(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us

Posted by Katherine, Alumni Mentor @katemn, Nov 21, 2011

I am new to Mayo online .. I was hoping to find others with .. MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) and/or BRONCHIECTASIS. I found only 1 thread on mycobacterium accidently under the catagory "Lungs". I'm hoping by starting a subject matter directly related to MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) I may find others out there!

I was diagnosed by a sputum culture August 2007 (but the culture result was accidentally misfiled until 2008!) with MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) and BRONCHIECTASIS. I am now on 5 antibiotics. Working with Dr. Timothy Aksamit at Rochester Mayo Clinic .. he is a saint to have put up with me this long! I was terrified of the treatment . started the first antibiotic September 3, 2011 ... am now on all 5 antibiotics for 18 mos to 2 years. Am delighted at the very bearable side effects!

I wrote on the 1 thread I found: If you google NON-TUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE (MAC/MAI) you will learn a LOT about the disease. But PLEASE do NOT get scared about all the things you read .. that is what I did and nearly refused to do the treatment until after a 2nd Micomacterium was discovered! Educate yourself for "due diligence" .. but take it all with a grain of salt .. you are NOT necessarily going to have all the terrible side effects of the antibiotics! Good luck to you!

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January 2017 Update

One of our great Connect Members .. @Paula_MAC2007  .. had a wonderfully helpful idea that I wanted to share! Her idea .. as you read through the pages to gather information on our shared disease of MAC you can develop a personal "file cabinet" for future reference without the necessity of reading all the pages again!

If you have the "MS Word" program on your computer:
- Document Title Example:  Mayo Clinic Connect MAI/MAC Information
- Then develop different categories that make sense to you such as:  Heath Aids .. Videos .. Healthy Living .. Positive Thinking .. Baseline Testing and Regular Testing .. Antibiotics ..
Tips for
- As you read the pages .. copy/paste/save things of interest into that MS Word document under your preferred categories for future reference.

Then as you want to refer back to something in the future .. YEAH!  You have now created your own personal "file cabinet" on MAC/MAI!  Go to it!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

@pfists

Hi all
Haven't been on here for awhile.
Saw my infectious disease Dr today.
She wants me to get a second opinion at the Mayo clinic here in Minnesota just an one and half hours from here. I have been testing positive for mycobacteria abscesses for a year now. Had several CT scans throughout the year the last was a little better then the one before.
She said treatment May include a couple of IV's. I would administer myself. I have done IV's on myself before but was hoping for oral or inhalation medications.
Have others here had to do IV's.?
Really do not want to do this route.

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@pfists .. Shari, I am going to VERY honest with you. I am VERY grateful you are going to Mayo .. get your fanny there ASAP!! Mycobacteria abscesses is ONE nasty critter .. AND VERY difficult to get rid of .. one of the toughest. How do I know .. as the saying goes "I IS one"!! I had: MYCOBACTERIUM ABSCESSUS SUBSPECIES M. BOLETTI ISOLATES .. and was on antibiotic treatment for thirty months .. it is one of the TOUGHEST to get rid of. Due to my excellent Mayo Clinic treatment .. I have been "stable" from it since 2014. I was on INHALED Amikacin .. but your situation may be different. Get started! Please keep us posted .. we are here for you! Hugs! Katherine

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@boomerexpert

@pfists I think the Mayo clinic will answer your questions...I'm interested in the natural improvement you're making without meds; think it's a good sign you don't need'em, and Mayo will give you good advice on that. As for IV vs. specifically oral...I'll be thrilled if I can avoid the stomach-killing oral drugs and do IV! Inhaled is best as it's most targeted,

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Boomer, I don't mean to frighten her .. but when @pfists Shari said "I have been testing positive for mycobacteria abscesses for a year now." Sorry .. your statement " I’m interested in the natural improvement you’re making without meds; think it’s a good sign you don’t need’em, " is really off base.

