When does lost weight return? I started treatment in Mid December

@pattysyarns I see nobody has chimed in here. Even if you are tolerating the antibiotics well, they are taking a toll on your body, and the infection is also still active, so you probably won't "naturally " gain weight.
What most of us have to do is eat in ways that don't come naturally. High-calorie nutritious foods, frequent small meals and/or snacks, protein shakes of smoothies...think peanut butter on crackers or on apples, cheese, a hand full of nuts, full-fat dairy products, baked potatoes or sweet potatoes with butter, ice cream, steak - whatever appeals. It took over a year after I finished antibiotics before I got back near my pre-illness weight. Now my primary is encouraging me to stay near the top of my weight range in case the MAC comes back.
Sue

Thanks for the advice-I will take your suggestions and incorporate them for vegan selection -easy to do -thanks again

In addition to the good ideas Sue shared, I’d suggest that you make sure your liquids have as many calories and are as nutritious as possible. When late hubby had stem cell transplant years ago, we were told “no free liquids.” Every swallow needed to have calories.

I had trouble keeping my weight up during the 3 months I was taking IVAmikacin and before and after that period, weight loss was not an issue. I echo the others in eating frequently and making every calorie count. My weight went up naturally after the IV Amikacin. Hope yours does too!

I had wasted away with Mac, losing 20 pounds from my slim frame. The weight loss stopped immediately upon treatment. I slowly gained weight (40 lbs) over the next 30 months. I was afraid to weigh myself before treatment, then I bought a nice digital scale and weigh myself almost everyday.

Lots of good ideas. I would just add that dairy meal supplements or plant based drinks can help add calories depending on someone’s nutritional needs and possible allergies or food sensitivities.

@sueinmn Are most people with Bronchiectasis told to drink lots of water to loosen phlegm? It is a challenge when you’re also trying to gain or maintain weight.

@migizii….although I have not had MAC/NTM’s, I lost a significant amount of weight during the pandemic of unknown cause (lots of tests at Mayo, but all was well). I completely agree with Sue’s ideas, but unfortunately for me, I have not been able to regain most of my weight but at least have maintained my new, too light weight. I keep trying with my nightly ice cream bars!!!!!

Drink water, water and more water

It's certainly a challenge putting on lost weight especially when you need to pay attention to controlling reflux/gerd etc. If I could eat with wild abandon I'd have no problem putting on pounds (chocolate, rich desserts etc).

I'm convinced the twice daily airway clearance uses up a lot of calories. It's a good tip about no liquid empty calories!