I appreciated both of your comments on this topic because most days I'll do airway clearance 2x a day but some days I only do it once (using 7% HS). The CT scans are a bit difficult to understand because I've shown improvement in one area but slightly more BE in another with mucus impaction. I think more than anything 2x a day AC provides me with peace of mind that I'm doing my best.
Even with mild BE, I'm paranoid about its inevitable progression and hope to do everything possible to limit that. The one big area that I'm lacking on is consistent aerobic exercise. It's super hard for me to fit everything into my day as a working mom but I need to try to do it even if it's just 15 minutes.
Hi Kate, Dr Pamela McShane, from UT-Tyler, says exercise counts as airway clearance if it helps you move mucus.
Are your kids of an age where you can get out and run or play with them for a half hour a few times a week? My daughter and her family do it after school a couple times a week then have "breakfast for supper " or a similar simple meal. When her Littles were younger, so I could still catch them, we would play tag until I started coughing up mucus.
When I was a working mom, I refused to eat at my desk , and only went out for lunch if I had to "entertain " honchos or coworkers. So I went out and walked 20 minutes no matter the weather, then ate a simple brown bag lunch.
Hi Kate, Dr Pamela McShane, from UT-Tyler, says exercise counts as airway clearance if it helps you move mucus.
Are your kids of an age where you can get out and run or play with them for a half hour a few times a week? My daughter and her family do it after school a couple times a week then have "breakfast for supper " or a similar simple meal. When her Littles were younger, so I could still catch them, we would play tag until I started coughing up mucus.
When I was a working mom, I refused to eat at my desk , and only went out for lunch if I had to "entertain " honchos or coworkers. So I went out and walked 20 minutes no matter the weather, then ate a simple brown bag lunch.
Have to say I remember those brown bag lunches.....not many of us ate lunch out back then...we took our homemade lunch down to the lunch room or sat at our desk. Today...almost unheard of...brown bag lunch. And we wonder why so many complain about not having the finances for their needs ???? Just saying. Lucky are those today whose large corporations help out by having good cafeterias, fitness centers, baby sitting centers etc.
And then there is the now....cooking healthy meals at home to help with keeping myself and my immune system in as good condition as possible considering my BE and 'aging in place.'
Barbara
Hi Kate, Dr Pamela McShane, from UT-Tyler, says exercise counts as airway clearance if it helps you move mucus.
Are your kids of an age where you can get out and run or play with them for a half hour a few times a week? My daughter and her family do it after school a couple times a week then have "breakfast for supper " or a similar simple meal. When her Littles were younger, so I could still catch them, we would play tag until I started coughing up mucus.
When I was a working mom, I refused to eat at my desk , and only went out for lunch if I had to "entertain " honchos or coworkers. So I went out and walked 20 minutes no matter the weather, then ate a simple brown bag lunch.
Dr. Kevin Winthrop, ID doctor at OHSU, also recommends exercise. Although two nebulizing sessions are good, if time is limited he recommends exercise over the second neb session. I find exercise very helpful in moving mucus.
Dr. Kevin Winthrop, ID doctor at OHSU, also recommends exercise. Although two nebulizing sessions are good, if time is limited he recommends exercise over the second neb session. I find exercise very helpful in moving mucus.
Excellent question. I am in pulmonary rehab, and they stress both cardio (30 mts daily) and strength training for pulmonary health generally. The program is not specific to bronchiectasis or NTM, with little information on airway clearance. I have listened to a few lectures by NTM specialists and each of them has stressed cardio for airway clearance and the importance of getting ones heart rate up and “breaking a sweat”, stressing that simply walking is not enough unless one is doing it at a pace/elevation that is challenging. I have also recently heard a lecture by a Yale respiratory therapist who said that exercise is great for airway clearance, if one actually works to clear the airways after exercise with breathing techniques, etc. I don’t have much mucus and very little (often nothing) comes up when I do airway clearance with albuterol/saline/vest/breathing techniques. I have no coughing while I workout so I don’t know if by itself my cardio exercise is “moving my mucus”. But I try to do 30 mts of day of cardio (I also strength train 4 days a week). Hopeful that the cardio is moving some mucus and knowing that at least it is beneficial for lung health generally. I intend to add at least a few minutes of breathing techniques after my cardio to help “clear”. Very curious as to others thoughts/experiences on this topic.
Hi Kate, Dr Pamela McShane, from UT-Tyler, says exercise counts as airway clearance if it helps you move mucus.
Are your kids of an age where you can get out and run or play with them for a half hour a few times a week? My daughter and her family do it after school a couple times a week then have "breakfast for supper " or a similar simple meal. When her Littles were younger, so I could still catch them, we would play tag until I started coughing up mucus.
When I was a working mom, I refused to eat at my desk , and only went out for lunch if I had to "entertain " honchos or coworkers. So I went out and walked 20 minutes no matter the weather, then ate a simple brown bag lunch.
After I posted my comment, I sucked it up and got on our rowing machine for 15m. I also watched Dr. McShane's webinar again since it's been a few months.
