WOW!!

I think doctors want to see 3 or 4 negatives before saying it's cleared. I had 4 negative test results last year (May, June, July, and August) after testing positive for M. Abscessus over a series of 6 months. November came back positive but a very low count (22/ML) and January is also positive but I haven't received count yet. I'm hoping its low.

@clynnford Yay! Does the doctor have a plan for repeat cultures going forward (I still submit mine twice a year and have been negative for over 5 years)
Will you continue airway clearance?

If the pseudomonas is recently acquired you might want to treat it asap.

I too have Pseudomonas and completed the Meropenem IV treatment. Ever though I did it within the fastest time frame I could arrange (1 month) my pulmonologist still believes it might have colonized. He said they are very difficult to get rid of. I have another bronchoscope scheduled for next week. From the CAT to the doctor’s appointment to the scope to bacteria culturing out to infectious disease doctor to setting up IV’s takes a while. Not a good sentence, but I wanted to make a point how long the process is.

@kathyjjb You just caused me another I wonder.
I wonder if in many of us, and according to statistics, a good percentage of people never really rid ourselves fully of the infection with the antibiotics??? Many medications just keep health problems down but not cured. Maybe little molecules of the infection always just sit there but not enough to culture out in our sputum at times???
Keeping it down is better than growing...or is it the daily nebulizing, therapy and exercise that does it also but never just the antibiotics.??????
As I have said, not always showing it's 'ugly' face but every so often comes up, pops up because it is still there to say "I'm still here." Guess the reason for long term antibiotic treatment. Lucky those that really do fully clear it.
Barbara

@blm1007blm1007 I wonder the same. I still haven't seen my count yet from January culture. Hopefully I will get it at 4 weeks and it remains low. Disheartening to have 4 negatives and now 2 positives. I sense it is just that-not showing up and now reared its ugly head. I have a chronic cough since November/December that isn't going away. I don't want to go on the antibiotics. I was on them for 3 weeks, but NJH told me I could go off of them due to a low count. Sick every day, tinnitus, and elevated liver enzymes suggest I might not make it 18 months-or more.

@kathyjjb I just looked up elevated liver enzymes and Cleveland Clinic posted they could be temporary. Let's just hope it is temporary.
Did that show up with a Liver Function Test? Did they decide to do these also: ultrasound, CT scan or MRI?
So disheartening with the chronic cough and sick every day.
Try to allow yourself to keep positive thoughts on your mind and just do as best you can with all that needs to be done, nebulizing etc.
I sent my last sputum vile in Tuesday, so the wait begins again.
Barbara

The liver enzymes returned to normal quickly after I got off the antibiotics last May. Keep in mind, I was only on anti-biotics 3 weeks when my NJH ID said that I did not need to be on them due to my low MABC count. It was my local ID doctor that prescribed them. Yes, trying to stay positive and will definitely keep nebulizing. Good luck on your sputum results, it's a long wait. I'm hoping I'll see something in a week or 2. MABC is faster growing and they could give me results sooner. The last time, the count was complete in 16 days, but it wasn't posted on mychart for weeks after that.

@htolan
Yes good point. The accounts I hear of that were successful in treating Pseudo do it fairly soon after diagnosis and were treated aggressively. Usually antibiotic followed by Toby inhalation for some time. Also you have to be lucky to get it diagnosed early on. How long did you do the Mero IV? Let us know what retesting shows. Curious why your Dr decided to use IV. Usually most prescribe Cipro or Levo oral. Personally I think the IV is a much better option.

@blm1007blm1007
According to retesting most infections can be cleared. We are talking specifically about super bugs like Pseudo. It is notorious for being difficult to clear unless caught very early on. Then you just have to manage it and keep it down if you are able to.