Mycobacterial infection

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Warriortwink
Warriortwink Member Posts: 5
edited August 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

Anybody else get this infection or know of anybody that has? After mastectomy I had a TE put in. It has since been taken out. I have been told I will need antibiotics for months to get rid of this infection. I'm curious if anybody else has gone through it

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2015

    Warrior-

    We want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're so sorry for the issues you're having! Hopefully this will bump your thread and someone who has some experience with it will see it and offer their feedback and response. We hope it clears up soon!

    The Mods

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  • SA8PG
    SA8PG Member Posts: 371
    edited August 2015

    I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I sent you a private message.

    Hugs

    G

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited August 2015

    Warrior...Yes, I was diagnosed with a mycobacterium fortuitum infection during my DIEP reconstruction surgeries. I was on two antibiotics for almost 18 months. It is a lengthy process. Please let me know if I can help in any way.

    Joni

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  • Warriortwink
    Warriortwink Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2015

    Thanks ladies for the responses and kind words. I had no idea this infection was such a hard one to kill. I was very discouraged when the doctor told me I would have to do the infusions for such a lengthy time. I do 4 a day so 4 hours of them is very inconvenient. One day at a time I guess. Knowing some of you have gotten through it gives me strength. Thank you!

    T

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited August 2015

    My treatment was oral antibiotics. I'm sure IV will work much quicker. Yes, I couldn't find anyone on here who had gone through this. Needless to say, I was pretty freaked out. Hopefully, you won't have any further issues once you get through this. Best wishes

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  • Warriortwink
    Warriortwink Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2015


    Jacee - Can I ask how long you have been off the antibiotics?  Have you had any issues since then?  My surgeon this morning said in his 31 years of practicing, he's never seen this.  So that didn't make me feel any better.  I hope the Infectious Disease doctor knows what she is doing!  So I completely understand your comment about being "freaked out".  I hope you are well!

     

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  • jacee
    jacee Member Posts: 1,384
    edited August 2015

    I have been off antibiotics for 3 1/2 years, with no further problems.


    My infection showed up after my 2nd DIEP reconstruction surgery. It started as an abdominal abscess. I had my third DIEP surgery while on the antibiotics, as well as my nipple tattooing. While the infection isn't common....the mycobacterium is very common in the environment...in dirt, tap water, etc. people don't get infected because it doesn't have a way to enter the body, and cross the blood barrier. Surgeries are the perfect means with all the tubes, needles, implants, drains, etc that are put in us. It is more common in the reconstruction arena.

    After being on the antibiotics for 4 months, my abscess was healed. I took myself off for a two week trip to the beach. I wasn't supposed to be in the sun while on the antibiotics. Well, sure enough, a week after getting back, the abscess returned. So, I had to start all over and stay on the antibiotics another year!! Lesson learned! It truly is a persistent little bug! I was on 500 mg of Biaxin twice a day, and 500 mg of Bactrim, twice a day. So 2000 mg a day of antibiotics for almost 18 months!! I did take a probiotic daily, as I was terrified of getting a CDiff infection in my intestines! I had no problems!

    Hugs, Joni


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