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Traveling with Bronchiectasis/NTM
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jan 1 12:40pm | Replies (66)Comment receiving replies
@jnmy & @wandafanda According to Dr Joe Falkinham, a noted NTM in water expert, his lab has tested bottled spring water, it contains little to no NTM and does NOT need to be boiled before use. Boiling tap for 10 minutes, plus one minute for every 1000 feet above sea level, is sufficient to kill NTM. There is no need to add the expense of purchasing bottled spring water to boil.
One exception, if you are using water to boil your nebulizer, Aerobika, etc, use then distilled water. Distilling removes dissolved salts and minerals in water that can deposit on your equipment. This is especially important with mesh nebulizers like the Pari eFlow Rapid.
Replies to "@jnmy & @wandafanda According to Dr Joe Falkinham, a noted NTM in water expert, his lab..."
@sueinmn Oh....had not thought of that "Distilling removes dissolved salts and minerals in water." Sue, I soak all in vinegar and water hoping it will dissolve the salts etc. I had not thought about the calcium in the boiled tap water and it being left, possibly, on the nebulizer parts. I will have to revisit what I have been doing.
Thanks
Barbara
@sueinmn I’m hitting you with a lot of questions ! I’ve been boiling my nebs for 5 yrs in tap water ! I had not considered the mineral build up. Thankfully , I have mild BE that’s stable . So , regarding distilled water, do you buy jugs & for cleaning ? I’m 64, but when older that could become a real burden. I read in another post that someone recommends monthly vinegar soak for the minerals . Your thoughts ?
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@sueinmn Thanks Sue.
My comment was based on thinking that if someone was getting boiled tap water from a kitchen kettle at a hotel, it may not be boiled for 10 plus minutes by the staff.
If we’re boiling it on travel and are using a kettle, I guess we just keep boiling it for the required time. Easier to use a pot to boil, of course.
No need to boil spring water or water from something like a Lifestraw Go bottle.