Just got second CT Scan says probably MAC. I am a K teacher

First, I want to welcome you to Mayo Connect, a community of people living with a wide variety of conditions and diseases who try to help one another. We are not medical professionals and don't give medical advice but we share our successes and failures in an effort to help one another along the way.

If you have MAC or a similar infection in your lungs, unless it is TB, it is not contagious to others. It is an opportunistic infection that takes up residence in the lungs of some people,usually with an underlying conditions like Bronchiectasis, COPD or Cystic Fibrosis. Has anyone mentioned these to you? That means, if you feel well enough, it is probably OK to work. However with one probable infection in your lungs, you may be more susceptible to other illnesses, so take extra precautions to stay safe.

One possible thing you can do to hasten getting an exact diagnosis is to ask your primary provider to order a sputum culture - these can take weeks or longer for the bacteria to grow out and show the specific bacteria in your lungs. That way part of the diagnostic will already be done by the time you see a pulmonologist. An alternative is to see an infectious disease specialist if that is faster than seeing pulmonology.

If you look at some of the other discussions in this group, you will find many references to sputum cultures and treatment options.
Use the search box at the top of any discussion to narrow down the list.

You can find more info here: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mac-lung-disease

Feel free to do some reading and come back with more questions.
Sue

Thank you!
I definitely do have an active infection now. I'm very weak, have difficulty breathing, horrible feeling in my chest and total body discomfort. I was scared to go to sleep at night because of my breathing. My doc asst. gave me zanax to take last night because I didn't sleep for 2 days. Most scary is I can't get an appt. with a pulmonologist and I feel like I am dying. Of course, I will get on the phone tomorrow and continue to try to get an appt. ASAP. I am a single mother of a fourteen year old girl and this is feeling scary right now.
Question... any idea what I can do for comfort. Do you all take IB or Tylenol? Does that help.
I drink tea with honey as much as possible. Do active infection ever subside on their own? Any input would be appreciated.

Wow, this sounds like when I was diagnosed! Again, in my experience, this severe an infection is only going to get worse.
I understand the ER reluctance to give you an antibiotic when you need the exact infection diagnosed, but it sounds like this cannot wait - your primary might need give you something to knock this down while you wait for an appointment. Relieve pain and any coughing with OTC meds - run by doc first.
As for staying comfortable - do you have an inhaler to help with shortness of breath? If not, call your primary and ask for one. And possibly a nebulizer.
Again, also talk to doc about getting a sputum sample to speed up learning what is making you so sick.
Some of us (including me) have found some comfort in a product called "Breathe Easy Tea" by Traditional Medicinals - widely available in many supermarkets, health food stores, on-line and even larger WalMarts.
In the meantime, get copies of the CTs and any tests so far to expedite getting treated when you can get an appointment, and don't discount trying to get at least a phone appointment with Mayo (https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointment-request) or National Jewish Health in Denver (https://www.nationaljewish.org/doctors-departments)
Can you share what area you are in? Maybe another member can offer a suggestion for a doc.
Please stay in touch with me and let me know what kind of help you can find.
Sue

Hey there Aima, you asked "What are some best things I can do to help myself now while I wait." For the immediate future you'll do no better than suck in a deep breath, brew a cup of your fave libation and chill. The momentary wall-to-wall "sturm un drang" in your head will soon pass and, low and behold: the orb we call home will still be rotating on its axis. Now ain't that just amazing? You've already discovered this treasure trove of Nickle and Dollar knowledge provided through the good offices of the famed Mayo Clinic. Read a few more posts responding to your situation and enjoy the rest of Thursday. Don

Wow, this sounds like when I was diagnosed! Again, in my experience, this severe an infection is only going to get worse.
I understand the ER reluctance to give you an antibiotic when you need the exact infection diagnosed, but it sounds like this cannot wait - your primary might need give you something to knock this down while you wait for an appointment. Relieve pain and any coughing with OTC meds - run by doc first.
As for staying comfortable - do you have an inhaler to help with shortness of breath? If not, call your primary and ask for one. And possibly a nebulizer.
Again, also talk to doc about getting a sputum sample to speed up learning what is making you so sick.
Some of us (including me) have found some comfort in a product called "Breathe Easy Tea" by Traditional Medicinals - widely available in many supermarkets, health food stores, on-line and even larger WalMarts.
In the meantime, get copies of the CTs and any tests so far to expedite getting treated when you can get an appointment, and don't discount trying to get at least a phone appointment with Mayo (https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointment-request) or National Jewish Health in Denver (https://www.nationaljewish.org/doctors-departments)
Can you share what area you are in? Maybe another member can offer a suggestion for a doc.
Please stay in touch with me and let me know what kind of help you can find.
Sue

Thank you! I just ordered breath easy and after many phone calls and pleas I was able to get a virtual appt. with one pulmonologist today and then just just got a call to go to a breathing clinic tomorrow am. I am a teacher so I am always advocating for my students and families. I am good at that and yet it took me hours and hours of work to set up appt.

Thanks for the mention of the tea. I had not heard of that and just placed my Amazon order.

I hope it helps you. Some people find the taste unpleasant - others like me come to savor it. My husband drinks his with a little honey. In cool weather it is my mid-morning and mid-afternoon hot beverage.
Sue