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Is Anyone Else Confused About All Those Inhalers?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Oct 13 6:56pm | Replies (65)Comment receiving replies
When I was diagnosed a year ago with Bronchiectasis, I was prescribed a Trelegy inhaler to use until I could get an appointment with a pulmonologist. After 5 days, my voice had been diminished to a whisper, and I was taken off of it. ($550. inhaler not covered by Medicare or my supplemental policy now wasted.)
I am getting by OK with nebulizing both Duoneb and Acetylcysteine twice a day while using my Hill-Rom Compression vibrating Vest. My problem comes when I lie down at night. I am sleep deprived, because when the wheezing and whistling start, I can't sleep. My next appointment with my pulmonologist isn't until June. Do you have an opinion of whether an inhaler would help to stop this noise if used during the night? Sue's list of all the kinds of inhalers makes me understand that it may not be as simple as just asking for an inhaler. (Thank you for the list, Sue!!)
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@janskallerud I hear you! Exactly my issue - nighttime airway noises, sometimes I sound like a squeaky door. If I hear those rattles after I lie down at night I know I am in for a restless sleep.
I wish an inhaler would replace the extra session but I have yet to find one that doesn't turn the phlegm into cement. The first night or two on a recommended inhaler always feels pretty good but the gunk dries and builds up.
After a lot of experimenting, the good news is that I found that an extra clearance session right before bed is helpful. The bad news is that it's an extra session and I can't use a bronchodilator before, so the clearance can be time consuming. Working to decrease the time! Postural drainage has been helpful. Your mileage may vary but I found mucinex (guaifenesin) and NAC made night-time rattling worse. You'll likely need to experiment to see what works for you.
So my (present) routine: levalbuterol and 7% saline morning upon waking.; levalbuterol and 7% saline prior to dinner; autogenic drainage and active cycle of breathing and postural drainage before bed. Very little gunk comes out but apparently enough to help keep me rattle/cough free. Movement exercise during the day I find makes clearance sessions easier.