Dr Ian Killeen

Retired GP and NTM patient

My career was that of a doctor in which I did hospital jobs from 1978 to 1985 and then was a full time general practitioner in Warwickshire until retirement in 2015. I never had to miss work because of my illness and always enjoyed sport.

 

My clinical problems began with a diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis in 2011, which required treatment with steroids and methotrexate over several years.

 

As a result of the immunosuppressive treatment, I had some episodes of pneumonia resulting in mild bronchiectasis in 2015, which deteriorated over subsequent years.

 

In January 2018 non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was found using bronchoscopy, and on repeat samples since. Although I have had three hospital admissions with pneumonia in two years, I have not needed treatment for the NTM and have recovered on intravenous antibiotics for Pseudomonas aeruginosa each time.

 

I continue on no specific treatment for NTM but am monitored by Dr Coleman at the Hammersmith Hospital in London and by local physicians in Warwick. It can be difficult to differentiate whether the symptoms of increased sputum production and exercise limitation are due to NTM or bronchiectasis and so I continue with postural drainage and bronchiectasis treatment.