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.

migizii | @migizii | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @heathert "Hi ahttps://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/document-library/clinical-information/bronchiectasis/bts-guideline-for-bronchiectasis-in-adults/ll this the new 2018 bris thoracic guidelines on Bronchieacatasis, I think the last one..." + (show)
@heathert

Hi ahttps://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/document-library/clinical-information/bronchiectasis/bts-guideline-for-bronchiectasis-in-adults/ll this the new 2018 bris thoracic guidelines on Bronchieacatasis, I think the last one was done in 2010.

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Although it took a long time to read, it was very interesting! Thanks for posting!

REPLY
1 reply
heathert | @heathert | Jan 5, 2019
In reply to @migizii "Although it took a long time to read, it was very interesting! Thanks for posting!" + (show)
@migizii

Although it took a long time to read, it was very interesting! Thanks for posting!

Jump to this post

@migizii Yes it is very long, you did well, I havnt read it all yet.

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sallykuni | @sallykuni | Jan 9, 2019

Hello! This is my first time to write/join this forum. I'm excited to find other comments about Mycobacterium Avium and the treatment. I was diagnosed with MAC after a year of symptoms: coughing, fever, fatigue - bronchitis and pneumonia type symptoms. Every 6 weeks or so, the symptoms would be so bad that I was bed ridden for 3-4 days. My doctors originally did a CT Scan and a PET scan and sent me to MD Anderson for a lung biopsy - suspecting lung cancer due to the lesions in my lungs. It took over 3 months to diagnose MAC - and then only when MDACC did a bronchioscopy and sent the lavage results to MAYO Clinic to diagnose. Needless to say - having MAC was a much better diagnosis than having lung cancer - so my family and I celebrated!
Originally, the doctors tried to treat me with a twice daily breathing treatment of albuteral and sodium chloride. I am still doing this treatment twice a day, which takes about 30 minutes each session. When the next two CT scans showed that the infection was moving from my left lung to my right lung also - they immediately started me on the antibiotic regimen - 3 antibiotics (same big 3) three times a week. I have been on this treatment for 3 1/2 months now. In the beginning, I felt horrible, but quickly learned that I needed to take my meds at night - between 9:00 and 10:00 pm; after I had a light dinner before 7:00 pm. I also take probiotics (the refrigerated pill option offered by Walgreens. They keep it in the refrigerated section of the pharmacy, so ask your pharmacist for it specifically) on the opposite days that I take the antibiotics. Not sure that this helps, but I know that it doesn't hurt! The first month or so; I lost weight; but have held steady ever since. Also - although I love salads; vegetables; etc - I try to maintain a diet that contains very little of these ONLY on the days that I take my meds. I have found that I feel better with less ruffage; fruits and veges on these days. I make sure to eat them on the days "off" the meds.
What I have found is that the key to making it through this antibiotic regimen is water, water, water. DRINK TONS OF WATER! I try to drink between 80 and 100 ounces of water per day. My infectious disease doctor and my pulmonologist told me this from the beginning and I believe it has helped me cope so much better!
My last CT scans showed that the antibiotic treatment is working and my lungs are improving! Originally - my doctors said that I might be on the antibiotics for 18-24 months. They gave me hope this last visit that it might be shorter than that! My coughing symptoms have really improved; and so has my feeling of extreme fatigue! In addition - I have not been "sick" (fever, etc.) since October 1st - which is over 3 months ago and that is a good sign!
I was wondering if anyone on this forum has had a problem with their eyesight due to the ethambutal?
I'm hopeful for all who are being treated for this disease and grateful for the comments on this forum. It is comforting knowing that you are not alone!

REPLY
2 replies
Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | Jan 9, 2019

Hi @sallykuni and welcome to Connect! It is great to hear your story and that you been able to find ways to help you feel better. It also is wonderful that you find comfort in Connect.

I wanted to introduce you to fellow connect members @margiebanks @megan123 @flib @irene5 and @macjane as they are all on the big three and may be able to share some of their symptoms with you.

