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Panic Attacks with new diagnosis and fear of the unknown: What helps?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: May 1, 2023 | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
HealthyBon, When I had my bronchoscopy and waited for results, I started watching YouTube videos from National Jewish Health and NTMir. One of the things that stayed with me was one of the National Jewish Health doctors said of NTM “you may die WITH it, but you’re unlikely to die FROM it. My pulmonologist started me on airway clearance (nebulizing with 7% saline but didn’t stress how important that is on keeping the germs knocked down. I got that from the group here. My pulmonologist and ID doctor both pushed for me to start the antibiotics but I didn’t because I was feeling fine. I’m still doing well after almost 2 years later and still no antibiotics.
Replies to "HealthyBon, When I had my bronchoscopy and waited for results, I started watching YouTube videos from..."
How often do you get tested from MAC if I may ask. Are your results negative? I don’t want those antibiotics …they would annihilate me..I’m too fragile.
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Same here kwi. I continue my 7% airway clearance most days. I'm not a productive cougher-never have been. I was diagnosed in 2010, have had 5 strains of NTM (only one now), tried the Big 3 twice early on and failed due to side effects, and have managed since without them. There have been bumps in the rode with a couple of horrific hemoptypsis episodes, but I've remained as active as possible, see a therapist to deal with the never-ending panic attacks (yes, after all of these years I still get them), and try to remind myself of what kwi just reiterated...I may die with NTM but mostly likely not from it. I don't know anything about the salt issue. I rinse my mouth after my saline solution per instructions from my NJH doctor...that seems to help. This disease affects many of us in many different ways. I surely don't have anyone else's answers...only my experience and caring for another person walking through this.