I HAVE HAD: MYCOBACTERIUM ABSCESSUS SUBSPECIES M. BOLETTI ISOLATES . I FOUGHT it for THIRTY months .. it is one of the most difficult mycobacteriums to bring to "stability" .. you do NOT make "natural improvement without meds". What you DO is create UGLY ABSCESSUS in your lungs instead! Yep! Pretty ugly stuff. I've been there .. done that. I can easily speak as a voice of personal experience. Katherine

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@jula73

I am a 73-year-old female with a recent diagnosis of MAC along with a history of 34 years of severe rheumatoid arthritis. I also have osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, GERD and a neuromuscular disease called CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth Disease). I also live with scoliosis which can be one of the symptoms of CMT and for which I had corrective surgery 11 years ago. My MAC diagnosis came about a month ago. I am not on treatment yet except for an inhaler. I have been reading many of the messages posted here and am learning quite a bit. One thing I have not noticed is mention of loss of voice or raspy voice. My voice has gotten raspy in the past when I have had sinus infections. I do not believe I have sinus trouble presently but my voice has been getting worse since the beginning of this year. I am trying to drink extra fluids but I am beginning to worry about losing my voice totally. I'm looking for suggestions. I am going to be scheduled for a bronchoscopy sometimes soon. I am a former LPN who worked on a postop surgical floor, in nursing homes and for many years as an occupational health nurse.

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@mariposa, Andree, you just sit tight! We are here for YOU .. you are NOT here for us! Do what YOU need to do when you feel best to do it .. let your body be your guide! Hugs to you! Katherine

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@jula73

I am a 73-year-old female with a recent diagnosis of MAC along with a history of 34 years of severe rheumatoid arthritis. I also have osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, GERD and a neuromuscular disease called CMT (Charcot Marie Tooth Disease). I also live with scoliosis which can be one of the symptoms of CMT and for which I had corrective surgery 11 years ago. My MAC diagnosis came about a month ago. I am not on treatment yet except for an inhaler. I have been reading many of the messages posted here and am learning quite a bit. One thing I have not noticed is mention of loss of voice or raspy voice. My voice has gotten raspy in the past when I have had sinus infections. I do not believe I have sinus trouble presently but my voice has been getting worse since the beginning of this year. I am trying to drink extra fluids but I am beginning to worry about losing my voice totally. I'm looking for suggestions. I am going to be scheduled for a bronchoscopy sometimes soon. I am a former LPN who worked on a postop surgical floor, in nursing homes and for many years as an occupational health nurse.

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@windwalker, Terri, it is NOT in our heads! I HATE to say this because it sounds just toooo weird .. but after my husband comes in from his HARD walk or golf .. he needs to take a shower right away .. his sweat sends me into a spasm of coughing .. HOW embarrassing ! Could I admit to to ANYONE but my Group?!! All in my head? Nope because I don't always even realize he has been outside! Tell your husband that .. tell him he's lucky it's just burning toast!! Hugs! Katherine

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@pfists

Hi all
Haven't been on here for awhile.
Saw my infectious disease Dr today.
She wants me to get a second opinion at the Mayo clinic here in Minnesota just an one and half hours from here. I have been testing positive for mycobacteria abscesses for a year now. Had several CT scans throughout the year the last was a little better then the one before.
She said treatment May include a couple of IV's. I would administer myself. I have done IV's on myself before but was hoping for oral or inhalation medications.
Have others here had to do IV's.?
Really do not want to do this route.

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Thanks Kathryn going to br calling Mayo for a cancellation daily and see if I can get in sooner. Hoping for Dr Aksimit but may have to get someone else on his team.

So you did not have to do IV's?

I got over a case of Narcodia two years ago where I had did Iv's on myself for six weeks then one oral antibiotic for a year. The Iv's were really tough all hours of the day.
Norcodia was rare but the Dr told me this mycobacteria is even rarer. Ugh
Glad I found you all to help through this!

