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(MAC/MAI) Mycobacterium Avium Complex Pulmonary Disease: Join us
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!
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Hi Katemn. I have been on the med's since 2010 and taking a break from them for a few months. I too have gone into bronchiectasis and COPD and my white count and platelets very low. Going to see if they raise up without taking the drugs. I am interested in the homeopathic remedy. Started out with the MAC only. <br />
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Julie <br />
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THANKS FOR THE INPUT kATEMAN<br />
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Yes nI am trying to hook up with someone here in British Columbia Canada,<br />
Perhaps at Kamloops BC for the non drug treatment.<br />
So far no luck but the day is young.<br />
<br />
John<br />
I am new to this forum and I am a 58 y/o white male, diagnosed with MAC via brochoscopy and sputum results just over 15 months ago. I also have bronchiectasis however I am on the mild end of the spectrum with very little in the way of symptoms. Very little dry cough, next to no sputum production, bouts of fatigue that pass and I am keeping a healthy stable weight. Not on medication yet, although that could change down the track. I am under the care of a lung specialist who has other MAC patients at a large hospital here in Sydney, Australia. My biggest test is that I am a depression/anxiety sufferer and when I am feeling low physically my mental state plummets. I just have to remember I am not alone on this journey, and the news of other sufferers helps me along.
James
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3 ReactionsJames, stay on this forum .. many lovely people!
When I was diagnosed a wonderful woman told me .. and I have repeated it to myself MANY times plus told many other people:
"If we all put our troubles in a great big circle .. more than likely each of us would take back our own troubles!"
This statement is so profound. My husband is on chemo with Stage 4 cancer .. I did 30 months on 4-5 antibiotics and now cough incessantly with Bronchiectasis .. BUT we remind ourselves:
We have never lost a child .. we have never lost a grandchild .. now THOSE are troubles! So we count our "gratitudes" each day and see the glass half full rather than half empty. Each day is a new beginning. Each morning we can DECIDE to be happy. Because happiness truly IS an "inside" job! Each of us knows what "fills" our cup .. exercise .. volunteering with those less fortunate than ourselves .. seeing friends or family. We make that choice each morning to be happy. Depression is a chemical imbalance .. my husband also suffers from that .. but he is careful to take his meds .. exercises .. AND makes the choice each day to make it a better day.
James, I hope the above helps you just a little bit! Go in peace.
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2 ReactionsKatherine, thanks for the reply. My depression/anxiety, diagnosed as Cyclothymia (Cyclothymic Disorder), is something I have had nearly all my adult life. It stems from losing my brother when he was only 16 years old, I was only nearly 19 years old myself, then my Grandfather and father in a short number of years then the breakdown of my first marriage. I have no contact with my adult children or any grandchild, only my fabulous current wife of 28 years, and some friends to support me in my illness. And, that is more than many I suppose. I am starting to do some volunteer work, as I am a early retiree, and I try to keep my mind busy. It is too easy to lead a very insular life, and miss out on the fun of actually living. I have been told that MAC may be my cross to bear for the rest of my life, and that is a scary thought at times. However, life is there to be lived. It may not be quite what I thought it would be, but it is all I have.
James
James<br />
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I have been diagnosed with MAC the TB one and pleuricy in March 2015, I'm take my antibiotics at night to get relieve from the side effects. I am tired the whole time. Some days are better than others. I stopped taking my anti depression meds. Good luck, we have been put on this journey for a reason. <br />
Maryke <br />
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1 ReactionGood for you James! It sounds like you do just like I do .. try to see the glass as half full .. even if it might be 1/3 full! I'm so happy you are volunteering .. it helps to be SO aware that we are indeed SO much better off than so many other people .. having an attitude of gratitude. Like you I have a good spouse .. we support each other .. indeed we are blessed. I would NOT want to be walking this journey alone .. and we need to remember that MANY are .. another gratitude! My daughter told me about googling "MeetUp". It is a WHOLE BUNCH of various groups of people all over the world (they were living in Hong Kong at the time) that allows you to find all kinds of ways to not only volunteer but also to socialize .. NOT focus on ourselves nor our bodies. I did what she suggested and have found it fascinating! My special interest is exploring my spirituality .. but have also joined groups for lunch/dinner/theatre/ballet/volunteer .. you name it .. a GREAT organization .. AND a lot of fun to explore! Give it a try!
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2 ReactionsGood to hear from you Nick. My prayers are with you. The antibiotics are chemical therapy in and of themselves, and to be subjected to more chemotherapy... keep us posted with your progress and we are here for you!
Best wishes and with love,
Melissa
Ahoy John! 🙂 I have been off of the antibiotics since July 2015 after a six months. I still test POS for AFB sputum and still have a productive cough. (My ribs hurt from coughing) I still (in my opinion) have ineffectual physicians overseeing my care. I have developed a consequential fungal infection that is proven to be quite resistant to conventional meds that the ‘ladies’ usually take ;( as a result of the antibiotics…
Nonetheless… I return to my ID doc and pulmonary doc in a couple of week to discuss my alleged normal CT scan with the ever present “reticulondular, interstitial, pleuroparenchymal opacities in both lung apices” which they regard as ‘normal’.
P.S. I regard the LDS as a definite P 🙂 in the broader sense of it all.
Best wishes and may the FORCE be with you!
Melissa
Hello and Welcome James!
You are definitely not alone. When I first discovered Katherine's post and this page several months ago it has been a BLESSING. Just to discuss paths and pathways that others are and have taken and to understand that there is HOPE and that we have Each Other.
I have resigned from volunteering with children (teaching fiddle/violin) as a result of my infection. Two-fold (1) (a) because no one can give me a straight answer as to whether or not my immune system is compromised; and (b) if I am in any way contagious to the kids; (2) FATIGUE. Quitting on the Kids was a very difficult decision to make, as a result... I understand your depression.
I have since taken up school (on-line) and am about to complete my Master's. I still play music at home (when I feel well) and that helps too.
Find a solace, (not tv...although I am a HUGE 'Fear the Walking Dead Fan'...) and fill the voids that ultimately fill your life with Happiness 🙂
Once again.... we are here for YOU!
Best wishes and with Love...from the USA
Melissa
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