3% Saline vs. 7% for Nebulizing

I know how you feel. I wonder if one has to get off of ethambutol for eye problems for instance, are the other two meds sufficient to kill the bugs?

For 3% saline, how many ML do you use each time? I got 15ml vials from the pharmacy, I think they probably made a mistake!
In addition, I have bloody sputum ( a little) every day so my doctor advised me to stop airway clearance until it is resolved. Do you still do aerobika in the same situation?
Appreciate any input!

The vials I was prescribed are only 5ml. Your doctor should prescribe for you.
I would do as your doctor suggests and not use the aerobika until your sputum did not have any blood in it. Maybe you should see if your doctor thinks you might have an infection. Take care of yourself. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks @zscline, that is really warm hearted. I do have MAC infection going on but I recently started to have a little bit bloody sputum, so I am wondering whether it is cause by airway clearance, or by saline 7%, or by my medication amikacin, or because I have been staying up late recently as I am still working, but I plan to take sick leave next month soon!

It is definitely a highly tricky one, so many uncertainties down the road, not like take a pill for two weeks, and you are done! We have to accept whatever life throws to us and keep adaption.

I've laid off the nebulizer myself, at least for a while. I could only get 7% saline solution and was finding it rather harsh. I wasn't so sure that it was really helping me or whether it was causing so much irritation and coughing that it made things worse. I am told that I can get small viles of 0.9% saline and mix it with the 7% to create a solution that is way closer to our natural body chemistry. I have not tried it yet but will if I want to try the nebulizer again. I did find the 3% solution soothing until I could no longer find it online to order. Good luck to you. I guess each of us is on a slightly different path, having some similar issues but not exactly the same.

I see you said you have MAC infection. I was told my Dr. is trying to rule out I have it also. I do a sputum culture on the 25th, and have to wait 6-8 weeks possibly for results. Was that your experience? I’m surprised to hear you’re still working, I know how what I’m currently feeling, and really commend you for still working!!! Can you give me a few tips or a routine you are doing while taking all the MAC medication? Do you exercise? How do you expel the mucus? etc. thank-you and God bless you and all of us on our journey. Please feel free to send me a private message.

I added a file with guidelines for hemoptysis from NJH. Got this from another member on this site. Hope it helps. Also, it is not unusual to have some blood in our sputum sometimes because we have damaged airways and inflammation with our various conditions.

Let me answer your question " I do a sputum culture on the 25th, and have to wait 6-8 weeks possibly for results. Was that your experience?"

Unfortunately, that is everybody's experience when dealing with MAC cultures. NTM are VERY slow growing bacteria, and it takes this long to identify whether NTM are present, grow the culture in the lab to determine what bacteria it is, and due susceptibility testing to determine which drugs can treat your particular strain.

I will leave it to our other members to talk about their routines.

After 6 years with Bronchiectasis, I will give you a word of wisdom from my former ID doc -
Life with a lung disease is a marathon, not a sprint. Learn how to fit it to your life, not the other way around. Take reasonable precautions, eat healthy, exercise as much as you can and LIVE.
This advice has kept me sane for these past several years, and even served me well through the pandemic. I continue to take it to heart now as other joys of aging come visiting.

It sounds like you are having a lot of anxiety about your possible diagnosis, do you have someone you can talk to about it?

Very sound and good advice Sue, I haven’t been officially diagnosed yet. I’ll do an induced sputum culture on the 25th of this month. Did you ever go on the antibiotics? Or the nebulized treatment for MAC? I will wholeheartedly admit that I do have a lot of anxiety with this possible MAC diagnosis. I feel that I really don’t get many answers from my Pulmonologist. Now don’t get me wrong I love her she’s been so good for me up north here, but don’t know how experienced she is with MAC and or Bronchiectasis. I guess I don’t want to miss out on the possibility of being listed for transplant at Mayo Jax. If you know of anyone will to discuss with me about anything I’m dealing with (including my anxiety) please let me know. I deeply thank-you for you help as always. Your guidance and advice are truly helpful.

Sue, is it possible for you to give me an idea of how to eat healthy? I mean lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, no saturated fats, or processed items. etc. but I find that every so called expert’s advice are somewhat different at times!!! Example’s: you need protein! Okay with BE stay away from dairy products, and red meats. Same with protein shakes, boost, ensure, etc. stay away from soy, so many products have soy in them in one form or another. Is there a book I can get? I already faithfully exercise.