Shari

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@heathert

Hi @katemn and all
Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you about the vinegar/acetic acid concentration to kill mac, but here is the link : http://mbio.asm.org/content/5/2/e00013-14.full
It is very interesting as NTM is again more difficult to kill.

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@heathert .. Heather, this is just GREAT information! Now Girlfriend .. my memory serves me that you found a reliable resource to purchase Acetic acid - did you get 5%, 10% .. what strength did you get based on your research as necessary? AND will you PLEASE share EXACTLY how you are using it .. AND for what! Sorry .. but what a nice thing to have for my Trusty File Cabinet. Heather, take your time but we as a Group would really appreciate it! Again, thank you for the link and Hugs to you! Katherine

re: the vinegar/acetic acid concentration to kill mac, but here is the link : http://mbio.asm.org/content/5/2/e00013-14.full
It is very interesting as NTM is again more difficult to kill.

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@beatitnow

Hi everyone. I have not written in a while. I have been in the process of moving for the last 6 weeks. I'm currently staying at my parent's house until we move into our house on Aug15! (And, yes, @katemn, we ended up buying a standing house instead of building...thank you for your advice.).

As a reminder, I have MAI and bronchiectasis, and I have been on the 3 meds for 4 months now. My parent's have a chlorinated pool in the back yard which is very nice. I have not swam in the pool yet because I wasn't quite sure if this brought more of a risk of getting further bacteria. I know there was a thread one time about chlorinated pools, but I did not get a chance to follow the conversation. Does anyone have anything saved in their "file cabinet" about the pool topic, or any information you can contribute would be great!

Also, if there was any information about whether salt water pools are any safer? The house we bought has a pool, so I am going to have to research this. Thank you for any help you can provide!

Amy

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Amy and JK, if you find what you need there .. great .. if you don't see what you need there .. feel free to come back here to the Main Forum to get your needs met. What matters is your questions get answered with the most updated info! Hugs! Katherine

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Hi, All, - I had my check up with my ID doc a couple of days ago. I went with a yellow pad and a page full of questions, primarily initiated from posts on this forum. I also went back and reviewed my sputum text results from the beginning before my appt. I have 2 docs collecting my lovely mucous - my ID doc and my CF doc. I realized in reviewing that my ID doc had the results of a clean test in March and my CF doc had a clean test from me in June! (I started the Big 3 in December 2016 and have taken them every day) So I've had 2 clear sputum tests and didn't even know it. No one told me and I didn't know what I was looking at when I reviewed the results - until you all came along! I just took another sample into the lab earlier this week which I know will come back clear. I've had some brain fog lately - enough to cause a small accident while backing out of a parking space last week. I've also had some other close calls and am having trouble keeping things straight in my business as a Realtor. I mentioned to my ID doc and told him in light of the fact that I have 2 samples clear and that I'm breathing better, I am going off the Big 3 meds. He wanted to keep me on until March 2018 to "be sure" those little buggers were dead. I said - Not happening! I'm off now. They are dead. I know they are dead. So prayers that they are! I have a CT scan scheduled for early next month about 10 days before I go back to see my ID doc and review this CT with my last one done last November. You all - most especially our Mentor, Katherine, are the best! I appreciate each and every one of you so much! I will keep you posted on my final results, but I know it will be a good outcome. Blessings! Linda M

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One more thing - for all those using the Aerobika - that needs to be changed out every 6 months. It says it in the booklet that mine came with and I verified it with my respiratory therapist. Just an FYI.

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@heathert

Hi @katemn and all
Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you about the vinegar/acetic acid concentration to kill mac, but here is the link : http://mbio.asm.org/content/5/2/e00013-14.full
It is very interesting as NTM is again more difficult to kill.

Jump to this post

@heathert  Interesting read Heather, thank you for
posting. Wouldn't it be great if we just rinse our lungs in
vinegar??
 

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