@kaystrand Kay, I believe it said through a cut or something like that. It could enter your system that way. Personally, because I am somewhat of a germ phobe anymore, I just avoid known sources altogether.

@kaystrand Kay, please let us know what you learn about the stomach acid.

@ginak Gina, just remember, she is not sporting this crud in her lungs. She might feel differently if it was her.

@kaystrand I know what you mean, Kay.

@tutti XXOXO

@heathert Hi Heather, I am glad to hear some feedback about the inhaled amikacin. I had never known of anybody who had been on it. How long were you on it for?

My pulmonary doc is on the MAC team of 5 doctors at Mayo Rochester, Mn. She is the person that said that stomach acid kills Mycobacterium. I think even on PPIs you have stomach acid, just less. I don't know for sure but without acid in your stomach I don't think you could digest food. Good question for one of the folks on here on PPIs to ask their doctor.

I have not seen any study or info anywhere saying that stomach acid kills MAC. I'm going by my doctor who I trust, but anyone can be wrong. If someone else can put this question their list for their doc, it would be great to get another opinion. We should not have to guess like this!

Does anyone know the microbiologist at NJ? He/she should have an answer to this stomach acid question. I think that the NJ docs are really into reflux as a cause of MAC. I think Mayo believes that as well. I had a 24 hr impedance test at Mayo, but was negative for reflux.

Always more questions than answers. I'm open to anything anyone else has to offer to this question...thanks.

KayS

@kaystrand Kay, the way it was explained to me was: Gerd is acid reflux and doctors suspect that when we are asleep , we inhale bits of the stomach acid into our lungs causing infection which leads to suseptable lungs to mycobacteriums. Some doctors think we may inhale water that we drank before bedtime that had mac in it. Who the heck knows! I just wish MORE studies were being done.

Hi @windwalker Terri I was on Amakacin for around 13 months. It is tricky because I went on Amakacin around the same time as I changed from thrice weekly to daily big 3. After I had been on Amakacin for 8 months I was told that I had had 6 months of clear sputums and they stayed that way for a year so I was taken off the amakacin but remained on the big 3( this month). My CT scan this month showed that the nodules had gone and cavities had closed which was great. I feel it was probably the Amakacin as I had been on thrice weekly big 3 for 2yrs without the cavities moving at all and only some noduled had gone. So its either the daily big3 or amakacin that helped, nobody really knows. But a great result .
There was however 2 tiny new nodules(1mm), my doc said they come and go in everybody all the time so not to worry yet.......
watch this space
Heather

Heather, that's awesome news! So happy for you! So glad to hear that taking these meds worked. Big hug....Lisa