COPD Bronchiectasis ABPA New: MAC & AFB

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I can’t speak on the COPD or APBA but I think for many the MAC diagnosis is tough because it’s a chronic illness which requires daily intervention (airway clearance) plus if determined to be best, long term medication. I opted for the big 3 which is an antibiotic cocktail of arithromycin, rifabutin and ethambutol, the side effects of which can be tough. Labs to monitor, along with vision and hearing screening is required. Once the MAC infection is cleared the drugs are still taken for 12 months from that date. This forum does have a list of questions you can use to bring to your dr along with a wealth of information and support.

Thank you. I’ll plug along and live my best life with what my lungs have to offer.

I also have ABPA (since 2011), MAC, and bronchiectasis. I nebulize levabuterol and 7% saline solution 2x day, which helps tremendously with my airway constriction.

I had asthma before I "caught" ABPA from clearing out a compost heap. Most folks who have had ABPA for many years eventually develop bronchiectasis and associated bacterial infections, such as MAC, pseudonomas, etc.

In my case the ABPA is the more serious disease (I am treated with steroids and itraconazole), and my pulmonologist has chosen not to treat me with the big 3 antibiotics. They are pretty tough on your body and some folks cannot tolerate them. To make matters worse, the MAC can return even after you have cleared it with antibiotics. The daily lung clearance is a pain the neck but it really helps, you might consider doing that instead of the antibiotics to keep the MAC "suppressed."