7% Saline Solution

sueinmn ...... I'm interesting in your information about a nebulizer with the faster delivery. I am nebulizing 5 products once daily although it is prescribed twice daily. It takes an hour and 45 minutes to go through the five. How long does it take you for your saline nebulization? And, where did you buy the Pari Vios -- Amazon??? Thank you for your info

Thanks Sue much appreciated ! This group has been a great help!!

I’ve bought two nevulizers in the last and never had a reimbursement from Medicare. Did your doctor write a prescription? Did your pharmacy have one to sell you?
On another note, I’ve heard you can make your own 7% saline solution and keep it in a sterile jar in the refrigerator. Have you tried this?

That's a lot of nebs - no wonder you do once a day. It takes 8-12 minutes to neb the 4 ml saline with the Pari Vios, about 6-7 min to do 2.5 ml levalbuterol (my specified dose).
I got my first one from the respiratory department of our clinic when the kids were small and it lasted over 20 years. I got the current one about 8 years ago at Walgreens pharmacy, right off the shelf with an Rx so insurance would pay part, but even full-priced on line they are around $50 from a number of nebulizer suppliers. Be sure to order the reuseable cup if it isn't included, and throw the disposable one in the cupboard as a backup. I load one with saline, the other with levalbuterol so I don't have to stop and rinse in between.
I have worn out one Innova and gave another away to my daughter who only needs it occasionally because it took 15-20 min for each neb.
Sue

sueinmn --- thank you for the info. I have not been rinsing between products. I started out doing that and finally just kind of shake out remaining drop or two and then pour in next one. I do saline, albuterol, Yupalri, Perforomist and buseidone (sp) would have to go look at spelling. It's working pretty well and I take one azithromicin 3 times weekly. Mayo doctor would prefer I not take it but local pulmonologist wanted me to. It has stopped the incessant coughing but he doesn't want me to become immune to it. So..... a catch 22....... have you had this experience or know of someone who has? I wonder how detrimental it will be if I'm not totally rinsing between meds.

I would guess that not rinsing between products is just fine, especially because some of these meds are combined at times in a single inhaler. That's a long list of nebs - no wonder you're trying to cut down on the time it takes!

I am not a doc, so can't say about the azithromycin for you, but both my pulmo and ID docs were adamant about not using it singly or for other infections due to the possibility of the MAC becoming resistant to it. The ID doc said he wishes it was treated as a drug of last resort because he said many other "bugs" are also becoming resistant, and they don't really have a safe, proven "next best thing." I think many docs prescribe it for every kind of infection because it is pretty easy to get patient compliance - 3 or 5 days and done, as opposed to many which need to be taken multiple times a day for 14-21 days, and people stop when they "feel better" even though still infected.

If your cough is gone, maybe you could talk about stopping and seeing what happens?

Sue

I have not been diagnosed with MAC. Since it was not in my CT, my doctor doesn’t recommend a sputum test.

sueinmn ...... thank you -- you are saying exactly what Mayo doctor has said. I will ask about stopping it and seeing what happens

Hello Jan! I cannot believe that you finally got rid of that nagging cough. You have been trying to get rid of it for yrs now. Congrats! What Sue said about the azithromycin is true and is what my drs at Mayo have been saying as well. For as long as you have been fighting this, perhaps you are at your last resort of meds to try. I will be praying that this is what works for you, and that you get the reprieve from mac that I did. Stay the fight, you are winning!

windwalker -- thank you for your encouragement. I know I probably need to say "no more" to the azithromicin but it's so hard to do when it's the only thing that has ever given me a break from coughing. I assume it's the pseudomonas causing the cough and that's a bigger issue for me. Have made no head-way in that area. Thanks for your note