1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

I was told I may have gotten MAC from swimming in a public pool,

Posted by foonfoon65 @foonfoon65, Dec 8, 2023

Anyone know if swimming at a public pool is ok after diagnosis with Mac?

My doctor gave me the ok, but I am not so sure.

Please help me to know more.

Thanks!

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foonfoon65 | @foonfoon65 | Dec 10, 2023

Thank you for all your responses. I am new with this infection, usually I am considered health the until now😔

REPLY
1 reply
Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 10, 2023
In reply to @foonfoon65 "Thank you for all your responses. I am new with this infection, usually I am considered..." + (show)
@foonfoon65

Thank you for all your responses. I am new with this infection, usually I am considered health the until now😔

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Attempting to determine where we contacted Mac is a guess at best. The root cause is our compromised immune system. Much is from our genetics. We are usually considered tall and slim, may have alpha-1 in our ancestry and were probably exposed to severe case of the flu or other infection in the past. Some of this explains why we are not contagious.

REPLY
lcwilkie | @lcwilkie | Dec 10, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "@foonfoon65 Welcome to Mayo Connect, where patients and caregivers meet to support one another and share..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@foonfoon65 Welcome to Mayo Connect, where patients and caregivers meet to support one another and share our experiences.
When you say, "I was told I may have gotten MAC from swimming in a public pool..." who told you that?
As a new member, I am thinking you may be new on your MAC journey, and right now you have a lot of unanswered questions. Here is what we know about MAC bacteria - it is everywhere, in the air, soil and water. The only way to completely avoid exposure is to live in a bubble. So, what we need to do is to decide where our most high risk exposure is and minimize or avoid it, then get on with our lives.

That said, the mist-laden air above indoor pools and hot tubs can have a high concentration of MAC (and other) bacteria, and for most of us should be avoided. On the other hand, outdoor swimming pools, where the moisture easily drifts away and the air is well-diluted by the atmosphere, the risk is substantially lower. And even lower yet for a salt water pool. Depending on one's risk tolerance, that may mean feeling same in outdoor pools.
My own take, after almost 5 years with MAC & Bronchiectasis - I avoid indoor pools completely - which is awful in winter when my kids and grands want us to swim together at the Y. I have completely given up hot tub use. But I regularly swim and exercise in outdoor pools, freshwater lakes and the ocean. This feels safe enough to me, and so far I have not been reinfected (off antibiotics for 4 years.) However, if I get an exacerbation - cold, bronchitis, etc - such as the one I am fighting off now - I stay away from the pool until I am well. But I will still go to the ocean near us, because NTM is scarce to non-existent in salt water.

I am curious whether the doctor who told you a swimming pool was safe specified outdoor? Are they a pulmonologist familiar with MAC?
Sue

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Hi Sue! What exactly is an exacerbation? My pulmonologist said the a head cold is not a big deal. If things move to my chest, contact him.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 10, 2023
In reply to @lcwilkie "Hi Sue! What exactly is an exacerbation? My pulmonologist said the a head cold is not..." + (show)
@lcwilkie

Hi Sue! What exactly is an exacerbation? My pulmonologist said the a head cold is not a big deal. If things move to my chest, contact him.

Jump to this post

Yup, the head cold fell into my lungs. After coughing hard enough for two weeks to strain muscles, started a prednisone burst. I know this is not usually done with bronchiectasis but I also have asthma and currently no infection, so it is the pre-approved plan with my pulmonologist and woks for me. After 2 days the cough is much better and so is my breathing. Step 2, if the prednisone isn't enough, is antibiotics. Haven't had to resort to it for over 3 years.
Sue

REPLY
busybeans | @busybeans | Dec 11, 2023
In reply to @celia16 "I hope you get some responses. Every time I walk into the pool area at the..." + (show)
@celia16

I hope you get some responses. Every time I walk into the pool area at the gym, I feel uneasy. The air is so hot and thick. It feels unhealthy, imo, but I do have health anxiety.

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My NJH doctor told me many years ago to stay away from water sources other than natural sources. This was in response to my query about replacing the water pipes in our home in hopes of removing the mycobacterium. What I learned is that mycobacterium is ubiquitous, as well as harmless to most of the population. It's everywhere - air, water, soil. According to my doctor it clings to a biofilm that lines water pipes. So, in my situation, unless the pipes from the Hoover Dam were replaced and somehow mycobacterium could no longer cling to the biofilm, there is no way I'm going to avoid it in the shower, a pool (indoor/outdoor), hot tub, etc. As one who loves to swim this was a huge blow. (I've found other ways to exercise and stay active.) And I take incredibly short rain-head (less spray) showers (with the bathroom fan running) and avoid any restaurant that uses those nasty misters (that as far as I can tell are not regulated). NTM presents many, many challenges so we all have to choose what we're willing to give up in order to live with it. Diagnosed in 2010 and unable to tolerate the meds, I've done nearly everything else suggested to stay as healthy as possible (I did balk at removing my right middle lobe...not there yet). If swimming is your happy place, the decision is yours to make. Best to you!

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foonfoon65 | @foonfoon65 | Dec 11, 2023

Thank you so much for the information. I would stay away from swimming for a while.

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