1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Living Dangerously - Nebulizer Cleaning

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Mar 12, 2021

I marvel at the time consuming, meticulous way many, perhaps the majority, of contributors to this forum clean and sanitize nebulizers. Following the treatment session I soap and hot water “bathe” the mouthpiece then let it air dry until its next use. The tube gets no special attention except being fully disconnected from the compressor. I’ve read of some regimens aimed at sanitizing shower heads; another activity I ignore entirely. I’m closing in on 16 months free of a “flare-up” involving fever, and an antibiotic to defeat.
The lengthening periods of freedom from acute symptoms is something I attribute solely to learning about 7% saline nebulizer solution which I read about on this forum.
My comparatively minimal attention to “sanitation” may catch up with me but so far so good.

I should add that I realize many forum participants are contending with considerably more virulent pathology than I am. Don

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

fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | May 17, 2021
In reply to @thumperguy "Amanda, I began the Percussion Vest and the nebulizer November 2017. I don’t recall any “involved”..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Amanda, I began the Percussion Vest and the nebulizer November 2017. I don’t recall any “involved” cleaning instructions. If there were any I apparently ignored them.
So to your explicit question, well over three years. Don

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Hi @thumperguy. I've been following this group since fall of 2019 when I was 8-9 months diagnosed MAC & Bronchiectasis. When they made a change in the way we get messages, etc. I got lost. Now I'm getting a weekly notice of messages. Anyhoo, My Smart vest was delivered today. The therapist comes Wednesday to train me. Any tips or questions I should ask. Thanks, and keep on thumping.
Faye

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2 replies
spencersok | @spencersok | May 18, 2021
In reply to @fdixon63 "Hi @thumperguy. I've been following this group since fall of 2019 when I was 8-9 months..." + (show)
@fdixon63

Hi @thumperguy. I've been following this group since fall of 2019 when I was 8-9 months diagnosed MAC & Bronchiectasis. When they made a change in the way we get messages, etc. I got lost. Now I'm getting a weekly notice of messages. Anyhoo, My Smart vest was delivered today. The therapist comes Wednesday to train me. Any tips or questions I should ask. Thanks, and keep on thumping.
Faye

Jump to this post

My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training we were given, it is an easy process. I know it it time consuming, but everything comes with a cost and in this case time, 30 minutes x 2 each day. If it get results then the benefit is to your favor. I am trying to get my wife to do both at the same time, nebulize and vest...I understand the benefit will be worth it...

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4 replies
gej53 | @gej53 | May 18, 2021
In reply to @spencersok "My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training..." + (show)
@spencersok

My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training we were given, it is an easy process. I know it it time consuming, but everything comes with a cost and in this case time, 30 minutes x 2 each day. If it get results then the benefit is to your favor. I am trying to get my wife to do both at the same time, nebulize and vest...I understand the benefit will be worth it...

Jump to this post

THE respiratory therapist told me that nebulizing and using the vest at the same time is perfectly fine. It wasn't until I got the vest that I was able to clear my lungs at all. It does get tiring to do this as a daily routine but am so thankful that this works and if it keeps me healthier then I am all for it. Good luck and keep on thumping!!!

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pop55 | @pop55 | May 19, 2021
In reply to @spencersok "My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training..." + (show)
@spencersok

My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training we were given, it is an easy process. I know it it time consuming, but everything comes with a cost and in this case time, 30 minutes x 2 each day. If it get results then the benefit is to your favor. I am trying to get my wife to do both at the same time, nebulize and vest...I understand the benefit will be worth it...

Jump to this post

Doing the vest, 7% and Aerobika all at the same time was recommended by my Dr at NJ and it has made a huge difference for me.

REPLY
1 reply
fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | May 19, 2021
In reply to @spencersok "My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training..." + (show)
@spencersok

My wife just got her AFFLOVEST this past Friday. Based on the instructions and the training we were given, it is an easy process. I know it it time consuming, but everything comes with a cost and in this case time, 30 minutes x 2 each day. If it get results then the benefit is to your favor. I am trying to get my wife to do both at the same time, nebulize and vest...I understand the benefit will be worth it...

Jump to this post

Thanks for the response. Hope the treatment goes well for your wife. The therapist/company rep. comes this afternoon to get me fitted and demonstrate everything. I'm currently on inhaled Tobramycin for 28 days (Just finished 14 days of levofloxacim for nasty Pseudomonas bug. It is a recurring situation so we're hoping adding the vest to the neb 7% Sod. Chloride will get things under control. Blessings to you both.

REPLY
2 replies
thumperguy | @thumperguy | May 19, 2021
In reply to @fdixon63 "Thanks for the response. Hope the treatment goes well for your wife. The therapist/company rep. comes..." + (show)
@fdixon63

Thanks for the response. Hope the treatment goes well for your wife. The therapist/company rep. comes this afternoon to get me fitted and demonstrate everything. I'm currently on inhaled Tobramycin for 28 days (Just finished 14 days of levofloxacim for nasty Pseudomonas bug. It is a recurring situation so we're hoping adding the vest to the neb 7% Sod. Chloride will get things under control. Blessings to you both.

