1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Difficutly breathing in the shower

Posted by happyhealthyme @happyhealthyme, 3 days ago

Hi. I was diagnosed with MAI several months ago and have opted to be monitored before starting treatment. My oxygen level is mostly 92, a drop from my average 93-94. Lately, I find that I can't breathe properly in the shower. Has anyone with MAI or MAC experienced such?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 3 days ago

@happyhealthyme - I know a lot of people are very worried about whether their showers may increase their exposure to MAC. A few years ago, I found myself trying to breath shallowly or as little as possible in the shower, until I almost fainted one day. Then I sternly told myself, "you are being as safe as you can, it's only 4 minutes a day, stop it!"
Do you think you are (consciously or unconsciously) anxious about this, and perhaps holding your breath?

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happyhealthyme | @happyhealthyme | 3 days ago

Thanks, Sue, for your response. It's just a general feeling of being unable to breathe in the shower.

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mariegrace | @mariegrace | 3 days ago

I read that we should be taking baths to avoid more MAC getting in our lungs from the shower. We try to disinfect the shower head by putting vinegar in a baggie and wrap around shower head overnight. I love my shower! I have a window in my bathroom which I try to keep open.
Thought the steam would be good but I have also felt a little winded.

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1 reply
liz440 | @liz440 | 3 days ago

I don't have MAC but I have had occasional difficulty breathing in the shower - humidity or heat or something but...now I take a puff of albuterol a few minutes before and I don't have trouble...I either sit on a stool or stand depending on how I feel at any one time. Oddly I seem to do best with the door fully closed.

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Rick | @rstel7272 | 2 days ago

A shower can be the toughest part if our day sometimes. Most days I get more sputum cleared during my shower than the rest of the day with the nebulizer. If I get excessive coughing, then I can get exhausted and SOB

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mariegrace | @mariegrace | 2 days ago
In reply to @rstel7272 "A shower can be the toughest part if our day sometimes. Most days I get more..." + (show)
@rstel7272

A shower can be the toughest part if our day sometimes. Most days I get more sputum cleared during my shower than the rest of the day with the nebulizer. If I get excessive coughing, then I can get exhausted and SOB

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Me too! Fatigue is horrible, ruins your whole day.

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sadies1mom | @sadies1mom | 4 hours ago

My doctor forbid showering. The aeration of the water allows you to breathe the mycobacteria
I was also told to boil my water a minimum of 10 minutes because that's how long it takes to kill the bacteria and I do that

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sadies1mom | @sadies1mom | 4 hours ago
In reply to @mariegrace "I read that we should be taking baths to avoid more MAC getting in our lungs..." + (show)
@mariegrace

I read that we should be taking baths to avoid more MAC getting in our lungs from the shower. We try to disinfect the shower head by putting vinegar in a baggie and wrap around shower head overnight. I love my shower! I have a window in my bathroom which I try to keep open.
Thought the steam would be good but I have also felt a little winded.

Jump to this post

I hate not being able to take a shower. But I do the baths and pour the water over my hair to rinse it because I have to. I also boil my water 12 minutes because it takes 10 to kill the bacteria. My point of view is to do everything I know And I'm told to avoid that bacteria. I am stable and somewhat improved.

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