@windwalker Yes -- here's hoping the treatment I'm on works. I wish I had a doctor like Dr Leventhal! Right back at the beginning, I mentioned your drug protocol and treatment success to my pulmonary specialist; who specialises in NTMs and TB. I was really hoping I could try something like the protocol you had. But she didn't agree with it, which is a real shame.
It seems a lot, maybe most, pulmonologists want to just stick with the Big 3 the American Thoracic Society (ATS) pushes as the standard protocol.
In Australia susceptibility testing to each of the Big 3 drugs isn't usually done, or other drugs. They only test for susceptibility to one drug. They do in-vitro testing which is certainly better than no testing, but isn't much good when you have a heavy biofilm disease like M. Intracellulare. Unfortunately, I've been a public/medicare patient, so I didn't get much choice about the tests.
I think Dr Leventhal must have been a really good and courageous doctor to go against the powerful ATS lobby. And obviously he knew what he was doing and listened to his patients' concerns. I really hope your new doctor is as open-minded as he was. And above all else, stay well Terri -- that's the best solution