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MAC BACTERIA IN LUNGS, antibiotics and weight gain

Posted by lissandra27 @lissandra27, Dec 10, 2023

Hi everyone, I have been on antibiotics for MAC bacteria for exactly one year. I had another bronchoscopy last month which showed that there is still a growth of bacteria. I currently take 3 antibiotics everyday. The side effects I have noticed are fatigue and flatulence, besides the feeling that there is a war inside of my guts.
I have no symptoms of the lung infection though, I even jog and exercise everyday, But lately I have been gaining weight, specially around my belly. Nothing seems to help, I eat healthy, my diet is usually a low calorie one, lots of veggies, greens, fruit, yogurt etc.

Has anyone gone through the same thing during the MAC treatment?

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Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 11, 2023

I was very similar. Initially I had pneumonia, cough ,shortness of breath. ER and pulminologist started treatment and I rarely coughed but still somewhat short of breath but CT still showed infection so I continued the big 3 for 28 months. Felt really good for 6 months then a fungal infection set in that I've been fighting for 20 months now.

REPLY
1 reply
cwal | @cwal | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @rstel7272 "I was very similar. Initially I had pneumonia, cough ,shortness of breath. ER and pulminologist started..." + (show)
@rstel7272

I was very similar. Initially I had pneumonia, cough ,shortness of breath. ER and pulminologist started treatment and I rarely coughed but still somewhat short of breath but CT still showed infection so I continued the big 3 for 28 months. Felt really good for 6 months then a fungal infection set in that I've been fighting for 20 months now.

Jump to this post

Was the fungal infection due to taking the Big 3?

REPLY
1 reply
Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @cwal "Was the fungal infection due to taking the Big 3?" + (show)
@cwal

Was the fungal infection due to taking the Big 3?

Jump to this post

As in most cases we never know the origin of our disease's. At first I thought it due to the fact I took Symbicort for 3 1/2 years. Steriod's are known to fuel fungal infections. I have "permanent" cavity in the RUL that acts like a trap. Then I ran across this that seems to explain this mac/fungal relationship:
https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/4/346?fbclid=IwAR1lz6HRE61LjzFe6wpeUTt-9QC4Nd796LQ7R46ud76LQmq8r0VW5Oqm_U4
P.S. I'll never take a steriod again.

REPLY
1 reply
damcipro | @damcipro | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @rstel7272 "As in most cases we never know the origin of our disease's. At first I thought..." + (show)
@rstel7272

As in most cases we never know the origin of our disease's. At first I thought it due to the fact I took Symbicort for 3 1/2 years. Steriod's are known to fuel fungal infections. I have "permanent" cavity in the RUL that acts like a trap. Then I ran across this that seems to explain this mac/fungal relationship:
https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/4/346?fbclid=IwAR1lz6HRE61LjzFe6wpeUTt-9QC4Nd796LQ7R46ud76LQmq8r0VW5Oqm_U4
P.S. I'll never take a steriod again.

Jump to this post

I to was treated with big 3 for 18 months. Stopped treatment as it destroyed my gut and has left me with ongoing muscle atrophy/ weight loss. I to use symbicort and have same worries as you. Can I ask what do you use instead, I need to stop these steroids but breathing is difficult as I still have MAC.

REPLY
1 reply
Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 12, 2023
In reply to @damcipro "I to was treated with big 3 for 18 months. Stopped treatment as it destroyed my..." + (show)
@damcipro

I to was treated with big 3 for 18 months. Stopped treatment as it destroyed my gut and has left me with ongoing muscle atrophy/ weight loss. I to use symbicort and have same worries as you. Can I ask what do you use instead, I need to stop these steroids but breathing is difficult as I still have MAC.

Jump to this post

After I developed new symptoms, NJH added Spiriva Respimat along with the symbicort. At first I had a one week physicians sample of the asthma dose. The next week I got the regular dose and I did not respond well for a week. Then I tried one week of Symbicort only and one week of Spiriva only and after feeling better with just the Spiriva, I stopped the Symbicort myself. I expected my pulmonologist's at NJH and uchealth to give me a hard time but they both agreed with me. I have been on the Spiriva for 16 months now. Both are costly, but that was not the factor and Spiriva is even more than symbicort

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