Celebrating an antibiotic-free year

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Oct 10, 2020

And I’m convinced 7% nebulized saline did the trick. (Accompanied by percussion vest vibration) And this forum is the place I learned of “The 7% Solution.“ “Don the indebted.”

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

@sueinmn

I do one saline neb a day. If my chest is tight I do Levalbuterol neb first. If I feel like I have a lot of stick mucus or have a cold I do twice. But I cough mucus up easily.
Sue

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

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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?

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@thumperguy

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

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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

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Thanks! I appreciate the suggestions.

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@sueinmn

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

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

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@dee65

Do most people do one or two saline treatments per day? I dropped to one on my own...feel exhausted after morning neb and inhaler treatment..wondering if I shouldbgo back to two. I do see my pulmonologist again in two months.

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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.

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@windwalker

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.

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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.

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@heathert

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

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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?

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@windwalker

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.

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@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

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