Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
'PINK SLIME' Data Base
Dear Connect Members,
Remember the poll I started about who has the ‘pink slime’ AKA Methylobacterium in their bathrooms? I have been in contact with Joseph Falkinham, a NTM reseacher and professor at Virginia Tech. He is very interested in starting a data base for where this particular bacterium is located throughout the U.S. and Canada. I have noted the locales from those of you who have already responded. Am encouraging any others with the pinkish/orange bacteria to report it back here to me. I don’t know about you, but I am excited to be a part of important research.
Please include your state and county name when submitting. Thank you in advance for helping with this poll. See e-mail below from Dr. Falkinham – Terri M.
“Dear Terri:
The source of mycobacteria in homes and buildings is the municipal water from a utility. It enters the treatment plant from the source water, usually adhering to soil particulates. The mycobacteria are disinfectant-resistant and are the few survivors of disinfection (e.g., chlorine) and have no competitors that have been killed off.
When that water reaches our homes, the mycobacteria grow in the water heaters and then are circulated throughout the house. We are currently finishing up work showing the impact of the water heater on mycobacterial numbers. Thus, the critical control point for mycobacteria might be the water heater.
I would certainly appreaciate knowing where the “Connect” group has found pink slime. You have given me an idea….I can use the NTM Foundation data base to get an idea of pink slime across the US and Canada.
Best,
Joe”
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12061948
@12061948
@12061948
Posts: 32
Joined: Aug 25, 2018
@12061948 I have allergic reactions to ciprofloxacin and Levaquin so they can’t use that so they are using something called EDTA which is a solution that contains silver and something else that helps at it adhere to the sinuses
I’m just wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with it and if they’re having like a neurological issues from it. I was in the hospital in 2014 and two weeks after that I started having tremors and facial freezing up and I’m still having those issues so now I’m wondering if I’ve had it all this time and it’s just now been diagnosed. I had several Endoscopy and yes I was in a nursing home environment when visiting my mother-in-law. I was just wondering if I picked it up somewhere visiting someone in the hospital also. We’ve had several family members in the past few years Ill and passing away so who knows. We are at that age with lost a lot of family because I’m 70 now and I’ve been ill since I’m 65. In fall of 2013 I got like a viral infection and dizziness and vertigo and sore throat and it’s just been crazy ever since. I did leave a voicemail for Dr. Falkinham
I sent him an email but of course I imagine he’s pretty busy I was just wondering if he had ever seen it causes neurological problems. Thank you for responding
I did hear from joe Frankinham
He thought it was more likely I had metholbacterium. Infection. If I spelled that right.
That sometimes the labs get them mixed up because they look the same in the culture both of these bacteria’s have a pinkish red when they grow so I called the lab and they said they did the DNA test on the bacteria and it was definitely Serratia Marcescens. He recommended I see an infectious disease doctors he gave the name of two that are located in Tyler Texas
Coincidently I saw a doctor yesterday and she also recommended an infectious disease doctor. And also my ENT called this morning and they recommended an infectious disease doctor. So I have an appointment Monday see what I can find out because I’m tired of being sick and in pain.
Thank you for your help
Goldie
Liked by Dee, Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor, kristiemlove
Jennifer
@megan123
@megan123
Posts: 155
Joined: Oct 05, 2016
@windwalker Yes Jan. I will send yours as well. Thank you.
Hi Terry….I have no pink slime at all in the bathroom….I'm in Toronto Canada
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Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
@megan123 Hi Terry….things are pretty Good…still on the big 3, but maybe going off of meds in July, depending on CT scan and next sputum…have been negative for close to a year…cavity has shrunk somewhat as well…❤️
@megan123 That is wonderful news that the cavity is shrinking. Keep up the good work!
REPLY
Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
@12061948 I did hear from joe Frankinham
He thought it was more likely I had metholbacterium. Infection. If I spelled that right.
That sometimes the labs get them mixed up because they look the same in the culture both of these bacteria’s have a pinkish red when they grow so I called the lab and they said they did the DNA test on the bacteria and it was definitely Serratia Marcescens. He recommended I see an infectious disease doctors he gave the name of two that are located in Tyler Texas
Coincidently I saw a doctor yesterday and she also recommended an infectious disease doctor. And also my ENT called this morning and they recommended an infectious disease doctor. So I have an appointment Monday see what I can find out because I’m tired of being sick and in pain.
Thank you for your help
Goldie
@12061948 Hi Goldie. Gosh, I hope you can get to feeling better soon. Had you been in a hospital or nursing home setting where you would have likely picked this up at? Good luck on Monday. Please keep me posted.
Liked by Dee
sounder27
@sounder27
@sounder27
Posts: 54
Joined: Jan 11, 2019
I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.
Liked by Dee, Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
irene5
@irene5
@irene5
Posts: 364
Joined: Oct 03, 2016
@sounder27 I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.
