Celebrating an antibiotic-free year

Sue, do mucus clearing episodes occur spontaneously at random intervals or are you in control? Don

Sue - I have a question that relates to Don’s question about whether mucus clearing episodes are random or whether you are in control. I seem to recall that there was a discussion here about coughing throughout the day and people had suggestions for what to do about this. I find that I cough throughout the day, not a lot but enough that it is a bit awkward when i am out. This is often a dry cough but sometimes I cough up mucus.

Given covid, I am home most of the time but I get very suspicious looks when I’m out, usually coming and going in our condo building or even walking. I nebulize twice a day, use an aerobika, drink Breathe Easy tea, etc. I wonder if I’m not doing enough to loosen mucus in my lungs when I’m doing the nebulizer, aerobika, etc? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Both - I am in control 90% of the time, clearing during/after nebbing. But occasionally I still get coughing fits - usually it feels like a mucus plug is caught in my throat & I stop what I am doing & huff cough until I get rid of it.

@kathyhg - I carry water & "Gin Gin" hard ginger candies - both help to stop a cough when I am out & about unless I have that "stuck" feeling. When I do, I usually excuse myself & cough it out, often in my car. Regular physical activity helps me get the mucus out. This sounds really crazy, because cold air is usually a problem for me, but getting out in the cold and moving help clear my lungs when I go back into the warm. Even a short walk helps.
Sue

Thanks! I appreciate the suggestions.

@sueinmn Wow that is interesting about the cold, I normally cant stop coughing in the cold.I might give it a go.

Thank you Kate!

dee65, most drs prescribe doing the nebulized saline twice a day, I used to be religious about staying on schedule, but recently went to once a day. I did it because I am so exhausted by nightfall that I tend to skip that dose. I am paying the price now for doing that. Something is trying to infect my lungs and I have a lot of inflammation going on in them. I am now coughing a lot, whereas I had not coughed in four yrs. I am also very short of breath. I am really trying to be a good girl and get back into the habit of twice a day nebbing with saline. I would be better with it if it were the only thing I had to nebulize. I have to do three vials in a row of albuterol, saline, then tobramycin. It takes a lot of time to go through all three and seems unsurmountable when you are exhausted. Maybe this will help you to realize the importance of doing your saline twice a day: would you only wash your hands once a day? It is important to clean our lungs. I am doing a saline treatment right now as I type this. I just coughed up sputem with a turquoise fiber in it. I must have breathed it in. Can you imagine if that had been left in my lung? That and other garbage? I am sorry that my post has taken a gross turn here, but, the reality is; is that our lungs don't self clean like normal. Keeping them cleared with saline may help a great deal in staving off infections.

Thanks for the reminder to stay with nebulizing twice a day. It’s hot yo be exhausting to do 3 vials in a row! Don’t worry about being gross - a turquoise fiber is no worse than what everyone coughs up most days.

Hi Heather! Yeah, cold air brings on bronchial spasms for me too. My airways just close up and cause me to cough and cough. I plan on using a mask whenever I am out walking the dog this winter. That way, the air I breathe in will be pre-warmed, How have you been doing, and what have you been doing?

@windwalker yes I know how you feel with fatigue, I was also only doing the morning saline and started coughing alot, I have been rediagnosed with MAI in my lower left lobe (wondering if thats the last lobe saline reaches). I am starting the meds again(what a pain) the MAI has been tested for the big 3 and is susceptible to them, thank goodness, I asked about other drugs but she said they have worse side effects, I mentioned they may be faster but she wasnt keen. Sorry its not good news, hope you are feeling better soon.
Take care
Heather