1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Recommendations for nebulizer machine

Posted by positivethinking @positivethinking, Dec 30, 2024

I have been using a Respironics Inspire for the past year for ipratropium and sodium chloride 7%. I think my machine is on its way out since it has gotten very loud. Any recommendations for a good nebulizer that can handle the sodium chloride and other medication would be appreciated. I’ve read that some people like the Ombra tabletop machine. Is this a good one for nebulizing the sodium chloride? I have read that with some machines the sodium chloride causes clogging. Thank you in advance

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scottsteffes | @scottsteffes | 2 days ago
In reply to @sueinmn "No, Scott, sad to say "most" kids wouldn't do what you are doing. They're willing to..." + (show)
@sueinmn

No, Scott, sad to say "most" kids wouldn't do what you are doing. They're willing to help within their capacity, but few dive into the diagnosis and treatments.

This was really brought home to us last week when visiting older neighbors to check on them after he had a nasty fall and spent 2+ days in the hospital. My friend said she got her adult kids' attention by texting "Dad had a fall and is in the ER" - they need to drive 1400 miles home next week and nobody even offered to come and help.
So you are extraordinary! Thank you.

Now a medical suggestion about your Dad's edema - there a pumps available to wrap around the legs and squeeze the fluid back towards the abdomen. You do it anywhere from once a day to a couple times a week. My friend uses hers to keep chronic lymphedema under control.

I spent a lot of time with my Mom at the last years of her life, and have truly never regretted one minute. When she was ready to go, I was ready to bless her on her journey.

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Hi Sue, that’s very kind of you to say as well, but please remember that I’m blessed enough right now to be ABLE to relocate in order to spend time with both of my parents these past 5 months, and for others who are ABLE to do the same, I suspect many of them would if they could. As many peeps must relocate to find suitable employment, or get transferred elsewhere by their employers, etc., it becomes increasingly difficult to spend time/care for parents as they get older since the kids may still be working, unable to afford to travel, have their own health issues, or any number of circumstances which prevent them from just up & leaving their homes to spend time with/care for their parents. I’m glad that you were able to spend time with your mother during her final months/years just as I’ve been able to spend these past few months with my folks too. I thank God that I’m at a place that allows me to be with them right now, because none of my older siblings are able to. I’m just a bit uncomfortable with accepting praise for doing something I think most WOULD do IF they could. Thank you again for your kind thoughts and words, that’s very nice of you indeed! Cheers, Scott

REPLY
scottsteffes | @scottsteffes | 2 days ago
In reply to @sueinmn "No, Scott, sad to say "most" kids wouldn't do what you are doing. They're willing to..." + (show)
@sueinmn

No, Scott, sad to say "most" kids wouldn't do what you are doing. They're willing to help within their capacity, but few dive into the diagnosis and treatments.

This was really brought home to us last week when visiting older neighbors to check on them after he had a nasty fall and spent 2+ days in the hospital. My friend said she got her adult kids' attention by texting "Dad had a fall and is in the ER" - they need to drive 1400 miles home next week and nobody even offered to come and help.
So you are extraordinary! Thank you.

Now a medical suggestion about your Dad's edema - there a pumps available to wrap around the legs and squeeze the fluid back towards the abdomen. You do it anywhere from once a day to a couple times a week. My friend uses hers to keep chronic lymphedema under control.

I spent a lot of time with my Mom at the last years of her life, and have truly never regretted one minute. When she was ready to go, I was ready to bless her on her journey.

Jump to this post

I forgot to respond to your comment regarding my dad’s lower extremity edema. Thank you for your suggestion about considering using a pump that attaches to leg wraps to help keep his swollen legs at bay. That looks like a good device to help minimize lymphedema that I’ll show to my dad. Since he’s unable to lie flat when sleeping due to shortness of breath, I believe the diuretic he’s taking can only do so much to reduce his excess body fluids, especially in his legs. Unfortunately, he’s not even able to elevate his legs very long either since this too exacerbates his SOB. Thank you again for suggesting this pump/leg wrap device as neither of us were even aware of such a thing - we appreciate you Sue! Cheers, Scott

REPLY
becleartoday | @becleartoday | 2 days ago
In reply to @scottsteffes "Hi Linda, as I’m becoming more familiar with both MAC and bronchiectasis, I’m wondering if those..." + (show)
@scottsteffes

