1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

What does MAC pain feel like

Posted by bbeers @bbeers, Dec 23, 2023

I was diagnosed with MAC last May. To date I have had no symptoms and not on the Big 3. This past week I have noticed severe itching in the center of my back and some discomfort in the shoulder blade area. Just wondering how MAC affected you, what the pain felt like etc. I will be contacting my ID Dr. next week if this doesn't go away soon. Thank you and I hope everyone on this site can enjoy the Holidays with family and friends.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 23, 2023

@bbeers I can only speak for myself, but I didn't have any specific pain with MAC, except when it was severe and caused out-of-control coughing; then it was rib pain and even a few strained muscles.
What I did have was overall fatigue - my body felt heavy & achy, no energy, no appetite, and I was losing weight.

Everyone is affected differently, but I can tell you that itching skin is very common in my family in winter - a combination of it being dry and wearing heavy clothes, often with some wool.

Sue

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1 reply
Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 24, 2023

No pain from Mac bacteria but elevated white blood cell count can cause arthritis like pain in many joints.

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1 reply
reneemc | @reneemc | Dec 24, 2023

Pain and heaviness in back around shoulder blades is a constant. Also pain in front chest URL where cavities are. My ID Dr said pain isn’t a symptom of MAC . My primary care know this hurts

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2 replies
bbeers | @bbeers | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "@bbeers I can only speak for myself, but I didn't have any specific pain with MAC,..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@bbeers I can only speak for myself, but I didn't have any specific pain with MAC, except when it was severe and caused out-of-control coughing; then it was rib pain and even a few strained muscles.
What I did have was overall fatigue - my body felt heavy & achy, no energy, no appetite, and I was losing weight.

Everyone is affected differently, but I can tell you that itching skin is very common in my family in winter - a combination of it being dry and wearing heavy clothes, often with some wool.

Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you Sue. I also read that dehydration can cause itching so I have started drinking more water. I have a hiatal hernia and I have eaten some things these past few days that I should not have, hard to avoid when your invited to parties. Thank you for responding. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

REPLY
bbeers | @bbeers | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @rstel7272 "No pain from Mac bacteria but elevated white blood cell count can cause arthritis like pain..." + (show)
@rstel7272

No pain from Mac bacteria but elevated white blood cell count can cause arthritis like pain in many joints.

Jump to this post

Thank you for the response Rick. Happy Holidays to you.

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bbeers | @bbeers | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @reneemc "Pain and heaviness in back around shoulder blades is a constant. Also pain in front chest..." + (show)
@reneemc

Pain and heaviness in back around shoulder blades is a constant. Also pain in front chest URL where cavities are. My ID Dr said pain isn’t a symptom of MAC . My primary care know this hurts

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. I will be interested to see what my ID Dr. has to say about this. Happy Holidays to you.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @reneemc "Pain and heaviness in back around shoulder blades is a constant. Also pain in front chest..." + (show)
@reneemc

Pain and heaviness in back around shoulder blades is a constant. Also pain in front chest URL where cavities are. My ID Dr said pain isn’t a symptom of MAC . My primary care know this hurts

Jump to this post

My back and chest pain came from deconditioning while I was ill. For the past year I have worked on stretches and exercises to rebalance the pectoral and deltoid muscles and to recover from a rotator cuff injury. It cured my post-MAC chest pain I thought was from asthma.
Sue

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