Connect
← Return to (MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
Discussion
(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 29 5:15pm | Replies (9350)Comment receiving replies
I’m curious about inflammation that accompanies Mac. I’ve had problems with ear and sinus congestion and the ENT told me that the inflammation goes with Mac and I’d always have it. Yikes. I started taking a cortisone nasal spray and a sort of allergy medication that reduces inflammation but hate to take them long term. I also started taking curcumin/turmeric extract so hoping that helps.
Replies to "I’m curious about inflammation that accompanies Mac. I’ve had problems with ear and sinus congestion and..."
Connect
@kathyhg I'm not sure which comes first - the MAC or the inflammation - but they sure seem to go together. My primary doc urges me to keep taking localized meds that reduce inflammation, like the steroid nasal spray, instead of systemic NSAIDs like ibuprofen, or oral steroids, because keeping inflammation down helps ALL parts of the body. When I get an asthma flare, my arthritis gets much worse, and vice versa.
As far as sinus/ear congestion, consider asking your ENT about routine use of guaifenesin (Mucinex) - I have had chronic ear problems my entire life, and as long as I take it regularly I get by with maybe only one ear or sinus infection per year, usually after a cold. At one point I had 11 ear and/or sinus infections in 2 years and seemed to be on antibiotics constantly; I have taken it for 30 years now with no ill effects.
I wish the homeopathic anti-inflammatories would work for me, but I haven't found one yet that I could tolerate and it helped.
Let us know if it helps you.
Sue