@sounder27All I can say is I feel so bad for you! When you said you never had MAC till the condo, I knew how you felt. I have said that too – not about a condo, but I said that too. I guess we just have to move on knowing we do have MAC, and try not to beat ourselves up with questions of – if we had done certain things differently.
Liked by Dee, Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
sounder27
@sounder27
@sounder27
Posts: 54
Joined: Jan 11, 2019
@12061948 I have allergic reactions to ciprofloxacin and Levaquin so they can’t use that so they are using something called EDTA which is a solution that contains silver and something else that helps at it adhere to the sinuses
I’m just wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with it and if they’re having like a neurological issues from it. I was in the hospital in 2014 and two weeks after that I started having tremors and facial freezing up and I’m still having those issues so now I’m wondering if I’ve had it all this time and it’s just now been diagnosed. I had several Endoscopy and yes I was in a nursing home environment when visiting my mother-in-law. I was just wondering if I picked it up somewhere visiting someone in the hospital also. We’ve had several family members in the past few years Ill and passing away so who knows. We are at that age with lost a lot of family because I’m 70 now and I’ve been ill since I’m 65. In fall of 2013 I got like a viral infection and dizziness and vertigo and sore throat and it’s just been crazy ever since. I did leave a voicemail for Dr. Falkinham
I sent him an email but of course I imagine he’s pretty busy I was just wondering if he had ever seen it causes neurological problems. Thank you for responding
Just wondering if you got my post about the pinkish/ peachy residue that I got on my shower head, sinks and toilets. I posted last night. I have lived in this condo for 19 years and contracted Mac about a year after I changed the water heater. I live in Cranston, RI. Once the water heater was changed the pink residue disappeared. I stay on the lookout for it as the plumber told me it was from the metals in the water that sink to the bottom of the water heater creating sludge. That means the water heater is ready to burst. I also have sinus problems but never got them checked. Too many other bigger issues to deal with. Mac, bronchiectasis, gerd, atrial fibrillation and fibromyalgia. All diagnosed.
Liked by Dee, Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
Jo Ann K
@jkiemen
@jkiemen
Posts: 413
Joined: Jun 23, 2017
@colapyrus If I post here about the pink-slime will it get to Dr Falkinham? We have it also. We are on a well. Lexington, SC. Jan
I was reading an article from Dr Falkinham that says Pink Slime is Protective .
https://books.google.com/books?id=6hzYCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=Is+pink+slime+NTM+harmful+Falkinham&source=bl&ots=33N9gCARFL&sig=ACfU3U0tTlVNndPlfCD59l5Fa63nw9qxlw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYxOmZn6riAhUPRK0KHa0PDYQQ6AEwDnoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=Is%20pink%20slime%20NTM%20harmful%20Falkinham&f=false
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Jo Ann K
@jkiemen
@jkiemen
Posts: 413
Joined: Jun 23, 2017
Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
@sounder27 I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.
@sounder27 Just curious, did you live in the same area as your present location as the condo?
Liked by Dee
Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
@windwalker @12061948 Hi Goldie. Gosh, I hope you can get to feeling better soon. Had you been in a hospital or nursing home setting where you would have likely picked this up at? Good luck on Monday. Please keep me posted.
@12061948 Hello Goldie. How did your appointment go last Monday?
Liked by Dee
Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor
@windwalker
@windwalker
Posts: 3459
Joined: Nov 18, 2016
@sounder27 Just wondering if you got my post about the pinkish/ peachy residue that I got on my shower head, sinks and toilets. I posted last night. I have lived in this condo for 19 years and contracted Mac about a year after I changed the water heater. I live in Cranston, RI. Once the water heater was changed the pink residue disappeared. I stay on the lookout for it as the plumber told me it was from the metals in the water that sink to the bottom of the water heater creating sludge. That means the water heater is ready to burst. I also have sinus problems but never got them checked. Too many other bigger issues to deal with. Mac, bronchiectasis, gerd, atrial fibrillation and fibromyalgia. All diagnosed.
@sounder27 I have pink slime starting to form around my bathroom sink drain (because I am past due on my cleaning) now I am worried that my hot water tank is about to blow. It is 10 yrs old now. Scary part is; it is located in the attic (not my idea).
Liked by Dee
sounder27
@sounder27
@sounder27
Posts: 54
Joined: Jan 11, 2019
@windwalker @sounder27 Just curious, did you live in the same area as your present location as the condo?
Windwalker. I still live in that same condo, yes. I do not have choices due to lack of sufficient funds. Long story…I will have to eventually move again due to lack of sufficient funds and a hefty parent plus student loan obligation.
Liked by Dee
@megan123
In reply to @windwalker
Hi Terry….things are pretty Good…still on the big 3, but maybe going off of meds in July, depending on CT scan and next sputum…have been negative for close to a year…cavity has shrunk somewhat as well…❤️
Liked by Dee, Terri Martin., Volunteer Mentor