1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us

Posted by Katherine, Alumni Mentor @katemn, Nov 21, 2011

I am new to Mayo online .. I was hoping to find others with .. MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) and/or BRONCHIECTASIS. I found only 1 thread on mycobacterium accidently under the catagory "Lungs". I'm hoping by starting a subject matter directly related to MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) I may find others out there!

I was diagnosed by a sputum culture August 2007 (but the culture result was accidentally misfiled until 2008!) with MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) and BRONCHIECTASIS. I am now on 5 antibiotics. Working with Dr. Timothy Aksamit at Rochester Mayo Clinic .. he is a saint to have put up with me this long! I was terrified of the treatment . started the first antibiotic September 3, 2011 ... am now on all 5 antibiotics for 18 mos to 2 years. Am delighted at the very bearable side effects!

I wrote on the 1 thread I found: If you google NON-TUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) you will learn a LOT about the disease. But PLEASE do NOT get scared about all the things you read .. that is what I did and nearly refused to do the treatment until after a 2nd Micomacterium was discovered! Educate yourself for "due diligence" .. but take it all with a grain of salt .. you are NOT necessarily going to have all the terrible side effects of the antibiotics! Good luck to you!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January 2017 Update

One of our great Connect Members .. @Paula_MAC2007  .. had a wonderfully helpful idea that I wanted to share! Her idea .. as you read through the pages to gather information on our shared disease of MAC you can develop a personal "file cabinet" for future reference without the necessity of reading all the pages again!

If you have the "MS Word" program on your computer:
- Document Title Example:  Mayo Clinic Connect MAI/MAC Information
- Then develop different categories that make sense to you such as:  Heath Aids .. Videos .. Healthy Living .. Positive Thinking .. Baseline Testing and Regular Testing .. Antibiotics ..
Tips for
- As you read the pages .. copy/paste/save things of interest into that MS Word document under your preferred categories for future reference.

Then as you want to refer back to something in the future .. YEAH!  You have now created your own personal "file cabinet" on MAC/MAI!  Go to it!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Katherine, Alumni Mentor | @katemn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @unicorn "Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably..." + (show)
@unicorn

Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably had it since the 70's. I've taken the meds for a few years, but disease always comes back, and the meds are barely tolerable now. Went to new doc at Mass. General who put me on a nebulizer breathing salt water vapor and albuterol, instead of taking meds. I think it just causes all the mucus to come up so one is less prone to infection. i actually haven't started it yet. i'vebeen off
pills for 5 months and am coughing up blood again. Seriously, so scary I just want a death pill, who wants to live like this?? I am 70 so I am sure that is a factor. xo hope all doing better!

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@irene5, Irene just wanted you to know I am thinking of you .. sending you Lots of Positive Energy and a Big Hug! Katherine

REPLY
Katherine, Alumni Mentor | @katemn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @unicorn "Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably..." + (show)
@unicorn

Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably had it since the 70's. I've taken the meds for a few years, but disease always comes back, and the meds are barely tolerable now. Went to new doc at Mass. General who put me on a nebulizer breathing salt water vapor and albuterol, instead of taking meds. I think it just causes all the mucus to come up so one is less prone to infection. i actually haven't started it yet. i'vebeen off
pills for 5 months and am coughing up blood again. Seriously, so scary I just want a death pill, who wants to live like this?? I am 70 so I am sure that is a factor. xo hope all doing better!

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@boomerexpert, Bomer, really good advice .. thank you! Katherine

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Paula_MAC-2007 | @Paula_MAC2007 | Jun 10, 2017

@internalmeddoc. Thank you for your thoughts that sputum samples to detect NTM/MAC are merely an initial probe. It is very appreciated.

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unicorn | @unicorn | Jun 10, 2017

My name is Christa, I have a child's glee about life, so I am a Unicorn. I have a nice life on the beach so it is not depression, I am not depressed. It is just FEAR, plain and simple fear. you guys know how terrifying it is when the blood gurgles up. (just happened this morn) This is why I mentioned the death pill. i don't want to go by way of pulmonary embolism or choking, jeez, can't we just die in our sleep??? I have gotten some great info on this site just now!! Thank you so much!! i feel like I have best doc in the world, Massachusettes General, Dr. O'Donnell, they study this disease and get tests from Jewish.
I mean, I am paying a fortune flying to Boston. I will ask about the colistin and tobramycin and about alternating monthly antibiotics. This is different, this is good. Keep it coming. I am less afraid when talking to someone. xoxoxo

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85 replies
unicorn | @unicorn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @katemn "Hello @internalmeddoc. I am curious .. where do you practice .. do your medical research? I..." + (show)
@katemn

Hello @internalmeddoc. I am curious .. where do you practice .. do your medical research?

I was diagnosed with MAI/MAC in 2011 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN by Dr. Timothy Aksamit .. a worldwide respected expert on MAC/MAI. I found his philosophy on initial diagnosing of MAC/MAI to be EVALUATING: Xrays .. sputum culture .. CT scans .. pulmonary function tests .. and my responses to his VARIOUS medical questions. He then puts it all together like a big puzzle and then based on his MAI/MAC experience decides if/when to treat with what antibiotic regimen.

