Hardly any sputum today. Plus a question

@sueinmn

Ok, but “mild BE” exists right? Seems that there would be less sputum if that’s the case…?

@pgpunch Hi, I'm in the same bought. Same skimpy amount of mucus. Have MAC and on the big 3. On Brinsupri. Doing the nebbing, doing the vest (which respirologist said (for my case) can take the place of OPEP. Walk and exercise as I'm able, take mucinex. I know there's junk down in my lungs too, because in the very late evenings, and middle of the night, it comes up - thick and sticky and colored. Not a lot, but even a little blob makes a terrible rattle, feels choking, and blocks the airway until I expel it. Not getting good sleep because of this. I got some mullein drops and they seemed to loosen stuff up a little. I am almost 77, so I've been wondering if I'm just not robust enough anymore to hock stuff up. I also wonder if the Brinsupri (and maybe in combo with Mucinex and the neb meds) has dried me up to the point where my worst offending mucus (the deep seated thick stuff) cannot be budged. So I sympathize with you!

@ursala7 Thank u for sharing ur plight - it’s a catch 22, isn’t it? Some of our treatments dry us up as needed only to restrict clearance! I’ve been trying self percussive techniques with a lil success. I’m only 65 and also wondering if my fatigue from the Big 3 is compromises my air clearance . May try Tai Chi as suggested from earlier video to strengthen lungs and surrounding muscles.

Hello, I'm confused about whether it's OK to use a nebulizer with Aerobika at the same time.

Background: I have Bronchiectasis and take Brinsupri 10 mg. daily. I rarely cough up mucus unless I'm sick and having an exacerbation. Recently, I started nebulizing with 3% saline solution (with my pulmonologist's recommendation after I was sick with heavy cough/mucus) with a Roscoe Rite-Neb5 nebulizer and PARI LC PLUS cup. This was followed by using my InCourage vest - combined for mucus clearance. At best, I may cough up pea-sized mucus plug or nothing - I thought maybe this meant I was pretty "stable" and didn't have mucus to cough up(?).

I stopped using the "vest" recently because I had a compression fracture of my thoracic spine in 2023 due to a fall and I reduced the percentage from 90% to 50%. But my back flares up (I go to PT) and I'm afraid the vest compressions could be hurting my back (no doctor seems to be able to verify whether the vest could be hurting my chronic back problems - even with an MRI of lumbar and thoracic spine).

So, I read that you can attach an Aerobika OPEP to the nebulizer/PARI LC Plus cup to do airway clearance together and that it would be effective for getting up mucus. I thought this might be a good solution because it would reduce the time in preparing, sanitizing, doing the clearance, cleaning up each day, and I could sanitize the two together in my baby bottle sanitizer before doing the nebulizing with Aerobika each day.

However, one of the posts said that "Dr. McShane said she does not endorse doing the Aerobika at the same time with the nebulizer." Can anyone tell me what the problem would be in nebulizing with the Aerobika? Does anyone effectively combine the two effectively from experience? I thought this might be a good solution to save time AND help me produce mucus, which I don't produce much.

@phoenixrises
Try it! Some swear by it and some use the aerobika separately. Find what works for you. There are no golden rules, rather suggestions. There are so many variables among us even though we share the similarity of bronchiectasis. The aerobika is an amazing little device.

I had to stop Afflovest use due to rib pain, and have not looked back. I remember thinking before getting it, that it would be the answer to everything. Sadly, it was not.

Regarding producing mucus, do you know where your bronchiectasis is? If so, you might do some postural drainage using the aerobika in that position, and maybe it will get things moving. That and deep breathing and breath holds. It might be as simple as laying flat on your back, or your side. You never know unless you try.....good luck.

@scoop Thanks, Scoop for your response. I'm not sure where my bronchiectasis is in my lungs. I hope nebulizing 3% saline and purchasing the Aerobika will make a difference, along with deep breathing and getting exercise. I'll also try postural drainage as you suggest. My pulmonologist also prescribed Spiriva inhaler which I've been doing each morning, and I'm wondering if this could be having a negative effect on me?

Hello, I'm confused about whether it's OK to use a nebulizer with Aerobika at the same time.

Background: I have Bronchiectasis and take Brinsupri 10 mg. daily. I rarely cough up mucus unless I'm sick and having an exacerbation. Recently, I started nebulizing with 3% saline solution (with my pulmonologist's recommendation after I was sick with heavy cough/mucus) with a Roscoe Rite-Neb5 nebulizer and PARI LC PLUS cup. This was followed by using my InCourage vest - combined for mucus clearance. At best, I may cough up pea-sized mucus plug or nothing - I thought maybe this meant I was pretty "stable" and didn't have mucus to cough up(?).

I stopped using the "vest" recently because I had a compression fracture of my thoracic spine in 2023 due to a fall and I reduced the percentage from 90% to 50%. But my back flares up (I go to PT) and I'm afraid the vest compressions could be hurting my back (no doctor seems to be able to verify whether the vest could be hurting my chronic back problems - even with an MRI of lumbar and thoracic spine).

So, I read that you can attach an Aerobika OPEP to the nebulizer/PARI LC Plus cup to do airway clearance together and that it would be effective for getting up mucus. I thought this might be a good solution because it would reduce the time in preparing, sanitizing, doing the clearance, cleaning up each day, and I could sanitize the two together in my baby bottle sanitizer before doing the nebulizing with Aerobika each day.

However, one of the posts said that "Dr. McShane said she does not endorse doing the Aerobika at the same time with the nebulizer." Can anyone tell me what the problem would be in nebulizing with the Aerobika? Does anyone effectively combine the two effectively from experience? I thought this might be a good solution to save time AND help me produce mucus, which I don't produce much.

@phoenixrises My ID doctor, Kevin Winthrop at OHSU, who has headed many NTM studies, agress with Dr. McShane. He says he feels one doesn't get the full effects of either when they are combined.
Anna

@phoenixrises
Spiriva has been discussed quite a bit. Here's a link to past discussions (found from entering spiriva in search bar).
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/mac-bronchiectasis/
It can be very drying and make lung clearance more challenging. Where are you getting your treatment? are you getting it at one of the 25 bronchiectasis centers?