
I decided years ago that my life wouldn't be ruled by MAC and Bronch. I am careful- clean house, clean nebs, mask in dusty yard and garden, etc. But I still travel, eat out, hang with friends and family.
Your decision may differ depending upon the severity of your disease and your risk tolerance.
Sue
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2 Reactions@thielmann1 Hi there, I requested my local water company to test my water several years ago for mac. They had no idea what I was talking about, but was interested in learning about it. I shared all that I knew and they sent a man out to my house with sterilized containers and got water samples from my shower, kitchen sink, and outdoor hose bib. The results came back negative. I figured that it may be case as I do get the pink slime around the bathroom drains if not diligent with cleaning. I also have not gotten re-infected with mac since moving here. The aforementioned pink slime is a type of water borne bacteria that does not allow mac to grow, If your water company refuses to test your water, there is a company that does specifically test for mac.
Oh, and I wrote that yesterday on the fly - the name of the organism that causes the "pink slime" is methylobacter.
Sue