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:
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!
KateMN
sounder27 …… I understand. I'm 78 and have an in-home office. There are times I just hate to go to town because of the coughing. Then….. it may get better for a while. But I think it's important you see a Mayo doctor. They kind of work in small groups and confer about all of us. So we really have a consensus of opinion versus just one person. I just think you will be happy you went.
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
@sounder27. 72 and still an active realtor, albeit MAC slowing me down. Before meeting with clients, I take the Broncolin cough syrup recommended here. And have their cough drops on hand. Work splendidly!
Pulmonologist ordered tiny little perles of Tessalon which are helpful too.
Where do you live? I’m in Longwood just no of Orlando.
Liked by janovr, Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
@auntnanny and @sounder27 Seeing Mayo team of drs is an excellent idea. That was great advise Jan.
Liked by Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@sounder27 That must be tough to still try to confer with clients while coughing and losing energy. You have my dream job by the way. I am a degreed interior designer but got too ill to keep working. I am doing much better now and consider going back into it part time. My brother has a remodel business and just did a spectacular kitchen in an old 1875 home in Richmond, Va. I hope you can get a grip on yoir cough and resume your work with more ease. If you lived near me, I'd help you with your business!
Liked by Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@nick52 Hi Nickcole! Good hearing from you. I'd love to go down to Fl. And visit your accupunturist. Great ones are hard to find. I saw two when I was traveling& one in N.Y. C. & one in Washington state. Both performed miracles. I regret that we did not get down to Fl to see you over the winter. Next winter FOR SURE!
Auntnanny. Saw my doc today. Asked him about Toby and he said it was made to target pseudomonas rather than Mac. He gave me a pamphlet about an inhaled antibiotic called Arikayce, a liposomal form of the antibiotic amikacin. He is ordering me a bebulizer with saline and said to continue using the Resprivest morning and evening. This is time consuming when I need to be at work early in the morning. I have also ordered the broncolin/propolis cough syrup which is due to arrive in 2 days. I am to consider the risks of the Arikayce and let my doc know if I want to try it. It can cause allergic inflammation of the lungs and hemoptysis which can be “common” side effects.
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
@sounder27 Hi, I was in the trial for Arakarice for a year and it was great , It really knocked my MAC back, only side effect was loss of voice which was sorted with Strepfen loengers , rinsing mouth after inhalation and inhaling just before bed so I diddnt talk after till morning. All the best Heather
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
Hi @sounder27 I only had loss of voice for a few days at the beginning, so I stopped for a few days, sucked Strepfen, inhaled last thing at night. I think my throat would get a bit funny occasionally but not bad at all. I took it with the big 3. It helped reduce my MAC.
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
@sounder27
To auntnanny. Yes I did sputum testing 3 years ago and was positive for Mac. I have not had any recent testing but am due for a cat scan in June. My last scan showed that the Mac was progressing. At first my cough was very non productive, but after this last bout of bronchitis in November it became more severe and I do cough up mucus. It is difficult at work. I have to tell all my customers that I’m not contagious. I design kitchens and usually sit with them for a couple of hours at a time. I have recently gone to part time hours due to how tired I am and how much I cough. I do have to work though, even at my age of 71. I will check with your doc’s office tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment.
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor