Connect
← Return to Pari eRapid/eFlow first impressions
Discussion
Pari eRapid/eFlow first impressions
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 9 hours ago | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
@bronchiectasaurus Yes - Salty - Wow! And I just learned to slow the flow by placing my upper lip on the blue flap on the top of the mouthpiece, which keeps from wasting so much saline. And with theopening a little farther back in my mouth, I cough a little less. This is harder to describe, then to do). And I turn the compressor off if I start coughing a lot.
I too am a new user of the Pari eRapid, and I only boil after 2-3 uses. But, this is not my first mesh nebulizer, and trust me when I say the mesh screens are very delicate and can clog easily, so I don't skip the thorough prerinse, detergent soak, or post rinse because the screen (in the head) is pricy to replace.
My routine - use my Symbicort inhaler (used to use Levalbuterol) and wait 15 minutes, neb saline, dismantle nebulizer and rinse, soak (with kitchen timer running), rinse again in filtered water at my tap. On boiling days, I drop the pieces in pot to boil & set the timer for 10 minutes (how long it takes my pot to come to a boil), check the heat and reset timer. When the final timer rings, I turn off the burner and let the water cool.
While I have that going, I do some of my PT or house chores, then start airway clearance when I start the pot. I usually finish about the time the last timer rings. (I reuse my now sterile distilled water several times, leaving it in a covered pot on the stove.
Not nearly as onerous as it sounds, and since the mucus comes up quickly, the whole process is 35 minutes & I have managed some of my PT or tidying up in the meanwhile.
So far 2 weeks in, I am loving it. As it is both smoke and allergy season, it is getting a good workout. As a stable bronchie, with no infection, I usually use saline 2-3 times a week. At this time of year it is daily. I haven't needed to use any of my "other drugs" for an exacerbation yet, so can only say how fast and effective the saline is. But I may ask my pulmo if there is a nebulized version of the Symbicort that may be more effective than the inhaler for this tricky time of year.
Replies to "@bronchiectasaurus Yes - Salty - Wow! And I just learned to slow the flow by placing..."
Sue, I see you use Symbicort inhaler now instead of Levalbuterol. Can I ask why you changed? I started using Albuterol, which was good for a couple years, then switched to Levalbuterol, because albuterol was giving me the shakes. Now after 12-18 months after starting levalbuteral it seems like its effectiveness is decreasing, prior to me using my 7% saline. I to wait 15 mins. after bronchodilator then neb saline which works great. Did you switch because of effectiveness of Symbicort vs. Levalbuterol? Also you are now using the Pari erapid/e flow, I hear they are very expensive $1000 or more is this true? I use the Pari pro neb which works fine but still takes 45-50 mins to neb Levalbuterol then 7%. Please let me know about the Symbicort, my Mayo Pulmonologist once stated he may try a ICS. Thank you have a great weekend.
Out of curiosity: have you used the (optional) "EasyCare" device to clean the aerosol heads?
If the soap soak is to keep the aerosol heads clog-free, I might skip that and just rinse-boil/sterilize and use the EasyCare every couple days, or even every day. I add distilled water, turn it on, walk away for a few minutes and when I come back it's done. Then I put the cleaned head and the EasyCare in my bottle dryer and walk away again.
Interesting, Sue. I seem to remember that while you don't produce the amount of mucus that I do you seem to have a similar mix of Be and asthma. I am currently on a trip from Perth and spending time in Queensland where I have had very scary sob all the way down
the coast. It seemed to be connected to sugar cane burning, high humidity, low cloud cover. Telephone consult with my GP had her guessing it was an asthma flair, which I don't recall ever having before in WA. She has put me on Symbicort 2puffs, 2xday for 2 weeks. This seems to be addressing the problem. I am hoping that the sob won't return when I stop the Symbicort. From memory you take the Symbicort on an ongoing basis before nebbing, don't you? I used to take the Ventolin puffer before nebbing, but have now swapped for the Symbicort...and may just continue with that while over here to prevent another attack. I know we have discussed LMP and I agree in finding what works for us individually.
I am still bringing up large volumes of mucus, and seem to, in recent months, only have an hour or two where I am not coughing and spitting...it is now seeming to impact much more on my life.
I am interested to hear peoples response to Pari eflow. ..I decided to have the Pari Trek shipped via a friend to Australia rather than the expense of the eflow...for this long overland trip.
I would be interested in your thoughts on the above, Sue.
@sueinmn, I received the pari E flow when I was approved for Arikayce . I wonder if when i am done with Arikayce if I can use it for my hypertonic saline. But how long can you use the golden colored mesh part that goes in the hand- held part? While doing Arikayce, they have me change it weekly & I get enough (4 in box) for a month, & also a new handset every month with each Arikayce monthly med box...
Do you know if this the same Pari eflow that is supplied for use with Arikayce (Lamira nebulizer system)? Being a recent Arikayce drop-out, due to side-effects, I have this unit and would love a system that saves me time and I could also use for travel.
Hi Sue, could you clarify a point? Are you doing the Pari eRapid plus using the aerobika afterward. How long do you expect the mesh in the eRapid system to last? Finally just to be clear, after how many uses are you sterilizing?
Connect
Thank you so much for that thorough reply!
I've just used it a second time, and accidentally used the set of parts I only soaked in dish soap and rinsed, rather than the second set I prepared last night -- whoops. I also forgot to time myself.
This time I nebbed in the kitchen but got just as much cat interference. Tomorrow I will run it on batteries rather than plug-in power, which will at least eliminate one cord of fascination.
I love the intense bursts of salt. I really feel like it's doing something, like when I first started nebbing 7% saline. I expel more using this thing.
I also love the QUIET.
It did set off the air purifier, despite my turning off flow on exhales with the power button.
More tomorrow.