Tips for travelling with MAC

Posted by terryb1 @128128terry11t, Mar 6, 2018

Would appreciate any tips for traveling: How do you clean the aerobika and nebulizer? How do you handle weekly sterilizing? Can you just use a nebulizer (with saline solution) without an aerobika (one less piece of equipment to clean) along with a travel size compressor? Looking forward to hearing how all this is handled. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Going for a week..live in Toronto where the winters are brutal

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@jenblalock

I use microwave bags for steaming and carry a medium sized Rubbermaid bowl with a small container of dish liquid for daily cleaning. NJH said do not use motel sinks because they might harbor bacteria. If you aren't flying you could take some distilled water with you or buy at destination. My nebulizer is small enough to travel with. It's a Phillips. You can get small ones that even have car adapters.

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I have the microwave bags but have never figured out how to use them. How long do you but the aarobika in for?

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@tinaesims

I have the microwave bags but have never figured out how to use them. How long do you but the aarobika in for?

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Am curious about the microwave too. I purchased a baby bottle sterilizer for my Aerobika and Pari Nebulizer (which looks to have a thin piece of metal in a compartment) didnt think you can put metal in a microwave. I dont think the Aerobika has metal...

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Like Jen b described, we travel with a covered dish, dish detergent, paper towels in a sealed bag, and sanitizer wipes. Husband and i both use Acapela and neb. We boil water in the dish in the room microwave, clean device in it with the soap, then rinse. Meanwhile one has laid down a clean towel (our own) on a sanitized counter to air dry the device. Then we repeat for the other person. Sounds complicated but really doesn't take that long, just part of the travel routine. And yes, we use tap water if we trust it, otherwise buy distilled locally. Have always been able to find it by the baby formula. To completely avoid germs, one would have to stay in a sterile bubble and we don't choose to live that way, just try to be sensible. Just completed a 5500 mile road trip through 8 states using this regimen, and both remained healthy.

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@flib

Could someone recommend a small, easy to use nebulizer...maybe handheld. Thank you.

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@flib I use the Pari travel size. I love it. It is small, more quite than the larger one, and has faster delivery of mist. Can order online. It is called the Pari Trek S.

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Still wondering how long to sterilize an aerobic in a seamer bag. Thanks for your help.

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I am traveling from NC to Amsterdam next week, will then take a river cruise down the Rhine. I’d like some help on how to manage this trip with my Bronchiestis. I am very short of breath, coughing a lot. I will take Clear Lungs with me also my nebulizer. I don’t want to spend time in the cabin nor do I want to hold up a tour.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

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Hi @taya you may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on traveling with MAC or Bronchiectasis so that you can read what others have said about traveling with these diseases.

I'd like to tag fellow Connect members @megan123 who went to Cuba recently and may be able to offer ideas for your trip.

Back to you @taya, have you spoken to your doctor? Have they given you any suggestions?

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@taya Hi Taya, I've made 4 European river cruises with bronchiectasis over the last 12 years. The great thing about river cruises is their ability to accommodate people with a variety of capabilities. If you need to join the "gentle" walking group, you can do that. If you need to hear the lecture but tour on your own, you can do that. You won't get lost. You'll want to use your nebulizer in your state room, and no one will be bothered. I'm sure you won't want to bother other passengers with your cough, but the most important thing is to let them know your cough is not contagious -- that's what they'll be worried about. If you have a bad coughing bout, you should probably move to your room until it settles down. As long as this is something you want to do, I can assure you it can be done, and you will have a great experience and learn a ton. Asking your doctor for advice well before you leave is a great suggestion, and of course make sure you travel not only with the medicine you do need, but also with medicine you might need. Bon voyage!

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@ethanmcconkey

Hi @taya you may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on traveling with MAC or Bronchiectasis so that you can read what others have said about traveling with these diseases.

I'd like to tag fellow Connect members @megan123 who went to Cuba recently and may be able to offer ideas for your trip.

Back to you @taya, have you spoken to your doctor? Have they given you any suggestions?

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Hi Taya...Cuba was awesome..I always bring boiled bottled water with me to drink and vinegar to clean my aerobika and nebulizer..I don’t drink their water, and no swimming pools, just the ocean, and no dunking...beer from tap, pop from bottles...N95 mask when showering in Luke warm water, and a quick one....I stick to this routine and it wrks....am in Glirida now, and am boiling my drinking water for 10 minutes..same routine👍🏼👍🏼

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