Barn Cleaning and horses after being diagnosed with MAC/Bronchiectasis

I didn’t. But I have changed the way I do things. For instance, I no longer stack hay. I have someone do that for me. I clean stalls and waterers with a mask. It’s a pain, but I do it. When I mow, I wear a mask. If I drag a pasture, I wear a mask.

I have a lot of fatigue, so I pace myself a bit more than I used to. I’m more organized, actually, because I have become more mindful and efficient.

T

I used to have horses. And did all that. Stacked hay, cleaned stalls and dragged the field. I assume that’s where I was exposed.
Haven’t had any of that for 15 years but still have the MAC.

I live on just an acre, have dogs and a garden. I have transferred most planting activities to my husband and would never give up my dogs. I have MAC and my CT scans show my lungs are stable. I think you can manage it all, just make changes to accommodate the disease.

I just have bronchiectasis and my MAC test turned out negative though my CT’s look like I have it.
I asked my doc last year if I can garden. Keep in mind…VERY tiny scale compared to you. He said he didn’t think he should forbid gardening if I enjoy it, but I should be careful… wearing mask, etc.

It’s known that soil and water, especially if sprayed/aerosolized, contain MAC. Wearing a mask, long sleeves and glasses and gloves would decrease exposure. I do these and if I’m doing dirty work, I wear a face shield. The shields don’t stop the tiny aerosols, but do block larger droplets and provide splash protection. Sue, a moderator here, gardens avidly and I use some of her ideas and take off the clothes I worked in before coming into house. I try to avoid emptying bags of soil and wet them from a few feet away to Cut down on dust.
If you can get someone to help with the higher risk things that would decrease your exposure and risk.
Tracestew had good ideas.

@lorrainewenn how are you doing after 15 years diagnosed with MAC?

I’ve been diagnosed with MAC for a couple of years but my doctor thinks I had it for a long time. I’m doing well, key is to exercise everyday.

I also wanted to add that I had a MAC specialist tell me, “The little B@&tards won’t kill you, but they will make your life miserable sometimes. “ They haven’t, and they do.
I immediately panicked when I got my diagnoses and thought I’d have to sell. Then I thought about how long I have felt miserable (years) and just kept doing my day to day chores because I loved it. The Dr also told me that with Bronchiectasis, I could run, but I could never hide. NTM is everywhere. He just encouraged me NOT to be afraid to live my life, a to just take precautions where I was able. I’ll admit, I hate a mask, but if it allows me to continue to do what I do, I’d wear one all day! I also love this forum. Lots of support and ideas. Good luck to you!

@pacathy Hi...I've been looking at face shields since talking about them with you previously. What brand/style did you decide on? I found this one. It is one of the few that showed with wearing glasses etc. and able to hold the mask 'strings'. https://ultralightoptics.com/collections/best-sellers/products/face-shield-starter-pack The website is: https://ultralightoptics.com/
Any thoughts you have about it will help, be it costs or otherwise?
Thanks.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007
I bought Amazon’s Medical Nation ones last summer. They’re cheap and my glasses and a mask easily fit under. It’s just a simple physical barrier.

As I’ve said, I only use them occasionally when I’m doing something that wouldn’t be recommended for us-dirty work or caring for sick. Examples-I swept the utility part of my basement that had a lot of dust/dirt and used one in addition to mask and glasses. It was a dirty job and I didn’t want to ask others.
I also used it when I was digging to plant flowers and a few veggies. I have used one a couple times to rake leaves, but decided the last 2 seasons to hire that out. I’ve also hired out the lawn mowing.

When I’ve picked up my young grandkids at school and they turned out to be sick, I’ve added a mask annd shield until their parents come. When we know they’re sick, we try to limit my exposure, but it’s not always possible. I enjoyed my grandaughter Thursday afternoon with no mask as usual. That night she spiked a fever. I just did my hypertonic saline yesterday and today and will see her when she’s fever and cough free. I took her bro to a movie yesterday during her doc appt. He had no symptoms.

I’m not sure if you would need a shield if you aren’t doing these higher risk things.

@lorrainewenn
what type of exercise are you taling about?