I am going to be very frank with you as the Volunteer Mentor of this Mayo Clinic Connect .. I find your statement " bronchoscopy to obtain samples and a possible biopsy even better. A lung scan or MRI is also a good idea prior to bronchoscopy to locate and target areas in the lung involved. Also, if there are any peripheral lymph nodes involved (enlarged or inflamed), these should be biopsied and sent to the lab. Also available are the more advanced PCRs for all tissue, sputum or bronchoscopy samples." .. to be possibly misleading and frightening to our newer members just newly diagnosed.

I am not a doctor but even I know a bronchoscopy to be MUCH more invasive than the method used by Dr. Timothy Aksamit. IF/WHEN the MAC/MAI CANNOT be diagnosed by 3 consecutive sputum tests (the currently accepted "gold standard) there definitely are times when further means are necessary for diagnosis such as a bronchoscopy etc. But for you to say that " bronchoscopy to obtain samples and a possible biopsy even better" makes me very uncomfortable. I could not allow your statement to stand on our Forum that Newcomers might read and be frightened by.

Mayo Clinic abides by the Hippocratic Oath .. “first, do no harm” .. LESS IS MORE! Katherine. Volunteer Mentor

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Still figuring out this site, I think I answered generally everyone. THANK YOU for the suggestions. You give me hope. I am going to ask my infectious disease doc about those drugs and alternating monthly antibiotics. PS. I had a bronch, no big deal, asleep then over, no pain either, just saying, nothing to be afraid of.

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unicorn | @unicorn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @internalmeddoc "I am an Internist and medical researcher with a particular interest in the mycobacteria including MAC/MAI...." + (show)
@internalmeddoc

I am an Internist and medical researcher with a particular interest in the mycobacteria including MAC/MAI. Would just like to mention that a sputum sample to detect MAC (AFB stain) is just an initial probe and not nearly enough to detect this disease in most cases, even when such sputum samples are repeated 3 or more times which is a good idea. Culture (AFB culture) is better and bronchoscopy to obtain samples and a possible biopsy even better. A lung scan or MRI is also a good idea prior to bronchoscopy to locate and target areas in the lung involved. Also, if there are any peripheral lymph nodes involved (enlarged or inflamed), these should be biopsied and sent to the lab. Also available are the more advanced PCRs for all tissue, sputum or bronchoscopy samples. MAC/MAI is not always an easy disease to detect. Hope this helps.

Jump to this post

My understanding is that the bronchiectasis keeps reinfecting the mac, but not sure. Anyway, I know one man who was diagnosed when he was young, took the pills for 18 mths and got rid of it ! But people my age, not sure if that can be cured. I think we need some low level maintenance forever, can't keep taking the pills, too strong, but what Katherine said sounds good. xo

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Katherine, Alumni Mentor | @katemn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @unicorn "My name is Christa, I have a child's glee about life, so I am a Unicorn...." + (show)
@unicorn

My name is Christa, I have a child's glee about life, so I am a Unicorn. I have a nice life on the beach so it is not depression, I am not depressed. It is just FEAR, plain and simple fear. you guys know how terrifying it is when the blood gurgles up. (just happened this morn) This is why I mentioned the death pill. i don't want to go by way of pulmonary embolism or choking, jeez, can't we just die in our sleep??? I have gotten some great info on this site just now!! Thank you so much!! i feel like I have best doc in the world, Massachusettes General, Dr. O'Donnell, they study this disease and get tests from Jewish.
I mean, I am paying a fortune flying to Boston. I will ask about the colistin and tobramycin and about alternating monthly antibiotics. This is different, this is good. Keep it coming. I am less afraid when talking to someone. xoxoxo

Jump to this post

@unicorn, Christa, so glad we can help! As you read you will learn the questions you need to ask to become your own best advocate .. testing done by Jewish is a good idea! Ask about the blood .. but I know for me it is my Bronchiectasis and after I knew that I quit worrying about it when it happened .. the blood just comes and goes. Also remember .. FEAR is lack of knowledge .. continue to read the back pages .. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!! The fear will go away when you gain that knowledge over your journey .. that we ALL share with you! Sending you a Big Hug! Katherine

REPLY
unicorn | @unicorn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @unicorn "Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably..." + (show)
@unicorn

Hi all: I have been dealing with MAC and Bronch for about 5 years now, probably had it since the 70's. I've taken the meds for a few years, but disease always comes back, and the meds are barely tolerable now. Went to new doc at Mass. General who put me on a nebulizer breathing salt water vapor and albuterol, instead of taking meds. I think it just causes all the mucus to come up so one is less prone to infection. i actually haven't started it yet. i'vebeen off
pills for 5 months and am coughing up blood again. Seriously, so scary I just want a death pill, who wants to live like this?? I am 70 so I am sure that is a factor. xo hope all doing better!

Jump to this post

Yes, from UCLA to Massachusetts for opinions, In the end, it seems that all we have are the dreaded pills. Now inhaler also, CT scans show lots of partying going in my lungs, some improvement, some new growths. Little devils....

REPLY
unicorn | @unicorn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @unicorn "My name is Christa, I have a child's glee about life, so I am a Unicorn...." + (show)
@unicorn

My name is Christa, I have a child's glee about life, so I am a Unicorn. I have a nice life on the beach so it is not depression, I am not depressed. It is just FEAR, plain and simple fear. you guys know how terrifying it is when the blood gurgles up. (just happened this morn) This is why I mentioned the death pill. i don't want to go by way of pulmonary embolism or choking, jeez, can't we just die in our sleep??? I have gotten some great info on this site just now!! Thank you so much!! i feel like I have best doc in the world, Massachusettes General, Dr. O'Donnell, they study this disease and get tests from Jewish.
I mean, I am paying a fortune flying to Boston. I will ask about the colistin and tobramycin and about alternating monthly antibiotics. This is different, this is good. Keep it coming. I am less afraid when talking to someone. xoxoxo

Jump to this post

Well now I am just tearing up. Thanks again, this is definitely the most comprehensive site. I will ask about the blood, They took about10 vials!! The infectious disease doc in Boston wants me on the pills everyday! But at 5'11" I got down to 122 pounds, I looked like a praying mantis, when i took them! hah My UCLA doc said 2 scary things to me, Failure to Thrive, and Enjoy your life, which is why i now fly to Boston. Yes second opinion are crucial!!!

REPLY
Katherine, Alumni Mentor | @katemn | Jun 10, 2017
In reply to @internalmeddoc "I am an Internist and medical researcher with a particular interest in the mycobacteria including MAC/MAI...." + (show)
@internalmeddoc

I am an Internist and medical researcher with a particular interest in the mycobacteria including MAC/MAI. Would just like to mention that a sputum sample to detect MAC (AFB stain) is just an initial probe and not nearly enough to detect this disease in most cases, even when such sputum samples are repeated 3 or more times which is a good idea. Culture (AFB culture) is better and bronchoscopy to obtain samples and a possible biopsy even better. A lung scan or MRI is also a good idea prior to bronchoscopy to locate and target areas in the lung involved. Also, if there are any peripheral lymph nodes involved (enlarged or inflamed), these should be biopsied and sent to the lab. Also available are the more advanced PCRs for all tissue, sputum or bronchoscopy samples. MAC/MAI is not always an easy disease to detect. Hope this helps.

Jump to this post

@unicorn .. Christa What that really means is that even after your MAC antibiotic treatment ends .. you MUST continue your "lung clearance" .. BECAUSE the mucus becomes a "breeding ground" for the mycobacterium or other bacteria. I will put the below from my File Cabinet for now AND the future what you should be doing for "lung clearance". Hugs! Katherine

Member notes on AIRWAY CLEARANCE DEVICES : AEROBIKA http://www.aerobika-therapy.com/order-today/ https://www.monaghanmed.com/Aerobika

AEROBIKA PURCHASE: https://www.amazon.com/AEROBIKA-Oscillating-Expiratory-Effective-Clearance/dp/B00O96GQUO https://www.nationaljewish.org/treatment-programs/medications/lung-diseases/treatments/using-the-aerobika http://www.aerobika-therapy.com/order-today/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy2oYadhF9Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqZUt3cAb0g
https://www.trudellmed.com/products/aerobika https://www.nationaljewish.org/treatment-programs/medications/lung-diseases/treatments/using-the-aerobika

Members @decosmo and @maryjo2sell who have given great info about the Aerobika in the past.*Aerobika. I highly recommend it. I love mine. I have two. They vibrate well to loosen the stuff and they are so much easier than an Acapella to clean. (I use a bit of antibacterial dish soap. Suds it up .. agitate .. hold the parts and shake them very thoroughly through the sudsy water. 2. Let the parts soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then several times fill the measuring cup with very warm rinse water .. again agitate the parts thoroughly to make sure they are thoroughly clean of the antibacterial dish soap. ) I have had mine for at least 2 years.

*Acapella device did not help me.

AEROBIKA-MY ROUTINE-INHALERS/LUNG CLEARANCE HYGIENE/AEROBIKA Below is my particular routine in using my Aerobika
1. use my 2 inhalers PRIOR to brushing my teeth
2. use a "huff" cough at least 3 times .. like you were cleaning your glasses and fog them with your breath .. only MORE forcefully. Then use the Aerobika device per the instructions. Do the huff cough along with the Aerobika until you feel you have gotten up as much sputum as you possibly can. I have found using the Aerobika you are able to " pull" mucous out of those lower lung airways in a way you cannot without the device. Personally I do this twice a day.
3. using peroxide to dampen my toothbrush and toothpaste to brush (purchased a squirt dispenser for the peroxide)
4. rinse my toothbrush .. then using peroxide for toothbrush storage for sterilizing
I think this routine will help oral thrush by keeping my Sonicare toothbrush sanitized daily. http://www.good-gums.com/sanitizing-your-toothbrush.cfm

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