Jump to this post

After a few years of slavishly doing a half hour twice daily on the Respirtech “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” strait jacket I began to boldly tinker with the established drill. Guess what? The sky didn’t fall.

At this point I’ve jettisoned my my old chum; Thumper. I’ve become convinced that nebulizing an ampule of 7% saline solution is keeping my lungs as healthy as they’re likely to get.
Slow to cast caution to the wind though, I’ve refrained putting Thumper on the driveway with a “For Sale” hanging from it. If things change you’ll among the first to know. Currently I “Neb” for approximately a quarter hour twice daily. Morning session is unremarkable; evening session prompts paroxysmal coughing, spitting, and sneezing, What fun! Don

REPLY
1 reply
fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | May 19, 2021
In reply to @thumperguy "After a few years of slavishly doing a half hour twice daily on the Respirtech “Shake,..." + (show)
@thumperguy

After a few years of slavishly doing a half hour twice daily on the Respirtech “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” strait jacket I began to boldly tinker with the established drill. Guess what? The sky didn’t fall.

At this point I’ve jettisoned my my old chum; Thumper. I’ve become convinced that nebulizing an ampule of 7% saline solution is keeping my lungs as healthy as they’re likely to get.
Slow to cast caution to the wind though, I’ve refrained putting Thumper on the driveway with a “For Sale” hanging from it. If things change you’ll among the first to know. Currently I “Neb” for approximately a quarter hour twice daily. Morning session is unremarkable; evening session prompts paroxysmal coughing, spitting, and sneezing, What fun! Don

Jump to this post

Thanks for being the trail blazer you are. That's what I like. Tips, tricks and all other bags of info. My MAC has been negative the last two but I can' seem to to shake the Pseudomonas for very long. I'm thinking our municipal water supply is the bad guy. I'll be "again" talking to our water works folks to see if they will do some testing. I don't think they want anyone rattling their cage. Currently I'm inhaling Tobramycin and can't seem to get through the process even after nebbing 30 min. I've tried Neb Doctors and Trek S (portable) compressors. I alternate between AeroEclipse II and regular set up with aerobika. One is not better than the other. I know I need to get the med in me but how long to keep it up. I usually stop after 30 mins. Any ideas? Thanks. Faye

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1 reply
thumperguy | @thumperguy | May 19, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @thumperguy. I am so glad to hear that you continue to maintain good health and..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @thumperguy. I am so glad to hear that you continue to maintain good health and are flare free for 16 months! That is wonderful news.

You will notice that I added to your title so that others can recognize an opportunity to contribute to this discussion about nebulizer cleaning regimen. How long have you been using this process, if you don't mind me asking?

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Amanda, perhaps a year. The lynchpin of the process is a brief initial white vinegar bath during which the mouthpiece is dismantled, placed in a Tupperware container with enough vinegar in it to cover the parts. Lid on, I briefly agitate the container to insure every surface gets some vinegar, enough I hope to drastically shorten the life expectancy of what ever might be camping on the surfaces. Then rinse in warm water with a little soap on the part that enters my mouth. Allow to air dry. I leave the vinegar in the container and reuse it several times before replacing. As you can surmise, this is really Rocket Science. 😂 Don

REPLY
1 reply
swang18 | @swang18 | May 20, 2021
In reply to @pop55 "Doing the vest, 7% and Aerobika all at the same time was recommended by my Dr..." + (show)
@pop55

Doing the vest, 7% and Aerobika all at the same time was recommended by my Dr at NJ and it has made a huge difference for me.

Jump to this post

Who is your doctor, I am in NJ and would like to see a good doctor in NJ. Thanks!

REPLY
2 replies
nannette | @nannette | May 20, 2021
In reply to @thumperguy "Amanda, perhaps a year. The lynchpin of the process is a brief initial white vinegar bath..." + (show)
@thumperguy

Amanda, perhaps a year. The lynchpin of the process is a brief initial white vinegar bath during which the mouthpiece is dismantled, placed in a Tupperware container with enough vinegar in it to cover the parts. Lid on, I briefly agitate the container to insure every surface gets some vinegar, enough I hope to drastically shorten the life expectancy of what ever might be camping on the surfaces. Then rinse in warm water with a little soap on the part that enters my mouth. Allow to air dry. I leave the vinegar in the container and reuse it several times before replacing. As you can surmise, this is really Rocket Science. 😂 Don

Jump to this post

@thumperguy, Don, that's exactly what I clean mine in! A vinegar and water mix but I'm really bad and don't even rinse in warm water and soap. I keep a bowl also with a lid on it on my kitchen counter and put all the pieces in there and slosh them around a little and let them sit there until I remember to take them out and let them dry on a paper towel that I then cover. Sometimes I've forgotten to take them out and they sit overnight. And I reuse my vinegar/water mix for a couple of weeks. I've been doing this for a couple of years. Nan

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