Hi Robyn! Let’s hope that you are on the upward trend of getting better. It sounds like you are despite the other annoying things that are going on. I feel for you though; I too have been having sleepless nights.

Jan, we are not saying you do not have asthma. Often times asthma and COPD go hand-in-hand with bronchiecstasis. It is called ‘co-morbid disease’. I have all three and then some! -Terri

I got a report only from the 12-24 hour testing…… as far as I know there was no culturing sent in for MAC

You can request that you get a TRUE 6 week MAC culture. Especially if it would ease your mind to know for sure.

It appeared each time that the culture was requested but….. nothing has ever come back and when I check with the lab, they have nothing. Do you know anything about what lung function percentage should be for an old lady 76 years old????

Jan, no, I do not know. Bear in mind, you are not a typical ‘old lady’, you have bronchiecstasis. That and asthma affect your lung function. My lung function is at 44% and I am 58 yrs old. My doctor said that if it does not drop any further; that I could live a long time like this. On the bright side, you are doing way better than I am!

I’ve never had trouble sleeping and before the Cipro I was sleeping 3-4 hours a day with naps and 8 hours at night. Didn’t realize that “hard to sleep” was a side effect of an antibiotic. My mind feels likes it is on steroids. Has anyone else had this side effect? Robyn

Robyn, I take Naproxen for arthritis and BP meds and antibiotics every month for bronchiectasis and I have no idea the culprit but —- I sleep only 2 hours no matter what time I go to bed. Cannot go back to sleep and it hurts too much to lie there so I get up and go to the office and can pass an hour or so quickly in there. Then, I go back to bed and can usually sleep about 4 more hours. That’s all the sleep I get. I’m not a napper but wish I could. Also have been having to change night clothes because of the sweating. Don’t like that either and have no idea from where it’s coming except that Mayo’s ask me if I had night sweats and I said “no” — which was true two years go but ……. started soon after. They told me at that time that is a side effect of bronchiectasis…..

You are encouraging — for sure. Thanks for all your help.

Before I started treatment, I was sleeping all the time. I miss it. I hope I don’t become “Sleepless in California”! I also had heavy night sweats before the antibiotics. I think it is part of the body fighting an infection, not a side effect. From the University of Texas Medical Center: “Other symptoms of illness in MAC patients with nodular lung infections are low-grade fever, night sweats, loss of appetite (“I never get hungry), and mild weight loss.” I had all of those. I still have the fevers, but less of them. Bronchiectasis can cause all of them. By the way, I am 89 years old, survived 4th stage breast cancer in 1987 (where the radiation caused my future lung problems) and an all-year bout with MAC in 2001. I can manage this…..blessings, Robyn

Windwalker and everyone….not sure how to post this so everyone will see…here goes…and for those not attending …l am planning on it…so a list of questions can be constructed for those unable to attend as was done for MAy 2017 woirkshop in Washington DC>
NJH will be doing it
“2017 NTM workshop Series for Patients and Families”
on October 21st 830am to 330pm in Denver on their campus….cost is $25 no doubt for snacks and lunch.
only that and registration sheet is on Nationaljewishhealth.org site…buried…no details yet but that will no doubt emerge. No doubt it too will be videod as were the 2015 and 2016 series.
tdrell terri d

Terri/@windwalker, this is Carolyn (59 yo diagnosed with MAC and mild bronchiecstasis earlier this summer.) I saw an ID doc at Mayo a couple weeks ago and start on the “Big Three” tomorrow. Actually, Azithromyacin this week, adding Rifampin and Ethambutol each of the following two Monday’s. I am trying to stay positive but am quite anxious about starting a minimum of 14 months of this regimen. Anyway, I’ve since gotten all my baseline tests, a pneumonia shot, started probiotics (Florastor) & had an endoscopy to assess GERD. Also began a routine of Albuterol inhalant, a nebulizer and Aerobika twice daily.

Here are a couple questions:
I have never produced phlegm or mucous.
How will we do sputum tests? (How often are they done, usually?)
Do you have to have a bronchoscopy each time you need one?
Thanks!