Connect
7% Saline Success Story that warmed my heart.
Last year, I met a woman at our winter church who has had MAI (MAC) and Bronchiectasis for years, and had a horrible chronic cough. When she heard that #1 I knew what it was, and #2 I was on Mayo Connect, she started asking questions.
Over many conversations and text messages I convinced her to give 7% saline and airway clearance a try. Her doctor here never heard of it, so her husband ordered it on Amazon & she started using it daily.
Yesterday, she was waiting by my usual pew when I arrived at church and said to me, "I need to hug you. You saved my life!" She went on to explain she convinced her pulmonologist back home to order it, got Medicare to pay for it, and used it twice a day for months. By Fall, she was down to 5 times a week, and now she uses it twice a week (but daily airway clearance.)
Here was her story - in 2022 she was on antibiotics and/or steroids 19 times. She coughed a lot during the day, all night long, and whenever she tried to exert herself.
In 2023, she had ZERO exacerbations requiring antibiotics or steroids. She coughs far less (they used incense in our service, I was hacking up a lung, and she only coughed once or twice.) Her lung function improved 12% between her Spring appointment and December. She has been able to regain a little weight.
This is a lot like my experience with 7% saline and rigorous daily airway clearance. I made it through 2023 with one exacerbation that required steroids, no antibiotics. My lung function has held steady for 4 years using only airway clearance & saline. In my case I also use oral NAC and Mucinex because I have very "sticky" mucus and it helps keep it thin enough to expel.
Has anyone else managed to "ditch the Big 3" by using airway clearance and saline?
Sue
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Connect
Sue:
I had managed to navigate successfully getting it covered under Part B when filled with my Albuterol through Vanderbilt's pharmacy, but they told me late last year that something had changed and it would no longer be covered even if submitted together, sadly.
Laurel
Interesting - I just got mine refilled at the local pharmacy in January with no issues. I'm guessing what changed was in the billing and coding systems. It is the reason people at CVS retail pharmacies were unable to get theirs covered, but CVS mail order was doing it.
Yes but I only have Medicare with no supplement. Medicare does not pay for it!
I have great Medicare. I retired with the state of GA and they provide our Medicare meds and Dr care. I pay the $177.00 per month out of my Medicare check to the feds but never use Federal Medicare program. I give my Dr.s , hospitals, and pharmacy my State of GA Medicare card. They pay for everything.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsGood to know, Sue! I switched my Part D because of drugs/pharmacy changes in my previous one, so I'll reach out and see if they will cover it under Part B if I fill them via mail order through them.
Laurel
I am on nebulized Tobramycin and pretreat with albuterol & 7% saline solution- twice daily. 28 days in and 28 days off. Has changed my life schedule adjusting for each 90 minute treatment, morning and night.
Tom
Georgia is like the rest of the states and Federal that continue to provide coverage into retirement. You are in fact "using Medicare." The state has an arrangement with Medicare and the insurance company that manages your insurance. Medicare pays their part first, and your retiree insurance plan picks up the rest.
Here is the explanation of how it works:
https://shbp.georgia.gov/retirees-0/retirees-medicare
So your $177.00/month is being put to good use. And even better, it sounds like it is transparent to you - somebody else handles all the paperwork and bureaucracy - lots of people are envious of that alone.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI’ve been using 7% all along and cough my guts out every morning. THEN I nebulize with an inhaled antibiotic called Arikares (Amikacin) more coughing. I will add the mucinex, just not sure which one to not suppress the cough. I’m a little annoyed with my pulmonologist since he sent me to see a lung surgeon last week to discuss a “minimally invasive lung procedure” to remove the mac (exacerbated by the bronchiectasis) and give me relief since the Mac keeps spreading. The surgeon said no way, I might not survive the surgery since it should’ve been done earlier. He checked a CT scan from May, 2022 and said the surgery could’ve been done then!! Why didn’t my pulmonologist tell me then?? I don’t want to go back to him now and just stick to my infectious disease doctor, I love him. Not sure why I need to see both. The Pulmonologist does nothing that the ID Dr, isn’t already doing. I’m really scared right now. Don’t know what to do. Along with the Arikares, I take Azithromycin and now Ethambutol since they don’t bother me, when I tried the big 3 I ended up in the hospital due to side effects.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThese are the directions I was given to sterilize any parts used: soak in a drop or two of clear dishwashing liquid in warm water for 5 min. Then, rinse and add to boiling distilled water for 5 min. Remove and let dry on clean, lint free cloth. I do this every day.
Do you pay for a supplemental insurance in addition to Medicare? Medicare alone will not pay for it.