Mac + lung cavity

I see! Thanks. So it’s possible that MAC May still show up? It’s only been a couple of weeks since the culture was done. I wonder if that would explain why after a whole round of antibiotics I still feel achy, fluish, weak, fatigued and with no appetite. I’ll ask my doctor about it. Thank you very much!!

We need a prescription and then must buy from a pharmacy to get insurance to pay for any portion.

Some viruses are slow growing according to my daughter who has been an RN for 30+ years and she told me 3 years ago when I asked this same question. Three years into this and 6 weeks is the norm to see results.

Yes, it’s still possible that MAC may show up Hopefully your doctor is checking for that bacteria.

IT is a specific sputum test your Dr would order. And as stated takes a long time for results.

Thank you! I finally got a hold of him and he said that theyares testing for MAC! Thank goodness!

I had a growth in my RUL. I had a bronchoscopy to rule out lung cancer. Instead I have cavitary mac.

Same here, what we thought was a reoccurrence of Mac after 3 years turns out to be fungal/aspergillus. Started Voriconazole 6 months ago.

Hi Sue,

My name is Suzanne. I am 55 years old. I was diagnosed with Mac Lung disease over a year ago. My doctors are not giving me antibiotics. They have suggested the nebulizer. One Dr. says to do it 2 times a day, the other doctor says few times a week. My condition is getting worse as I have non stop sputum. I am not sure what I should do. I am nerves about my condition, and afraid of the antibiotics side effects. 🙁

HI Suzanne, You are in exactly the situation where none of us likes to be with this disease - getting worse and getting inconsistent guidance from your docs.

As for being afraid of the antibiotics, Have you read the comments in this discussion?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/macntm-is-different-for-everyone-treatment-might-be-different-too/

There is definitely a time and a place for antibiotics. I will liken taking them to a cancer patient having surgery only, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of the three. Some slow-growing or early stage cancers can be treated with one method only. Others require a more aggressive approach to knock them out. There are side effects to treating, and then there is the very real side effect of not treating - spreading cancer, maybe even death.

So it is with MAC/NTM. Sometimes airway clearance with airway meds and/or saline can knock the infection down or out. Sometimes it doesn't work, and the antibiotics need to be considered. Yes, there are side effects, but failing to treat when needed has really bad side effects too - potential loss of all or part of infected lungs, need for a lung transplant, or if the infection invades too far, even (VERY rarely) death. So it is a balancing act.

This discussion contains links to some excellent resources that discuss the stages of MAC/NTM and the protocols on when to treat and when to watch and wait.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/resources-for-the-abcs-on-bronchiectasis-and-mac-ntm/

You have told us your doctors are not specific on how much to neb, but what have they recommended using in the nebulizer? And have they prescribed a daily routine of airway clearance for getting the mucus out? It is the lovely, warm, moist breeding ground for bacteria in our lungs.
Sue