(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us

Did you ever have a physician who did not want to treat the MAC?

Are you aware of any issues for people who are on blood thinners (even ASA 81 mg)?

Oops - my message above was related to Breathe Easy Tea and blood thinners

Hi Anniepie. Please keep me posted on what you decide for treatment. Sending you hugs too!

@janrn1 There are physicians who do not want to treat MAC. Generally, they are pulmonologists. There is a “wait and see” attitude especially if a patient does not present with symptoms. MAC is slow growing so “ time is on my ( your) side” as the song goes. It also depends on what state you live in. In Connecticut where I live most of the time and was first diagnosed, there was originally a “wait and see” opinion. I was good with that. In Tennessee the attitude is mostly plain and simple- “ We treat.” My experience has been ID doctors in any state believe in treating right away because waiting a few years can be problematic as MAC generally worsens without treatment. To treat or not to treat - that is the question! By the time you have grappled with that long enough, weighed the pros and cons, most patients accept that treatment is necessary. irene5

My husband has not had issues with the tea & his daily aspirin. Here is a link to the tea package with ingredients & amounts listed. https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/breathe-easy/ As with any herbal preparation, if you are taking prescribed medications, it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor, or even better, your pharmacist if you have concerns.
Sue

Thanks for the information; I’ll check with the pharmacist next time I go in.

A number of people in this group have not been treated for their MAC with antibiotics. My pulmonologist says she never treats MAC based on sputum cultures alone - she looks for infection evidence in the lungs plus other symptoms (coughing, fatigue, weight loss), before beginning treatment. She also considers the total physical condition of each person, because not everyone can tolerate the 3 antibiotic regimen. I also see that you have COPD, which may affect how you would be treated.
Right now, I (probably) still have the infection, but no symptoms. In consultation with my 3 docs, we stopped the antibiotics last December based on an improved lung scan, even though the cultures were positive. I have maintained all year with 7% saline nebs & airway clearance. The Infectious Disease doc consulted with NJH before stopping. He said that, in his experience, a fair number of people have MAC for years, and you can "knock down" the level of infection with drugs, but it never really goes away. The best you can do is healthy eating/living and good lung hygiene. Sometimes it flares up and you treat it again.
Sue

Hello Papillion. I have been using Breathe Easy tea for over 10 yrs. It has been helpful with opening airways and relieving that tight feeling in my chest and no side effects. Like Sue had mentioned; the amount of licorice root in it is not enough to cause adverse effects. If I remember correctly; too much licorice can negate high blood pressure meds. Let us know if you decide to try it and tell us if it helped you. I chaired a Better Breather's meeting once for The American Lung Association, and took a box of Breathe Easy tea. We had a pot of hot water brewing in the room and each person there got to have a cup of this tea. The response was overwhelming. Many there stated that they felt some relief after drinking it and were grateful to learn about it.

Hello CKSCoville - I had an Achromobacter infection back in June. Had never heard of it and nor had anyone else in the Mayo group. I was given the drug Sulfamethoxazole for 14 days and that cleared up what had been a very bad and productive cough. I have MAC, bronchiectasis, and have had pseudemonas several times. Hope this helps, Pamela