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At last - test results 😃
After 11 months, I’ve taken the antibiotics. I finally have a negative test for Mac. The doctor told me I have to test negative for at least a year to be able to say that it’s all gone still feel weak, but I’m starting to be able to do more things than I did this time last year I can work in the garden again I can walk. I can go to the gym and ride the bike for about an hour. I can walk around the stores without a wheelchair so things are looking good. Besides taking the antibiotics, I did everything on my side that I should’ve. I cannot sugar I cut out fast food. I started to intermittent fast. I changed my whole eating habits change my cooking flowers my cooking oils starting being more having more gratitude in my life more thankful had started treating people better stop complaining as much as I used to that seem to help a lot. So I see it’s a lot more than just taking the medicine. It’s the attitude of gratitude.
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@ssoma151 So happy for you!!
@ssoma151 you can get reinfected.
@ssoma151 It concerns me that you may not have been aware of how we can contract the infections. When you breath in the tiniest of particles like the bacteria in soils, peat moss, top soils, and steam from the hot water aerosols that can and usually do have the bacteria in them we can contract the bacteria that causes our infections. Have you had time to read many of the the information threads on this Mayo Clinic Connect that will help you with knowing how to deal with and avoid problems that can cause the infections/re-infections?
So glad you have done all you have done for yourself....you are determined! Great.
Barbara
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1 ReactionWell, thank you for all the advice but I’m not gonna mask. I didn’t mask for Covid and I won’t mask for this. I trust in life. I’ve had Covid three times and even with my lung problems it was just like a mild cold. Didn’t affect me that much just lost of taste and I’m definitely not gonna mask while I’m gardening. It’s something I enjoy. I’m not gonna Cover up just because of fear.
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1 Reaction@ssoma151 Of course your choice! As I tend to be thorough I attach the research paper on how best to avoid NTM in our environment. One idea is to wet down the soil before working with it as it helps to diminish the dust.
An excerpt:
"Avoid Dusts from Potting Soils. Commercial potting soil is rich in peat and
peat harbors very high numbers of NTM (1 million per gram). As peat or potting soil
dries, the dust generated has high numbers of NTM. In a study of pulmonary NTM
patients, we found that a proportion (who were gardeners) had been infected from
their potting soil (DeGroote et al., 2006). When gardening use a pharmacy-purchasable
mask (Type N95) to avoid dust inhalation."
Reducing Exposure to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (3) (Reducing-Exposure-to-Nontuberculous-Mycobacteria-3.pdf)
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4 Reactions@ssoma151 I understand how you feel about masking as I love to work in the yard and landscape...flower beds.
For me it is not fear that gets me to mask if I attempt to work in the yard, it is my way of being pro active to help me avoid greater health tasks, like antibiotics etc. and possible other health problems due to the antibiotics. For me, I decided to hire help and it actually gave me more time for me and the things I need to do for myself considering the tasks with having Bronchiectasis and NTM. I am not on antibiotics and have a low load count of MAI, so far, after several years with BE.
We understand we are all different in our approach. We just want you to stay safe and smile as you go while enjoying the fruits of your labor....glad you are able to get out there and garden.
Barbara
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3 Reactions@ssoma151 I HATE to mask while working outdoors. So...I wet any soil, etc I work with to minimize inhaling particles...I work from an upright position when possible (more distance from the soil)...I hire out the dumping and spreading of dirt and mulch...I reluctantly mask when I mow, weed whip and use a blower.
So far (6 years and counting) I have avoided reinfection.
I hate to admit it, but it has helped my asthma and allergies too.
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