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Airway clearance not working?
Hi community,
Since I frequently have flare ups, I have to examine my airway clearance techniques to see if I am doing them right.
The following is what I do twice a day these days:
1. inhale levalbuterol + 7% saline;
2. autogenic drainage, lying down with my right side up, since my problem is the upper right lobe, then huff cough;
3. aerobika, first lying down, then sitting up, then huff cough;
When inhaling saline, it makes me cough a lot. It seems I get more mucus out while inhaling saline.
Autogenic drainage, aerobika and huff coughing help me to get a little mucus out, but never a lot.
Sometimes, not long after I finish the clearance, I start coughing and the cough will get more mucus out.
Question:
Is it normal that autogenic drainage and aerobika and huff coughing do not get much mucus out, but afterwards the coughing would get more out? If I don't cough, that means I did not clean out my mucus completely, right?
Please share your experience with me. You are the people who can help me. I feel desperate. I hope I made myself clear.
Many thanks!
Ling
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Hi Ling, sorry you’re having such a hard time. I too noticed that my mucus was so much harder to expel when I was told I had heavy growth of a bacteria called “Klebesilla Pneumonie” or something like that. I’ve tried every airway clearing technique possible I believe, vest, aerobika, postural drainage, etc. I only recently found that the Autogenic Drainage seems to work best for me. Before that I did the Areobika and that did well until January of this year when I got that bacteria I mentioned. The pulmonologist I see at Mayo said it’s just colonization, but I can definitely tell you it’s made it much harder doing my ACT. I’m easily doing 45 - 60 mins each am & pm session, and I feel most of the time I still have some left in my lungs. I’ve pretty much accepted that I’ll do the best I can at each session enjoy my day until the next session. I am lucky at my home Pulmonologist (UVM) I’m gonna see a pulmonologist there that specializes in treating cystic fibrosis patients. Now I’ve tested negative for that but because of the amount of mucus I apparently have, maybe I can get som good advice or ideas, and will definitely pass them on to this forum. My appointment is 5/22. I have so many more experiences to share about my journey with BE, as we all do, but not enough time in the day to share. In the meantime WE MUST drive on hopefully Brensocatib and other medications are just around the corner that will help us even more. God bless you & stay strong!!!
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4 ReactionsLong, I always get the most mucus up with nebulizing saline by waiting at least 20 minutes after my Levalbuterol puffs. I nebulize for about 25 minutes and inhale deeply and hold it a bit before exhaling. By the time I finish and do some huff coughing, I bring up good sputum.
Than I sit up using the Aerobika and after that lie on the bed with a wedge pillow under my hips. I do the airway clearance on my right side, left side, and back.
That usually helps me bring up some more, and then when I am cleaning my equipment, I might bring up a little more.
We are all different in what works best for us. I am bringing up about a Tbsp twice a day since I had my upper and lower lingula removed.
Thank you so much @spider109 for sharing your ACT. I am glad that you found what is working for you. I think that is the most important part. It seems to me I get more mucus out while nebulizing and coughing. After that I will bring up a little, never much. My pulmonologist has ordered a vest for me, I will try to see if that works for me.Good luck with your new pulmonologist appointment.
Take care!
Ling
Thank you so much @formergardener for sharing your ACT My pulmonologist has ordered a vest for me, I will try to see if that works for me.
Take care!
Ling
@Ling, I have a best, and it is supposed to help especially to bring up mucus from the lower lung areas. My pulmonologist advised to use it after the nebulizing and then the Aerobika because it moves things up, and when you nebulize, you are trying to get the saline down into the lungs.
Someone will come to your home to train you on the best and to help you with a comfortable setting. Results are not usually immediate, but may take a few months to peak. I hope that it works well for you.
Good morning formergardener. I wonder how long you work with aerobika And what kind of airway clearance and how long? Thank you
Hello, @lilianna. I would say that I use the Aerobika for a maximum of 15 minutes, usually 10.
I do 3 smaller inhales with holding and then breathing out, followed by three moderate inhales with holding and then breathing out, and then three deep inhaled with holding and then breathing out. I do this first in the sitting position, then lying down on the bed on my right side with bottom elevated with a wedge pillow. Then I shift to a diagonal position and repeat, followed by on my back with repeat, and finally on my left side with repeat. Sometimes I will stand on the floor and bend over, supporting myself on something, and repeat in that position.
I also walk briskly two miles each day, followed by up and down a set of 24 stairs four times.
I also sometimes do deep breathing with holds and exhaling during the day.
One thing that really helps me is to drink hot beverages because they help to loosen mucus. I take a time released Guaifenesin morning and evening along with a 600 mg NAC morning and evening.
Another thing I do daily is to grate a garlic clove over a couple of tsp dried thyme and cover with olive oil. I let it sit for a while, and then I use a good bread to mop it up. It burns the mouth a little, but it helps to open my airways and to keep infections away. I believe it may also help to prevent fungal infections because garlic is known for that. That is just my personal routine!