Airway clearance

I also have to use 8 ml, and my pulmonologist is ok with this. I have had hemoptysis before, but the 8 ml has not caused any more issues than 4 ml, and I get a lot more "gunk" cleared out.

Recently, I have been using 2 vials also. It definitely loosens/liquifies the gunk. I had hoped 2 vials might make airway clearance less time consuming but so far I have not found that to be the case. The management time is a source of great frustration.

My pulmonologist suggested I take Mucinex twice a day to thin mucous so I can cough it up if necessary and to avoid mucous plugs. I have Bronchiectasis only. After testing me for asthma, which I did not have, he took me off inhalers because he said studies show they can actually create worse conditions in the lungs for pneumonia. I was hesitant at first because the inhalers seemed to help with breathing, but I have been off of them since March, doing nebulizing treatments twice a day as well as taking the mucinex twice a day.

I coughed up a little blood this week due to airway clearance. I guess airway clearance can't be excessive too.

Yes everyone is different! I am happy that you find the dose best for you!

When clearing my lungs was an issue, I had some success with using one vial of saline, then exercising (brisk walk, stretching, whatever you like to do) then doing airway clearance. I think the movement allows the saline to move deeper and shakes it loose. Sometimes I don't even finish my activity before the mucus starts to come out.
Or, if not time to exercise, engage in some vigorous house work for a while, then do clearance. Giving the saline time to work and not quantity was my key.

What inhalers did you use? Albuterol?

Albuterol and advair.

I absolutely agree with this if anyone can exercise. I had been a jogger most of my life (I am now 65) and had recently stopped and began walking when my jogging friend had to stop. We had always talked about how we believed that jogging kept us healthier. But I didn’t think much about it. I would still run on occasion but not nearly like I had. I walked most evenings with my husband instead. 8 months later I was dx with bronchectasis after a CT scan showed mucous plugs last December and then I battled pneumonia in February. I decided one day after recovering from pneumonia to run on the treadmill and I was shocked at how good it felt. I asked my pulmonologist in March if he thought it was ok and he said absolutely. Old school thinking was to rest in bed but he said, for those inclined, to get up and move as long as breathing was not labored. I am now back to jogging daily, at least 5 days a week. I am very active and I really think it helps my breathing, along with nebulizer and mucinex each 2x/day.

Helen when my throat is irritated with 7 or 3% I use 0.9% following the advice of my immunologist. It’s isotonic saline just like fluids inside us. She says it would only moisture lungs, gently.