Supplements and the Big 3

@tinaesims Supplements, multi-vitamins and probiotics are 3 different issues, I think.
Probiotics do seem to help me with the digestive issues while I am on the big 3. The flood of antibiotics is so devastating to the normal flora in the GI tract that I see a difference. If I lay off them for a week, it seems like I have constant, watery diarrhea. If I take them 3-5 times a week, alternating 2 different formulas, I just have frequent, loose stools. Live culture yogurt does seem to help, but less than the probiotic.
Multi-vitamins are the ones the docs think just mostly go out the liver and kidneys.
Specific supplements are targeted to an individual's specific needs. I take a divided dosage of calcium, magnesium and zinc because I am at high rick for osteoporosis and actually had too-low levels. The levels have stabilized and I am not showing any bone loss after doing this for over 10 years - I am doing well compared to my same-age cousins who don't take calcium. I also take a magnesium supplement to help regulate my (slightly) elevated blood pressure in lieu pf blood pressure meds I do not tolerate well. These both must be taken far from the time I take my antibiotics to avoid diminished effectiveness of the antibiotics, so I take them with breakfast and dinner. (I take my antibiotics at bedtime.)

Hi Sue, Just wondering how you took the Big 3. My Dr. wants me to take all 3 at once, Mon, Wed & Fri. I asked if I could start one at a time, a week apart to see if I had any reaction and he said No. I am worried now about having the Flu and RSV vac's , just had Prevnar 20. I'm pumping all this stuff into my body. I'm thinking I should wait to take the meds until after I've had the vaccines. I don't have any symptoms of MAC and it's nodular rather than cavitary. I value your opinion. Thank you so much.

Did your doctor explain why he wants you to start them all at once? I had a cranky old pulmonologist, and didn't know any better, so I started them all at once. It was tough!

Later, I also went to an ID doc in the same clinic, and as he read my record, he commented that their protocol was to start them one at a time "But Dr A does things his way." When the ID doc changed my meds from 3X/week to daily because I wasn't getting better, we did it one at a time, with a week lag between. That was almost 5 years ago, now he would probably add Arikayce instead.

I did get vaccines while I was on the meds, and I don't remember it being any problem - they work on different parts of the immune system. But as you are saying you have no symptoms, and MAC grows slowly, would the doc be okay with waiting a month?

Of course, keep up the airway clearance. And maybe get a start on a good probiotic and start eating extra high protein foods to build up your body while you wait.

All that said, I guess it all comes down to how much you trust the doc - is he a pulmonologist, and does he seem up to date on matters like airway clearance and 7% saline?
Sue

@tinaesims Sounds like your dr is on the ball. Starting on the Big 3 one at a time is the proper way to begin treatment. I hope you have a blast in NYC. I love that place!