How many times a day do you do saline nebulizer?

I went to Rochester for my bronchiectasis and lungs and did not see ENT while I was there- frontal sinusitis hadn’t been diagnosed then. (I compressed 6 months into a couple paragraphs.) I did have PND and she prescribed Mayo’s compounded triple spray (mometazone, Ipratropium and Benadryl) and said pulmonologists are always concerned with secretions.

The postural drainage was for my bronchiectasis, not the sinuses. Chest CT had lots of nodules and mucus.

The triple spray is similar to the Azelastine and Flonase combo med with Ipratropium added. Since the latter has a shorter duration, I have a prescription for just it that I use mid-afternoon if I’m having a lot of secretions. It helps.
My sinusitis was my frontal sinus,which is hard to get meds into, rather than usual maxillary. That’s the reason I was doing Tobradex eye drops into nares in a head hanging position-just to get meds to the area. I’d had 2 weeks of oral antibiotics and steroids before he tried that.
The local ENT referred me to Penn’s frontal sinus doc (Adappa) and had me try the drops while waiting to get in. CT had cleared when I saw him, but I was still having hoarseness and excessive drainage. Adappa had me add steroid to my saline sinus rinses, too, and I use it the way you do.

Good luck to you. I know it’s frustrating. I’ve gotten so used to being stuffy and having PND that it’s hard to know what’s normal.

Do those of you on Arikayce also nebulize saline? If so before or after Arikayce?

Hi, I was initially told that an x-ray indicated that I had pneumonia. Once hospitalized there was some uncertainty after a CAT scan was completed. A second CAT scan done one month later showed that I had bronchiectasis. Can you tell your PCP or pulmonologist that you would like a CAT scan completed?

I nebulize twice a day with 7% saline after taking 2 puffs of albuterol. Then I use the aerobika and postural drainage to get rid of the mucus. I have been diagnosed with bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease. I go to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and see Dr Sarah Chalmers.

@wangling @ling
Wow, be hard to know what all was done. I know I was in a test room for about 1.5 hours. They had me go into an enclosed type device and had me using a breathing tube. He would then open enclosure tell me what to do, close it, and then guide me again in what to do.

I had to breathe in various ways with nose clip and a breathing tube in my mouth. When I completed all those they had me breath in mists 3 different time from 3 different mists. I then had to do a step test with a heart monitor for oxygen testing.

I know my bronchial area was very sore after all those tests. I am sorry can't be more specific. I could go to Mayo portal and look up tests and give you a more specific answer if you like. I don't mind and if can help just let me know.

Thank you so much for explaining the test you had. If it is not too much trouble, would you look at the name of the test?

Thanks again!
Ling

It sounds like a very thorough PFT (pulmonary function test).

@wangling
Sorry for delay actually had appt. at Mayo today ENT.
The name of the test is: Pulmonary Function Test.
I can't explain what each is and this is not all the tests that were done. I will send them on a new post.
PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS
Collected on April 26, 2024 2:52 PM
Results
CHALFVC View trends L Value 3.13
CHALFEV1 View trends L Value 2.03
FEV1/FVC PROVOCATION View trends % Value 65.08
FEF 25-75% PROVOCATION View trends L/s Value 1.23
PEF PROVOCATION View trends L/s Value 5.22
FET PROVOCATION View trends sec Value 7.42
FVC PROVBASE View trends L Value 3.37
FEV 1 PROVBASE View trends L Value 2.13
FEV1/FVC PROVBASE View trends % Value 63.19
FEF 25-75% PROVBASE View trends L/s Value 1.12
PEF PROVBASE View trends L/s Value 5.48
FET PROVBASE View trends sec Value 11.52
DLCO SINGLE BREATH PROVBASE View trends ml/(min*mmHg) Value 22.75
VA SINGLE BREATH PROVBASE View trends L Value 5.61
SUBSTANCE PROVOCATION View trends Value Methacholine
CUMULATED DOSE PROVOCATION View trends Value 1063 PD 20 View trends Value No Value

To answer the original question:
I neb once per day, now that my symptoms appear to be mild. Should they worsen, I will go back to twice a day. My daily routine: 2 puffs albuterol, followed by 15 minutes of nebbing with 7% hypertonic saline + my Aerobika simultaneously.

My understanding is that over time, with multiple chest infections, flus, bronchitis, the airways in the lungs begin to get inflamed, and eventually it is difficult for the airway passages to clear out the mucus that collects there.
I first began my lung problem with having difficulty clearing mucus; it would get stuck. I would steam to loosen the mucus, and my husband would do manual percussion to help me clear. I coughed a lot.
This is the time, 10 years ago, when my pulmonologist diagnosed BE from my first CT scan. It was another 5 years after this diagnosis that another pulmonologist prescribed Advair; I was still having to steam from time to time to clear my lungs. But the Advair worked wonders. Another 4 years and I moved from Texas to Colorado. After visiting pulmonologists in the Denver metroplex and not receiving proper care for BE, I became a patient in the Bronchiectasis Clinic at National Jewish Health in Denver. As I age, my lungs get worse, but the care at NJH has definitely set me up for greater ongoing lung health. With my Airway Clearance regimen, I can tell my lungs are stronger.
It took me many years to understand Bronchiectasis and what is happening to my lungs, and I still continue to learn. I gather a lot of information through the Bronchiectasis and NTM.org website and especially through connect.mayoclinic.org.
Finding a good doctor who understands Bronchiectasis is key. These doctors seem to be few and far between.
Best of luck......Pam