1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Airway clearance

Posted by maryjanechilds @maryjanechilds, Aug 17, 2023

I have MAC (found along with pseudomonas in a sputum culture)and Bronchiectasis. I was treated with Cipro for the pseudomonas and have been on the Big 3 for almost two months for the MAC. Every discussion I read talks about nebulizing with saline solution and daily airway clearance. I have no cough and am unable to cough up any mucous. I use my albuterol inhaler and then my accapella but do not produce any mucous. Does anyone else have “dry” MAC? I do have slight drainage down the back of my throat but I wonder if I could figure out how to clear out my lungs if I would get well faster.

Mary Jane

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formergardener | @formergardener | Aug 30 8:48pm
In reply to @helen1000 "Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling..." + (show)
@helen1000

Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling arikayce or amikacin?
I need to stop now and then to cough up mucus. It keeps secreting during the process, so it takes me 1.5 hours + to do saline and amikacin everyday!!! Very time consuming!!!

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Helen, it varies. Sometimes I need to cough up mucus while deeply inhaling and holding when I nebulize. When I don’t inhale as deeply and hold it a bit, it usually comes up with the Aerobika. I find that sometimes after the Aerobika, I later am able to bring up more mucus. Yes, it can be time consuming, especially when nebulizing saline, then using Aerobika, then nebulizing Arikayce. Thank good that Arikayce is not twice daily!

REPLY
2 replies
reneemc | @reneemc | Aug 31 11:09am
In reply to @helen1000 "Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling..." + (show)
@helen1000

Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling arikayce or amikacin?
I need to stop now and then to cough up mucus. It keeps secreting during the process, so it takes me 1.5 hours + to do saline and amikacin everyday!!! Very time consuming!!!

Jump to this post

I think stopping due to cough while nebulizing saline is a good thing. Isn’t that the goal?

REPLY
reneemc | @reneemc | Aug 31 11:11am
In reply to @helen1000 "Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling..." + (show)
@helen1000

Do you guys have to stop in the middle when you do airway clearance or inhaling arikayce or amikacin?
I need to stop now and then to cough up mucus. It keeps secreting during the process, so it takes me 1.5 hours + to do saline and amikacin everyday!!! Very time consuming!!!

Jump to this post

Is there a way to know if you’re coughing up mucus or saline?

REPLY
2 replies
helen1000 | @helen1000 | Aug 31 11:16am
In reply to @formergardener "Helen, it varies. Sometimes I need to cough up mucus while deeply inhaling and holding when..." + (show)
@formergardener

Helen, it varies. Sometimes I need to cough up mucus while deeply inhaling and holding when I nebulize. When I don’t inhale as deeply and hold it a bit, it usually comes up with the Aerobika. I find that sometimes after the Aerobika, I later am able to bring up more mucus. Yes, it can be time consuming, especially when nebulizing saline, then using Aerobika, then nebulizing Arikayce. Thank good that Arikayce is not twice daily!

Jump to this post

Yes Vivien, that is true. I am happy Arikayce is not twice a day. It takes me 1.5 hours to finish saline, aerobika and amikacin every morning. But I am happy to switch it to the morning so I can sleep early. I takes a lot of patience. But it produces a good amount of mucus, same here! I understand how you feel to count it month by month. I am so happy for you that you only have single digits months left to be on medication! ! 🙂 What an achievement! 🙂

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1 reply
formergardener | @formergardener | Aug 31 11:50am
In reply to @helen1000 "Yes Vivien, that is true. I am happy Arikayce is not twice a day. It takes..." + (show)
@helen1000

Yes Vivien, that is true. I am happy Arikayce is not twice a day. It takes me 1.5 hours to finish saline, aerobika and amikacin every morning. But I am happy to switch it to the morning so I can sleep early. I takes a lot of patience. But it produces a good amount of mucus, same here! I understand how you feel to count it month by month. I am so happy for you that you only have single digits months left to be on medication! ! 🙂 What an achievement! 🙂

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I hear you about counting each month! You will get there. Patience is the key. These support sites are lifesavers, offering suggestions, talking about experiences, and giving encouragement. Otherwise, this illness can feel so lonely, can’t it?

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1 reply
helen1000 | @helen1000 | Aug 31 11:54am
In reply to @formergardener "I hear you about counting each month! You will get there. Patience is the key. These..." + (show)
@formergardener

I hear you about counting each month! You will get there. Patience is the key. These support sites are lifesavers, offering suggestions, talking about experiences, and giving encouragement. Otherwise, this illness can feel so lonely, can’t it?

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Exactly! I meet great friends here you know what I mean. And these supporting websites are so resourceful, people are so knowledgeable and willing to help each other. I have never been in such a community and able to get suggestions. Honestly this is so supportive and so meaningful!!

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1 reply
helen1000 | @helen1000 | Aug 31 11:57am
In reply to @reneemc "Is there a way to know if you’re coughing up mucus or saline?" + (show)
@reneemc

Is there a way to know if you’re coughing up mucus or saline?

Jump to this post

Yes Reneemc, Mucus is thicker, much thicker than saline! Do you feel this way?

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formergardener | @formergardener | Aug 31 12:00pm
In reply to @helen1000 "Exactly! I meet great friends here you know what I mean. And these supporting websites are..." + (show)
@helen1000

Exactly! I meet great friends here you know what I mean. And these supporting websites are so resourceful, people are so knowledgeable and willing to help each other. I have never been in such a community and able to get suggestions. Honestly this is so supportive and so meaningful!!

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Yes, Helen. It is really a lifeline that keeps us all afloat and paddling!

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1 reply
helen1000 | @helen1000 | Aug 31 12:10pm
In reply to @formergardener "Yes, Helen. It is really a lifeline that keeps us all afloat and paddling!" + (show)
@formergardener

Yes, Helen. It is really a lifeline that keeps us all afloat and paddling!

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We share the same feelings!! It makes us so much stronger!

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1 reply
laborday24 | @laborday24 | Aug 31 12:23pm
In reply to @formergardener "Helen, it varies. Sometimes I need to cough up mucus while deeply inhaling and holding when..." + (show)
@formergardener

Helen, it varies. Sometimes I need to cough up mucus while deeply inhaling and holding when I nebulize. When I don’t inhale as deeply and hold it a bit, it usually comes up with the Aerobika. I find that sometimes after the Aerobika, I later am able to bring up more mucus. Yes, it can be time consuming, especially when nebulizing saline, then using Aerobika, then nebulizing Arikayce. Thank good that Arikayce is not twice daily!

Jump to this post

Is arikayce easy to take and is it affordable

REPLY
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