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Anyone notice a change in abdominal girth while on MAC meds?
Hi, I have been taking Azithromycin, Ethambutal & Rifampin on M, W & Fri for 10 months. Planning to take it for 18 months. Cultures were obtained during my bronchoscopy after serial scans revealed increasing numbers of pulmonary nodules and BE. It seems to be gradual, but my “belly” is larger. I have 5’8” and usually weigh 135. My weight lately has been less @ 130, but my abdomen seems larger. Some days I have a lot of bloating that starts just below my sternum and extends all the way to my groin. I am 64 so I suppose it could be age related. 🫤 I just have always had the figure of a yardstick 😳
Thank you for your time!
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Hi, I don't like to blame anything on age or menopause, haha! I'm 64 yo, 5'4 and 116 with a beautiful hourglass figure and super flat abdomen (daily runner). Now, we could all tell you that it's age, meds, etc. related, BUT how is your mental health (be honest!!!). Any stress not handled with
love and care will exacerbate any belly issues in just a few weeks.For many of us on this site, meditation, yoga, jog, run, speed walks, weightlifting, etc. along with very clean eating
is preventing weight loss and
saving our mental health.
I hope others pitch in with their thoughts because I think bloating/belly gain is a new topic here???, so maybe someone else is having that side effect that could help you.
I am in the same boat. I’m 63, 5’9” and have always been thin with no stomach. I am now super thin at 114 pounds, but since going on meds, I have a bloated belly. It sounds the same as you describe yours. I keep thinking, between the antibiotics and probiotics, there’s a war going on in my gut. For the two years before going on the antibiotics, I was under a lot of stress, but this has only happened since starting the meds. Although I do want to say, as a health coach, I am always seeing stress turning into belly fat with clients. Particularly postmenopausal women.
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1 ReactionMy guess is that the Big 3 cause inflammation of our intestines, and since our intestines are on average 24 feet long, I would certainly expect this bloating.
I’ve only been on the 3 every day for 3 weeks and experience the bloating, stomach aches and nausea.
Sherry
Yes, I think you’re right. I’m hoping things will calm down. I have also been on my three everyday for three weeks. I may be on different ones than you though since I have abscessus. Are yours for MAC? I also have some stomach aches from time to time but no nausea. Fatigue that comes and goes and a feeling like I’m sick and should be in bed about once a day which lasts about 30 minutes and then I’m fine. It comes out of nowhere. All in all I’m pretty relieved I don’t have worse symptoms and do feel like I’m getting better already with some bouts of energy I don’t normally get.