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MAC antibiotics and side effects
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Dec 29, 2023 | Replies (158)Comment receiving replies
Hi Sue,
My latest labs indicate I have pseudomonas. I had a bronchoscopy this week Results showed 1. Bronchiectasis and inflammation of airways
2. Mucus plugging . My dr showed a a sizable vial filled with yellow mucus. She is basing all this on the need for antibiotic treatment. I am not totally confident my dr is well-versed in BE and MAC. I just viewed lab results from mucus sample taken during the bronchoscopy. It said "MTB Complex Not Detected" ... but doesn't it take a few weeks to get final results? Last year I was told I was positive for MAC. I do not understand the other lab results taken but they were all well outside of the standard range.
On a brighter note: Cedars Sinai is here in Los Angeles. It has advanced lung disease experts and I have decided to go outside the Kaiser system and get a second opinion from one of their pulmonary doctors. Needless to say, I am quite overwhelmed by all of this and trying hard to keep my equilibrium.
Replies to "Hi Sue, My latest labs indicate I have pseudomonas. I had a bronchoscopy this week Results..."
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Breathe a sigh of relief. The treatment for pseudomonas is much shorter than MAC and uses a different family of antibiotics. I beat it back in 2 months with 3 courses of oral meds and one month of inhaled Tobramycin. As far as I know it has not returned since 2018.
That is a bug you want out as it causes nasty pneumonia if it becomes chronic and deep seated.
Yes if they send your sputum for a culture it takes 6-8 weeks to find out if there is NTM. The report says they didn't see tuberculosis (Mycobacteria tuberculosis).
I absolutely agree that if you are not comfortable with your doc's expertise you should be seen in the Cedars Sinai system. I was lucky that my ID doc had a working relationship with NJH, so I felt well cared for.
But if the labs show pseudomonas , maybe consider starting treatment while waiting for a new appointment?
Sue