← Return to CT Scans vs Sputum Cultures, which is more important?

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@sueinmn

Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect. As you read our various posts, keep in mind that both MAC and bronchiectasis vary greatly in severity from one person to another.

"Watch and wait" is one common strategy with low-grade MAC infections, but it is usually combined with airway clearance to help lungs fight it off. Most MAC bacteria are very slow growing, so unlike most infections, the risk in is small.

Can you tell us a little about your symptoms, and what led to the diagnosis?
Sue

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Replies to "Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect. As you read our various posts, keep in mind that..."

It all started with a trip to Yellowstone in October started coughing the first day in. Came home with a sinus infection. Started being very tired which is not my norm and coughing a dry cough a lot. By November had a pain in my right upper side which ultrasound sound showed nothing wrong. By Dec I was so exhausted and had a dry cough so bad I lived on couch drops so they did a complete blood workup which showed infection but didn’t know where so did nothing. In February I did $50 heart scan out hospital was offering. My heart was perfect but they found I had walking pneumonia so treated me for 10 days with a strong antibiotic and did another CT in 3 weeks. That CT showed chronic infection in that lung so my doctor sent me to a pulmonary doctor which took 2 weeks and he ordered a bronchoscopy which took another 2 weeks
Samples were sent off and the lab had to let it grow for 6 weeks. In about 3 weeks they sent preliminary results to the doctor who scheduled me an appointment in another 2 weeks which was last week. That was when he told me I had Mycobacterium Avium infection in my lung and we would just watch it and do another CT in September because he hadn’t had 1 patient that had made it through the treatments. I am still extremely exhausted and cough all the time and I have been loosing weight and can’t sleep for the hot and cold sweating at night.
I called another polmunary doctor who said that I needed to be treated or it would get worse. My regular md said the same thing and put me on antibiotics until my appointment on the 26th with the new pulmonary doctor. Another doctor friend also said I need treatment because of all my symptoms and it would get worse.
This has been going on since October of 2022.
I would appreciate an opinion from you. I have been doing massive research because I need to find a way to start feeling good again.
Thanks for your response.
Renee