MayoClinic.org
(MAC/MAI) MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX PULMONARY DISEASE/BRONCHIECTASIS
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!
KateMN
@america @windwalker So sorry you both have hit a speed bump. Coming into the change of seasons is bound to wreak havoc on us, it sometimes did before our diagnosis. Guess that's why I was thinking about the flu and pneumonia shots. Saying a prayer for us all, especially you two. And thank you Terri for still checking in when you've been feeling gunky.
Margie
Hope you both feel better soon!
Yes, my whole family thinks I’m a germ freak. My brothers think I am faking, but with therapy and my husband’s support I just don’t care anymore. Only we who have MAC and our close family members who see us cough and suffer really understand it all. I love this group! Thank you to all who support this site!
I love how you think!!!!!!! Jane
What about the shingles vaccine? It is very expensive, is it worth the $?
@taya This article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides some useful information about the shingles vaccine. If you are on Medicare or have health insurance, the cost of vaccine should be covered. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/zostavax/index.html
@margiebanks …..another resource for hearing re which immunizations are suggested might be to call the local health department and ask an RN. They should have access to latest CDC and state recommendations. tdrell
@taya be aware there seems to be a shortage of getting the new shingles vaccine….so it might be awhile….our local Walgreens where we get our shots has a wait list….the required amount is to get two shots ….separated by several months.tdrell
@helem Helen I totally understand the germ freak thing, others do not understand at all but we have to avoid germs totally. My daughter has a cold and I am very concerned, washing my hands alot and wearing a mask.
Irene, You have helped me in past so I hope now that I am reviewing 4,000 plus e-mails, I came across yours and hoped that you have had a wonderful day with the wedding. Jane Brown
@tdrell another great idea, thanks so much!
Margie
@macjane Thank you Jane. That’s nice of you.The wedding was beautiful. My sweet little Yu Chun was gorgeous. I barely made it through the church mass. My husband had to bring me home as I was just too sick and started throwing up. My oldest daughter commented “ life isn’t fair.” She has always been “my person.”What I hate the most is how much my kids and grandbabies worry about me. I hate that more than anything. My daughter has been sending me pics and brought me cake yesterday as they aren’t taking a honeymoon till the summer because of work and school. A friend who is a nurse told my husband I had used every bit of energy to just be there. I am usually ok from the neck up. On Saturday even that was problematic. In spite of this disease and recent setback I know I am truly blessed.