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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 29 5:15pm | Replies (9350)Comment receiving replies
To the best of my recollection, when I was at Mayo's 2 years ago I gave sputum samples on three different days. It seems to me they knew immediately that there was a showing of MAC but decided to not treat it because it was not much. Now, since I've been home and using a more local lab, my primary care physician has usually requested the analysis and I take the sample to the lab. Have done this about 8 times over the last two years....... it has shown MRSA, MSSA, pseudomonas, etc., and there would be a listing of antibiotics recommended for whatever was there. I have hard copies of all. I always ask for that. But, the last four times the report has said negative and therefore there has been no recommended antibiotic. Dr. Moua (Mayo's) has just told me to use clindamycin as that has always worked well. When I've inquired of the lab about MAC they tell me there has been nothing to culture and I've never had a culture report from the local lab. I'm doing pretty well...... but I've read it takes 6-8 weeks to culture for Mac, and therefore, just wonder if they are getting it right. I have questioned why I seem to have a flare of coughing and no bacteria (for four times) ....... then I take antibiotics for a couple of weeks and am clear for about a month. It's just not all understandable to me. but certainly I'm not ill like I was when I got to Mayo's two years ago after five years of horrid coughing and green phlegm and 7 local doctors saying I had asthma (which I knew was not right). Mayo's is 10 hours from here so I'll go back if I become ill again but I've done okay with whatever program I'm on presently. Could change tomorrow....... but that is my story as of now. The coughing used to be so bad I sat up in bed for years to try to sleep at all. I was never able to go to any public function because I would steal the show. So...... one thing I found relieved that cough just for a few hours at night was a hydrocodone. I came upon that by accident. It was given to me for an injury and I found that it suppressed the cough for about 4 hours -- enough that I could get a little bit of sleep. Just passing this on in case there is someone who has not been able to get any rest at all. Worth a try. I didn't take it in the daytime because I certainly didn't want to become addicted but at night, it was the only relief I ever found ----- until I got to Mayo's.
Replies to "To the best of my recollection, when I was at Mayo's 2 years ago I gave..."
Just wanted to know the name of the filter that you installed in your home. I believe that Katherine installed the Pall Kleenpak Disposable Shower Head Filter. Was wondering if that was the one that you installed. She put it on a shower head that is only used by her and thus she changes it every other month instead of monthly. Can get pricey and confusing. Terry
Sorry. I don't have a filter. Never installed one. Linda
Hi lindam, do you take your 3 med for MAC everyday? How long have you been taking the Amikacin? I have been on the big 3 for 14 months now and almost 2 weeks on Amikacin and I have not seen any changes. Did you get your result on your CT scan yet. Thanks for your help. Cila.
Hi, Cila, I was taking my meds every day but stopped them a month ago when I was getting very confused - a side effect of the Rifampin. I haven't taken Amikacin. I was taking Azithromycin, Ethambutol and Rifampin. I get my CT scan this week and see my doctor in a couple of weeks to see where to go from there. I will keep you all posted once I see him and get my results and game plan. Thanks for asking! Linda
Does that mean that they cannot i.d. a supecie or subspecie when sputems get tested at the labs at places like Mayo? I know places like Labcorp don't.
My husband installed some kind of reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink. It has three filters. It was installed about 4 months ago. I asked him about changing the filter and he said he is only willing to do it every 6 months. I know that after 2 months the MAC starts to biofilm the filters. So, now I just boil the reg tap water since the filtered water may contain even more MAC! And drink mostly store bought juices and wine. At least those things had to go through heavy duty purifying processes. (Sigh) this sucks.....
So glad to hear that you got a recent test Gina.
Sounds good!
Jo Ann, are you saying that you never got the results from your sputem tests, or that they came back negative? I am confused by your statement "I had sputem inductions and no results." Thanks, Terri M.
