You can feel better!

Hello. I thought I would post this pic today to hopefully inspire others to keep plodding along with your treatments whether they be antibiotics or taking a natural approach. Never give up on regaining your health! I just finished an hour long bicycle ride. There have been many years where this was an impossibility. There were many years where I couldn't walk 20 feet without sitting to catch my breath. I am welcoming all other success stories.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

@jameck

I am so glad to see this. I am just starting my journey after having a virus in January. Everything I see and read from everyone is scaring me to death. I don’t know what to expect. Surgery, meds being horrible, going on disability?? So scared. I need to know that there is hope for me.

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@windwalker Terri...good suggestions for comfort measures to @jameck. I would only add that when taking any type of NSAID (non steroidal ant iinflammant drug) such as Advil or motrin -which contain Ibuprofen etc- to be cautious. First one might be allergic to the whole category! I am...ended up in ER after taking one Celebrex for a neck ache.
All Nsaids can be very irritating to stomach and must be taken with food. Also they can destroy kidney function. The list might go on....so be cautious and judicious when taking NSAIDS.
I am only able to take tyelenol (acetaminophen)….which is hard on liver....I do not drink alcohol and try to minimize tyelenol use. tdrell terri

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@america

Hi Terri, I need to know about plants in my house! I have some house that I love and now I’m concerned about breathing the soil. I love plants and don’t know if I should keep them. Please if you know any details about this I would appreciate it. For the past years I have been taking care of them and changing the soil watering them and I did not know that it could hurt me. I will give them up if I need to, my health is so much more than the plants. I am so desperate to learn more! I have been reading all the posts and even on line stuff. I am learning so much on this group and thank God it’s not to late. Thanks Rita.

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@america I think the problem is when the soil (potting soil included) is disturbed. So you should be OK if you wear a face mask when you repot the plant. Watering the plants should not cause you to catch MAC.

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@america

Hi Terri, I need to know about plants in my house! I have some house that I love and now I’m concerned about breathing the soil. I love plants and don’t know if I should keep them. Please if you know any details about this I would appreciate it. For the past years I have been taking care of them and changing the soil watering them and I did not know that it could hurt me. I will give them up if I need to, my health is so much more than the plants. I am so desperate to learn more! I have been reading all the posts and even on line stuff. I am learning so much on this group and thank God it’s not to late. Thanks Rita.

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ling123, Thank you. I love gardening and the flowers, it makes me so happy and also the green plants.. like the house plants. I’m not sure how I got MAC but I don’t want it to destroy all the beauty in my life. Having RA and sjoghrens has keep me from many things. Life has many surprises but we have so much to be grateful for. Thanks Rita.

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@america

Hi Terri, I need to know about plants in my house! I have some house that I love and now I’m concerned about breathing the soil. I love plants and don’t know if I should keep them. Please if you know any details about this I would appreciate it. For the past years I have been taking care of them and changing the soil watering them and I did not know that it could hurt me. I will give them up if I need to, my health is so much more than the plants. I am so desperate to learn more! I have been reading all the posts and even on line stuff. I am learning so much on this group and thank God it’s not to late. Thanks Rita.

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@america Rita, you are so right. We shouldn't let MAC, or any disease, get the upper hand. If green plants make you happy, keep enjoying them. Just be cautious when you need to stir up soil, like repotting. The plants themselves will not do harm to you. Actually plants provide clean air and should only be beneficial to your health. Besides, MAC can be found in soil as well as in water. So it is not for certain that you got yours from soil.

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@heathert

@windwalker Terri That is fantastic, love that you took your dog along for the ride. I was the same, couldnt do anything for more than 5 mins without having to sit down, now I feel like I can do anything.

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@heathert, I would miss you too!!!

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@america

Hi Terri, I need to know about plants in my house! I have some house that I love and now I’m concerned about breathing the soil. I love plants and don’t know if I should keep them. Please if you know any details about this I would appreciate it. For the past years I have been taking care of them and changing the soil watering them and I did not know that it could hurt me. I will give them up if I need to, my health is so much more than the plants. I am so desperate to learn more! I have been reading all the posts and even on line stuff. I am learning so much on this group and thank God it’s not to late. Thanks Rita.

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@ling123 and @america Rita, the majority of what I read points more and more to mac infection source being in water. Mostly in misted water from shower steam, hot tubs, indoor pools, sprinkler systems, still waters like ponds & lakes, and medical equiptment in hospitals and dental offices. Since you love to garden like I do, beware of potting soil containing PEAT. It has over a million parts per teaspoon of mac in it. Also, beware clipping and handling leafy things in your yard. Because you are suseptible to mac, you can also be prone to pseudomonas and aspergillus. These are found on leaves, both living and rotting. Also found in compost piles. Be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands well after handling. Live and do what you enjoy, just do it with more caution. When gardening we should wear masks. The best one I have found is the N95. They have a tiny respirator built into the front so that you can breathe with ease and not get sweaty. It keeps out 95% of particulate matter. You can find them at a paint supply store. A two-pack may run about $8.99. Well worth it. Please don't be too alarmed. Not all of us with mac become infected with many other mycobacteriums or fungus'. BUT some of us are more fragile and suseptible and these things can over-run our bodies. It is better to take precautions than to catch them and find that they are resitant to drugs.

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@jameck

I am so glad to see this. I am just starting my journey after having a virus in January. Everything I see and read from everyone is scaring me to death. I don’t know what to expect. Surgery, meds being horrible, going on disability?? So scared. I need to know that there is hope for me.

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@tdrell Good advice Terri. Popping any NSAIDS like candy can be a threat to liver and kidneys. I usually don't use any, but here lately I have. But I do it sparingly. For example, for the last three days, I have taken two ibuprophen a day. I will likely not need them much longer.

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@jameck

I am so glad to see this. I am just starting my journey after having a virus in January. Everything I see and read from everyone is scaring me to death. I don’t know what to expect. Surgery, meds being horrible, going on disability?? So scared. I need to know that there is hope for me.

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@windwalker terri...do you always have some food in your tummy before the NSAID?@tdrell

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Hi Terri, Thank you. It’s good to know about all this! I have learned so much since I’m here. It’s unbelievable how this all comes in such a whole big different picture. I can see clearly now that my eyes are opened! Doctors don’t say a single word about any of this. Thanks so much for the information and I’ll be living life in a whole new way. Rita

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@america, Rita, it does my heart good when I hear that this site has helped someone. I hope are arming yourself with the info. You can still live a good life with proper disease management.

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