I work from home so part of the problem is inertia, fatigue of attending to all the routines and just straight up motivation and follow through! We have a Concept 2 rower than we got during the pandemic and I love it and it's sitting right in our house so I have no excuse.
I do walk some most days but it doesn't feel intense enough as an actual workout so I think I just need to get committed to getting on the rower. Thanks for encouraging me. I did do yoga a couple of times last week and notice that, more than anything helped move stuff up and out.
My pulmonologist did tell me to try and do airway clearance after exercise to get the most bang for the buck. Either way, I'll just try to do the exercise regardless of the order of operations.
Also if anyone needs to order 7% hypertonic saline, Nebology is having a Black Friday sale and everything is 30% off including equipment. https://nebology.com/
I walk two miles with some inclines, about 45 minutes. The coughing doesn't usually start until 15-30 minutes later, which makes it comfortable to walk with friends. 😊 When things start moving, I encourage it by lying on my slightly-inclined bed with my head at the bottom and use the Aerobika and Autogenic App, 4 minutes on my back, then 2.5 minutes on each side. I use the Aerobika and Autogenic App sitting up for 6 minutes right after nebulizing, too. I'm not sure I'm doing the AD correctly, but the counting on the app helps me stay focused.
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Hi Kate, Dr Pamela McShane, from UT-Tyler, says exercise counts as airway clearance if it helps you move mucus.
Are your kids of an age where you can get out and run or play with them for a half hour a few times a week? My daughter and her family do it after school a couple times a week then have "breakfast for supper " or a similar simple meal. When her Littles were younger, so I could still catch them, we would play tag until I started coughing up mucus.
When I was a working mom, I refused to eat at my desk , and only went out for lunch if I had to "entertain " honchos or coworkers. So I went out and walked 20 minutes no matter the weather, then ate a simple brown bag lunch.
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2 ReactionsHave to say I remember those brown bag lunches.....not many of us ate lunch out back then...we took our homemade lunch down to the lunch room or sat at our desk. Today...almost unheard of...brown bag lunch. And we wonder why so many complain about not having the finances for their needs ???? Just saying. Lucky are those today whose large corporations help out by having good cafeterias, fitness centers, baby sitting centers etc.
And then there is the now....cooking healthy meals at home to help with keeping myself and my immune system in as good condition as possible considering my BE and 'aging in place.'
Barbara
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2 ReactionsDr. Kevin Winthrop, ID doctor at OHSU, also recommends exercise. Although two nebulizing sessions are good, if time is limited he recommends exercise over the second neb session. I find exercise very helpful in moving mucus.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsWhat do you do for exercise that helps with moving the mucus?
Excellent question. I am in pulmonary rehab, and they stress both cardio (30 mts daily) and strength training for pulmonary health generally. The program is not specific to bronchiectasis or NTM, with little information on airway clearance. I have listened to a few lectures by NTM specialists and each of them has stressed cardio for airway clearance and the importance of getting ones heart rate up and “breaking a sweat”, stressing that simply walking is not enough unless one is doing it at a pace/elevation that is challenging. I have also recently heard a lecture by a Yale respiratory therapist who said that exercise is great for airway clearance, if one actually works to clear the airways after exercise with breathing techniques, etc. I don’t have much mucus and very little (often nothing) comes up when I do airway clearance with albuterol/saline/vest/breathing techniques. I have no coughing while I workout so I don’t know if by itself my cardio exercise is “moving my mucus”. But I try to do 30 mts of day of cardio (I also strength train 4 days a week). Hopeful that the cardio is moving some mucus and knowing that at least it is beneficial for lung health generally. I intend to add at least a few minutes of breathing techniques after my cardio to help “clear”. Very curious as to others thoughts/experiences on this topic.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi Sue,
After I posted my comment, I sucked it up and got on our rowing machine for 15m. I also watched Dr. McShane's webinar again since it's been a few months.
I work from home so part of the problem is inertia, fatigue of attending to all the routines and just straight up motivation and follow through! We have a Concept 2 rower than we got during the pandemic and I love it and it's sitting right in our house so I have no excuse.
I do walk some most days but it doesn't feel intense enough as an actual workout so I think I just need to get committed to getting on the rower. Thanks for encouraging me. I did do yoga a couple of times last week and notice that, more than anything helped move stuff up and out.
My pulmonologist did tell me to try and do airway clearance after exercise to get the most bang for the buck. Either way, I'll just try to do the exercise regardless of the order of operations.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsAlso if anyone needs to order 7% hypertonic saline, Nebology is having a Black Friday sale and everything is 30% off including equipment.
https://nebology.com/
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI walk two miles with some inclines, about 45 minutes. The coughing doesn't usually start until 15-30 minutes later, which makes it comfortable to walk with friends. 😊 When things start moving, I encourage it by lying on my slightly-inclined bed with my head at the bottom and use the Aerobika and Autogenic App, 4 minutes on my back, then 2.5 minutes on each side. I use the Aerobika and Autogenic App sitting up for 6 minutes right after nebulizing, too. I'm not sure I'm doing the AD correctly, but the counting on the app helps me stay focused.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
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