Knocking on Wood

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Jan 14, 2021

Allowing for the possibility that I'm out-of-my-tree and totally deluding myself, at the moment I'm awash in self-congratulation. I'm closing in on 16 months without a flare-up requiring antibiotics to tame. I've tweaked the twice daily treatment session so that I get it done in 23 minutes not counting clean-up time. Twenty-three minutes nebbing 7% saline, switching on the Thumper for only the final three minutes. By that time the saline is almost entirely gone. Somehow those 7 minutes render the whole experience less oneous. Don

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

alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 22, 2021

@goddard Hi Granny...There has been lots of discussion on this site about 3% vs 7% saline solution. If you can tolerate the 7, it seems to be superior. I am attaching a site that has a chart showing that the 7% is effective in killing MAC invitro. I think it speaks volumes to the efficacy of the higher solution vs the 3%. Please check chart 2 in the article. Best of luck to you. Kate
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4850692/

rvan | @rvan | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @alleycatkate "@goddard Hi Granny...There has been lots of discussion on this site about 3% vs 7% saline..." + (show)

Allycat - can we just start with 7% if we have never used it before ?

thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @rvan "Allycat - can we just start with 7% if we have never used it before ?" + (show)

rvan, first time I used 7% it snagged in my throat a bit, but I quickly adapted to it. Don

rvan | @rvan | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @thumperguy "rvan, first time I used 7% it snagged in my throat a bit, but I quickly..." + (show)

thanks Thump... I will give it a go, bought a Pari Vois - has to be better than not being able to breathe !

alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 22, 2021

@rvan Hello. I started on 7% and never found a problem. Terri, a mentor on this site, has always advocated for nebulizing (7% being preferable) but suggested if you have difficulty with that strength try cutting back on quantity then build up to a full 4 ml when you get used to it. I think that a lesser (3 or 4%) solution is better than none. I have used it since diagnosis and it seems to have kept the bugs at bay. Alley cat Kate

rvan | @rvan | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @alleycatkate "@rvan Hello. I started on 7% and never found a problem. Terri, a mentor on this..." + (show)

thanks ACK - will it help my breathlessness ? that is my hope ...

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @rvan "thanks ACK - will it help my breathlessness ? that is my hope ..." + (show)

It may eventually help with breathlessness. If that is an issue and the saline doesn't help, you may want to ask your provider for either a "rescue inhaler" similar to albuterol to try, or a nebuliser solution of albuterol (the preferred solution for long-term use.) My daily personal assessment of breathing situation determines whether I start with levalbuterol, followed by saline, or just do the saline.
Sue

alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @rvan "thanks ACK - will it help my breathlessness ? that is my hope ..." + (show)

@rvan.rvan I would hope too. I used to be very breathless. I have never gone on the big 3. My path has been just 7% saline, correcting my Gerd, excercising very regularly and eating well and I now breathe like a champ. (Oh, and I also take NAC for my lungs) I was originally haphazardly diagnosed by my GP as having COPD but later a pulmonologist found MAC and Bronchiectas.... Shortness of breath had been a problem for several years prior to diagnosis but cleared pretty shortly after addressing the Gerd and really taking care of my general health with a good diet and excercise. I am hopeful that you will get there. Sorry this is a winded response...but it is hard to say any one thing was responsible. Kate

rvan | @rvan | Jan 22, 2021

In reply to @sueinmn "It may eventually help with breathlessness. If that is an issue and the saline doesn't help,..." + (show)

thanks Sue, I have a rescue - Salbutamol - it helps for sure but I just go back to being out of breath if I do anything :(. The neb solution of Albuterol sounds like a good idea, I will speak with my Doc.