1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Travel advice

Posted by Toni D. @tcd518, Jun 2, 2023

Hello, all. I am going on a two-week trip with no access to a kitchen or such and am bringing along my bronchiectasis, MAC, and restrictive ventilatory defect (I never leave home without them). Currently, I nebulize twice a day with levalbuterol 0.31 mg followed by 7% sodium chloride with my Aerobika hooked up to the nebulizer and am doing okay. I bought a travel-size Pari Trek S nebulizer and a collapsible bowl for washing the Aerobika and neb parts but don't know how I can sanitize them. At home, they go in the dishwasher every two-three days on the "sanitize" cycle. Do you think a soak in vinegar would do the trick? Any other ideas?

I'm also bringing along decongestant pills, a box of 12-hour Mucinex, and a large bottle of Delsym, just in case. Any other recommendations?

Thank you all so much for your help!

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mb53 | @mb53 | Feb 12 12:26am
In reply to @sueinmn "Cathy - When I travel I use an aerosol product called Simply Saline to irrigate my..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Cathy - When I travel I use an aerosol product called Simply Saline to irrigate my sinuses. No boiling water, toting stuff, etc. One "canister" costs about $5 and lasts me 2 days. Too pricy for everyday, but it's a great solution for me for travel.
Like @scoop suggests, maybe try it at home?
Sue

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So I am going to Argentina for a month next week. I bought a PARI which works well. I am still wondering how to clean the nebulizer equipment as I was told by the travel agent in Buenos Aires who has been helping us to not drink the tap water. I can buy bottled water but vinegar or alcohol might be a problem. Which is better to use? I usually soak it but that might not be possible. Is it ok to just rinse the nebulizer parts using one or the other straight? Better to add bottled water and then rinse? Gets a bit complicated. Thank you all for your support

REPLY
1 reply
pacathy | @pacathy | Feb 12 7:16am

Here’s the paper about the Steri-pen and LifeStraw pro. Authors include Falkenham and National Jewish.
I had cross posted with Anna Sat and deleted most. I also saw something on crazy cap and will try to find it later today. I’m also chomping at the bit to go somewhere and am actively trying to figure out a reasonably safe plan/trip.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00190/full

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 12 9:28am
In reply to @mb53 "So I am going to Argentina for a month next week. I bought a PARI which..." + (show)
@mb53

So I am going to Argentina for a month next week. I bought a PARI which works well. I am still wondering how to clean the nebulizer equipment as I was told by the travel agent in Buenos Aires who has been helping us to not drink the tap water. I can buy bottled water but vinegar or alcohol might be a problem. Which is better to use? I usually soak it but that might not be possible. Is it ok to just rinse the nebulizer parts using one or the other straight? Better to add bottled water and then rinse? Gets a bit complicated. Thank you all for your support

Jump to this post

It should be pretty easy to get alcohol at the local farmacia. This would be more reliable than vinegar, as the alcohol strength will be right on the bottle. Also, ask your hotel if they can provide you with distilled water in sealed bottles, if not you can use the bottled drinking water with a little dish detergent for the initial cleaning.
I always travel with a small bottle of Dawn, a covered container large enough for the equipment to be covered. I soak in soapy water, rinse in clear. Then you can pour in alcohol & soak for 30 minutes. I don't sterilize every day - more like every 6-8 uses, how you do it is up to you and the local conditions when you travel.
Sue

REPLY
Rick | @rstel7272 | Feb 13 9:25am
In reply to @sueinmn "Cathy - When I travel I use an aerosol product called Simply Saline to irrigate my..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Cathy - When I travel I use an aerosol product called Simply Saline to irrigate my sinuses. No boiling water, toting stuff, etc. One "canister" costs about $5 and lasts me 2 days. Too pricy for everyday, but it's a great solution for me for travel.
Like @scoop suggests, maybe try it at home?
Sue

Jump to this post

Thanks for the Simply Saline tip. I still have some covid related sinus issues so I bought a can. I really like it, great product.

REPLY
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