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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Apr 14 3:02pm | Replies (9325)Comment receiving replies
@pamelasc1 Hi Pam - I was able to find one study that directly addressed charcoal water filters. Here is a link: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201301-013FR.
Also, keep in mind the mycobacteria infects by aerosolized droplets being inhaled, not from being ingested, so you need to decide if using a Britta or similar device for drinking water is a risk you are able to tolerate. In my case, we use drinking water taps which we filter, and I force my husband to change them every month. I figure since MAC/NTM have been found in bottled water as well as tap/municipal water, the risk of having a filter is one I accept in order to have palatable water. I do, however, limit my exposure to water vapors - no hot steamy showers, run the fan, get out of the bathroom and dress in the bedroom while the vapor dissipates... And, sadly, stay out of and away from hot tubs (a social gathering place in our community.) And I use boiled water for cleaning our nebulizers and breathing devices.
By the way, do you have a well, or municipal water?
Sue
Replies to "@pamelasc1 Hi Pam - I was able to find one study that directly addressed charcoal water..."
Hello and thank you Sue and others who replied to my question about using a Britta filter: my tap water is from deep water wells run by the town... so it is municipal. Thanks to your answers I will not longer drink the water cold from the Britta. However, if I pour it in the tea kettle and bring it to a boil , do you think it is safe? Or should I boil it twice? Pam
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Hello Sue, You make very good points here but I believe that Mycobacteria can also cause infection from ingestion. It is documented that MAC is often concurrent with GERDS (Reflux). There is a less well known form of reflux called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) aka Upper Airway Reflux where the refluxate is more aerosolized than with regular reflux and can actually get up into your upper airway and even work it's way down into your lungs. If you do have Reflux and/or LPR and also have MAC you may need to address the reflux with lifestyle and diet changes. I have personal experience with both LPR and MAC. So I do all the preventive measures that you mention in your post but I also try to at least lower the number of Mycobacteria that I take in orally.