I’ve been reading about shower heads and it seems that many are bad for growing bacteria. One mentioned on another forum was called The Original Chrome Shower Head by Shower Clear. It is very expensive and wondering if anyone has experience with this or others that might be good.
Thanks,
Liked by Dee
@migizii I’m in Bemidji, MN and perhaps you doctor at Mayo in Rochester, too? I have not entered the shower head discussion as I am not convinced it to be anymore of a problem than anything else we run into in our life. We need to be careful, but I don’t want to be overly concerned. I checked with my pulmonologist and he wasn’t worried about hot tubs as long as they are cleaned regularly, so he thought that means excluding going in people’s home hot tubs as they are less likely to be cleaned as often as commercial settings. My recent scan showed indications of NTM infection but since I rarely produce sputum, I have to start wearing one of those vests and then he is going to order new sputum tests after there is some mucus production.
@tinaesims
Yes its super heavy solid brass construction. The only problem I have is closing it because it fits so tightly. I can open ok but I let my husband do the closing. I'm short too so that's part of the problem. If you have any problems email the company they were super helpful with my questions.
Shari
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
It is heavy but was easy (for my husband) to install. I don’t have any issues with opening or closing it, although was surprised how much water poured out when I opened it after first using it. I was grateful that I could empty the shower head instead of leaving all that water to sit in there. I love it!
It isn’t too heavy for our shower stem. We live in a condo and everything seems to be “builder grade” so I assume that is the most flimsy shower stem available. If it works here, I’m guessing it would work anywhere!
Liked by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
@sueinmn Late reply. "once your lungs are colonized with MAC, it is not totally eradicated by treatment – just knocked down to undetectable numbers". Interesting. I've read quite a few studies but haven't seen this. I am going to look further into it. I agree with just living life and not worrying about the source of MAC/NTM. It is everywhere in the environment and my specialist said I would need to live in a bubble in order to avoid it. I've been off meds and MAC free (or perhaps MAC undetectable?) for over 2 years so far!
Liked by heathert, Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor
Please share your findings on this! I’ve just finished my first 3 months on medication. When I started, I thought that the medication would “cure” the mac. I’ve learned a lot since then and now hopeful that the the treatment gets it to undetectable numbers.
Question – how do the specialists figure out when that is? CT? Bronchoscopy? And I thought you stay on the meds for a period of time even after it’s eradicated?
Tomorrow is my first follow up appointment with my respirologist but I would like to go prepared :).
Thanks.
@kathyhg Are you on the 'Big 3' meds? If so, three months is not long enough,. You would need to be on them for 12 to 18 months ( according to mac specialists). They will probably do a sputem test on you at this appointment (they should anyway) Please read all that you can about mac if you have not already. Good sources for info are http://www.ntminfo.org and http://www.njh.org and http://www.nih.gov. @janovr said she tested negative for mac after only 3 months on the big 3. So…….
Thanks. I am on them and I know it’s not long enough. Sadly. But I’m still curious how they can tell if 15 months is enough. Or 18 months? I thought that there was a period after which the Mac is cleared that you still have to be on the meds? Or does it actually take 15-18 months to clear it? Obviously I need to do more reading myself!
Thanks.
@pfists
@sueinmn
That's good you have well water 1/2 the time anyway. I guess Mac isn't inhibited by all the chlorine in the city water supply much at all.
Are you in Minnesota thought maybe from your title sueinmm?
I'm in St Paul Minnesota.