Anyone Ever Try Mullein?

Posted by lsm1936 @lsm1936, Jul 30 4:26pm

Diagnosed with MAX several years ago. Went thru years of albuterol and then saline was added. Cleared a mess of those little critters from the lower part of the lung but still had the cough. Started taking a dropper of Mullein extract each morning. Nearly a year later no cough, no feeling of mucus in my throat and don't have any mucus coming up w/nebulizer. Sleep thru the night w/o any coughing and none during the day. Am going to ask my doctor to do a CT and see how this is happening. Anyone else out there ever do the Mullein? No side effects of any kind. Feels like I never had MAC - maybe it is gone??? I will be 90 in November - still do all of my own housework. laundry, etc. House is 3/2 2300 sq.ft.

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Profile picture for rpec @rpec

@ry6 C
Can you tell if NAC is helping. I been taking if for a month..Have not noticed any changes so far.

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@rpec
Hi
I've been taking NAC for 2 years. My pulmonologist suggested I take it. But I also use my nebulizer with 7% saline and I use a Smart Vest which is an oscillation device. I walk every day and eat a pretty healthy diet. I haven't had a flare-up in the last two years which I'm very happy about. So, I'm thinking all the things I'm doing is keeping me healthy. I'm going this month for a check-up and probably will have to get some sputum samples to check for MAC. I'm a little worried about that.

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Profile picture for rpec @rpec

@ry6 C
Can you tell if NAC is helping. I been taking if for a month..Have not noticed any changes so far.

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@rpec Several years ago I tried it for a good amount of time and concluded that it didn't do that much for me. So I just continue to use Mucinex because it does the job and is more consistent. In spite of careful shopping I felt sometimes the product wasn't that good.

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Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@beulahaz09 Has the doctor ordered a full sputum culture to confirm that you have an infection and confirm what bacteria it is? A culture is the only way to know for sure if you have an infection. If you do not cough up enough mucus to culture, the doctor's office can try to induce enough with a high content saline. If even that doesn't work, a bronchoscopy is the next step. If neither of these is suggested to you, and your doctor didn't suggest airway clearance, perhaps you need to find a doctor more familiar with treating Bronchiectasis and its related infections.
Have you done a sputum culture?

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@sueinmn he wants to do a broncoscope in 8 months when we do a new ct. Maybe he's waiting to see the ct results? I don't have much of a choice in a new pulmonologist.
Ive made an appointment with a respiratory therapist.

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Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@beulahaz09 Has the doctor ordered a full sputum culture to confirm that you have an infection and confirm what bacteria it is? A culture is the only way to know for sure if you have an infection. If you do not cough up enough mucus to culture, the doctor's office can try to induce enough with a high content saline. If even that doesn't work, a bronchoscopy is the next step. If neither of these is suggested to you, and your doctor didn't suggest airway clearance, perhaps you need to find a doctor more familiar with treating Bronchiectasis and its related infections.
Have you done a sputum culture?

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@sueinmn sorry,no culture. He just mentioned the broncoscope.

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Profile picture for beulahaz09 @beulahaz09

I've just been diagnosed with bronchiectasis and a possible MAC infection. Of course I am terrified.
I am asymptomatic at this time. It was caught by a ct scan for something unrelated. 4 ct scans later and we are doing watchful waiting. I will have another ct in 8 months. My Dr really didn't focus on much. Ive taken it upon myself to start airway clearance and control my reflux and sinus issues. Im finding the prospect of waiting 8 months a little odd? Any thoughts?

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@beulahaz09
Personally I’d do everything in my power to avoid the bronchoscope. Have you tried using 7% saline in nebulizer before airway clearance? Twice a day is mainstay of treatment. Do you know where the Bronchiestases is in your lungs? Controlling reflux and sinus issues crucial as well.

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