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Terry, From Katherine's file cabinet: I have just ASSUMED all home water has mycobacterium .. cannot find an actual test for home testing. Anyone else want to jump in? Hugs! Katherine
But from my File Cabinet:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JWTRA5I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_12?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A35MWDCY6SWWSF
FILTERATION OF HOME WATER SYSTEMS Hello Katherine, Again, apologize for the delayed response. Let me share with you information received from a colleague, Dr. Joseph Falkinham from Virginia Tech University. He is one of the leading experts in the country and world, studying these very issues for many years. I might add that there is no definitive data as to whether any of these home water modifications of exposure will impact the clinical course of pulmonary NTM patients, and if so to what extent. Likewise, it is equally unclear as to what impact these modifications would have on minimizing risk of development of pulmonary NTM disease if changes are made prior to development of disease. Please let me know if additional information is needed or if I can clarify further.
Regards,
Dr. A
(from Dr. Falkinham)
(1) Even with installation of a 0.2 micron meter pore size filter, the house will always have NTM as they are in the pipe biofilms. They grow in the biofilm on nutrients in the filtered water and inoculate the water.
(2) As an alternative, I suggest filters on just those water sources where aerosols can be generated; namely a shower and a water tap in the bathroom…maybe even in the kitchen. Those places should only be used by the NTM patient, not everyone, as the filters are expensive and need regular replacement.
(3) The 0.2 micron filters clog, so it is important to pre-filter the water (1-5 micrometer filters). The larger pore filters are less expensive than the expensive 0.2 micro meter pore size filters.
Content above is information provided by Aksamit, Timothy R., M.D. on 03-Feb-2017 14:09
@pamelasc1, Pamela I think you hit the nail on the head. You would have to CONSTANTLY have the water tested for mycobacterium because as Dr. Aksamit said .. my kitchen special filtration system ONLY has 0.2 micron filtered water going through it .. but he said the faucet itself would STILL retain SOME moisture after use/shut off .. developing in biofilm in the faucet .. developing in mycobacterium!! (1. iSpring CU-A4 – US Legendary – 4-Stage 0.1 Micron Ultra-Filtration Water Filtration System with No-pressure Chrome Faucet https://smile.amazon.com/iSpring-CU-A4-Ultra-Filtration-Filtration-No-pressure/dp/B009AEJWZG/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t 2.Kingston Brass Concord KS8198DL+ Single Handle Lead-Free Water Filtration Faucet, Satin Nickel https://smile.amazon.com/Kingston-Brass-KS8198DL-Lead-Free-Filtration/dp/B004KPL1BS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 )
And one more from Katherine's file cabinet (I apologize if there is repetition here. I knew I had these but don't have time to read through them right now for you.)
From my File Cabinet:
FILTERED RERIGERATOR WATER AND ICE CUBES https://www.nationaljewish.org/getattachment/professionals/Newsletters/NTM-TB-Insights-Newsletter/NTM-TB-INSIGHTS-September-2015.pdf.aspx Don’t drink from built in refrigerator tap or use ice. High numbers of NTM are in refrigerator tap water and ice. In one instance, the DNA fingerprint of the isolates from the refrigerator tap water were identical to those of a patient who drank the water. The tap water coming into the refrigerator collects in a large reservoir and the warmth of the machinery warms the water (before cooling), so the reservoir has lots of NTM.
(Katherine: I am not saying it is right or wrong but I purchased the old time ice cube trays .. fill them from my sink filtration system .. then bag them into a Hefty zip lock gallon size bag for storage. I purchased the sink filtration system:
(1. iSpring CU-A4 – US Legendary – 4-Stage 0.1 Micron Ultra-Filtration Water Filtration System with No-pressure Chrome Faucet https://smile.amazon.com/iSpring-CU-A4-Ultra-Filtration-Filtration-No-pressure/dp/B009AEJWZG/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t 2.Kingston Brass Concord KS8198DL+ Single Handle Lead-Free Water Filtration Faucet, Satin Nickel https://smile.amazon.com/Kingston-Brass-KS8198DL-Lead-Free-Filtration/dp/B004KPL1BS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 )
BUT was told you would have to CONSTANTLY have the water tested for mycobacterium because as Dr. Aksamit said .. my kitchen special filtration system ONLY has 0.2 micron filtered water going through it .. but he said the faucet itself would STILL retain SOME moisture after use/shut off .. developing in biofilm in the faucet .. developing in mycobacterium!! BUT something is better than nothing?!)
Hope something in here helps! Linda