Hi Linda, as I’m becoming more familiar with both MAC and bronchiectasis, I’m wondering if those who deal with either/both of these conditions find any benefit from using an incentive spirometer (used while inhaling) as well as using an Aeribika/Acapella device (OPEP) which exercises the lungs when exhaling. Seems like both devices may help with making it easier to cough up excess mucus/fluids from lungs, in addition to nebulizing hypertrophic saline. Although many hospitals provide patients with a spirometer to help them clear their lungs from fluids after surgery (since they likely have low oxygen levels and using a spirometer can help restore a normal oxygen level) it also seems that using an incentive spirometer can help prevent lung infections by expanding your lungs, strengthening your lungs, keeping your lungs inflated and clearing mucus and other secretions from your lungs. Just wondering if you/others here have tried and/or discovered any benefit from using a spirometer as an ongoing lung therapy device beyond just using a few days after surgical procedures? I’m trying to encourage my dad to use it since the hospital let him keep it after being discharged. They instructed him to take slow, deep breaths in, hold for 3-5 seconds then exhale normally. They said to do this 10x every hour and that it’s ok to take a break and breathe normally without the device in between the 10x if he wants. In other words, he doesn’t have to do 10x in a row since this may cause him to get light headed. Thank you in advance to you/others for any thoughts/experiences that you’d care to share here regarding spirometer treatment! Cheers, Scott

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Hi Scott,
Yes, there’s definitely a benefit. However, they cannot be sterilized so I don’t use one. With that said, anyone who has been told by their doctor to use one should speak to their doctor about any concerns.

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1 reply
scottsteffes | @scottsteffes | 2 days ago
In reply to @becleartoday "Hi Scott, Yes, there’s definitely a benefit. However, they cannot be sterilized so I don’t use..." + (show)
@becleartoday

Hi Scott,
Yes, there’s definitely a benefit. However, they cannot be sterilized so I don’t use one. With that said, anyone who has been told by their doctor to use one should speak to their doctor about any concerns.

Jump to this post

Hi Linda,

Thank you for sharing that they can’t be sterilized cuz i would’ve thought they could be boiled in water for 15 minutes like the Aeroeclipse BAN components. I believe it was the attending RN who had the respiratory technician bring a spirometer to my dad’s room while they kept him there at the hospital for a few days after his TAVR procedure. Then a pulmonologist who stopped in to visit/meet my dad after reviewing various imaging results (like chest X-rays, CT scans, echocardiogram, etc.) put comments in my dad’s MyChart (under plan moving forward) to use:
Acapella and hypertonic saline nebs to help with airway clearance; Incentive spirometer and Ambulation of upmost important; and Aggressive PT/OT, so I got the impression that using a spirometer may be helpful for him getting trapped mucus up to reduce his shortness of breath. I don’t recall his cardiologist saying anything about using a spirometer one way or the other and his primary care physician is back in Michigan, but I’ll ask my dad to reach out to him tomorrow since he typically responds quickly. Thanks for the suggestion to double check with his doctor regarding any questions. I was wondering if anyone here that may use a spirometer noticed whether or not it seemed helpful to them in any way. Regarding you mentioning that you keep track of top BE/NTM specialists around the world and that you had heard of my dad’s doctor here in Tampa, were you referring to Dr. Restrepo or Dr. Matar? That was very good to hear, but I wasn’t sure which doctors name you had heard of. Thank you for responding and sharing your thoughts - we appreciate you Linda! Cheers, Scott

REPLY
1 reply
wolfplanetzero | @wolfplanetzero | 1 day ago
In reply to @scottsteffes "Hi Linda, Thank you for sharing that they can’t be sterilized cuz i would’ve thought they..." + (show)
@scottsteffes

Hi Linda,

Thank you for sharing that they can’t be sterilized cuz i would’ve thought they could be boiled in water for 15 minutes like the Aeroeclipse BAN components. I believe it was the attending RN who had the respiratory technician bring a spirometer to my dad’s room while they kept him there at the hospital for a few days after his TAVR procedure. Then a pulmonologist who stopped in to visit/meet my dad after reviewing various imaging results (like chest X-rays, CT scans, echocardiogram, etc.) put comments in my dad’s MyChart (under plan moving forward) to use:
Acapella and hypertonic saline nebs to help with airway clearance; Incentive spirometer and Ambulation of upmost important; and Aggressive PT/OT, so I got the impression that using a spirometer may be helpful for him getting trapped mucus up to reduce his shortness of breath. I don’t recall his cardiologist saying anything about using a spirometer one way or the other and his primary care physician is back in Michigan, but I’ll ask my dad to reach out to him tomorrow since he typically responds quickly. Thanks for the suggestion to double check with his doctor regarding any questions. I was wondering if anyone here that may use a spirometer noticed whether or not it seemed helpful to them in any way. Regarding you mentioning that you keep track of top BE/NTM specialists around the world and that you had heard of my dad’s doctor here in Tampa, were you referring to Dr. Restrepo or Dr. Matar? That was very good to hear, but I wasn’t sure which doctors name you had heard of. Thank you for responding and sharing your thoughts - we appreciate you Linda! Cheers, Scott

Jump to this post

My pulmonologist suggested I add an incentive spirometer to my routine, since I can't use things like an acapella that vibrate the lungs, at least for now. The mouthpiece and tubing should be cleaned with hot water and mild soap after each use. Once per week it should be sterilized with diluted white vinegar, or you could rub the mouthpiece with an alcohol wipe and let it dry before using. Best of luck to you.

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