@xfirerose mentioned in this thread (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vision-problems-while-on-treatment-excluding-ethambutol/) that ethambutal caused vision problems and may be able to offer advice for you.

I also wanted to share these threads so that you can further explore the conversations on Connect:

MAC Antibiotics Side Effects: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mac-antibiotics-and-side-effects/?pg=1#comment-48109
Big 3 and weight loss: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/big-3-and-weight-loss/

Back to you @sallykuni you mentioned a problem with your eyesight. Would you be able to explain what all that entails?

REPLY
xfirerose | @xfirerose | Jan 9, 2019
In reply to @sallykuni "Hello! This is my first time to write/join this forum. I'm excited to find other comments..." + (show)
@sallykuni

Hello! This is my first time to write/join this forum. I'm excited to find other comments about Mycobacterium Avium and the treatment. I was diagnosed with MAC after a year of symptoms: coughing, fever, fatigue - bronchitis and pneumonia type symptoms. Every 6 weeks or so, the symptoms would be so bad that I was bed ridden for 3-4 days. My doctors originally did a CT Scan and a PET scan and sent me to MD Anderson for a lung biopsy - suspecting lung cancer due to the lesions in my lungs. It took over 3 months to diagnose MAC - and then only when MDACC did a bronchioscopy and sent the lavage results to MAYO Clinic to diagnose. Needless to say - having MAC was a much better diagnosis than having lung cancer - so my family and I celebrated!
Originally, the doctors tried to treat me with a twice daily breathing treatment of albuteral and sodium chloride. I am still doing this treatment twice a day, which takes about 30 minutes each session. When the next two CT scans showed that the infection was moving from my left lung to my right lung also - they immediately started me on the antibiotic regimen - 3 antibiotics (same big 3) three times a week. I have been on this treatment for 3 1/2 months now. In the beginning, I felt horrible, but quickly learned that I needed to take my meds at night - between 9:00 and 10:00 pm; after I had a light dinner before 7:00 pm. I also take probiotics (the refrigerated pill option offered by Walgreens. They keep it in the refrigerated section of the pharmacy, so ask your pharmacist for it specifically) on the opposite days that I take the antibiotics. Not sure that this helps, but I know that it doesn't hurt! The first month or so; I lost weight; but have held steady ever since. Also - although I love salads; vegetables; etc - I try to maintain a diet that contains very little of these ONLY on the days that I take my meds. I have found that I feel better with less ruffage; fruits and veges on these days. I make sure to eat them on the days "off" the meds.
What I have found is that the key to making it through this antibiotic regimen is water, water, water. DRINK TONS OF WATER! I try to drink between 80 and 100 ounces of water per day. My infectious disease doctor and my pulmonologist told me this from the beginning and I believe it has helped me cope so much better!
My last CT scans showed that the antibiotic treatment is working and my lungs are improving! Originally - my doctors said that I might be on the antibiotics for 18-24 months. They gave me hope this last visit that it might be shorter than that! My coughing symptoms have really improved; and so has my feeling of extreme fatigue! In addition - I have not been "sick" (fever, etc.) since October 1st - which is over 3 months ago and that is a good sign!
I was wondering if anyone on this forum has had a problem with their eyesight due to the ethambutal?
I'm hopeful for all who are being treated for this disease and grateful for the comments on this forum. It is comforting knowing that you are not alone!

Jump to this post

@sallykuni

REPLY
1 reply
xfirerose | @xfirerose | Jan 9, 2019
In reply to @xfirerose "@sallykuni" + (show)

I have not had a bronchoscopy yet. I feel very nervous about it. Please describe your experience with your bronchoscopy.

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Jane S. Brown | @macjane | Jan 9, 2019

It isn't that bad. You are not in any discomfort.

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Jo Ann K | @jkiemen | Jan 9, 2019

@xfirerose I have had 2 bronchoscopies They sedate you and numb your throat. I don't remember the procedure at all. I did have a sore throat for a day afterwords.

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