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.

poodledoc | @poodledoc | May 25, 2021

In reply to @gej53 "Did your insurance cover this one for travelling?" + (show)

I did not even check, there has been info on this thread that insurance will not pay. But it wouldn't hurt to ask.

gej53 | @gej53 | May 25, 2021

Thank you. It is on sale on the nebology site so I thought I would just go ahead and order to have it. My doctor will not order 7% saline for me so I just order it myself too.

fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | May 25, 2021

In reply to @thumperguy "Faye, you said “can't seem to get through the process.” What interferes? Don" + (show)

Just found your message in my junk--how rude. I'm lost and can't recall what “can't seem to get through the process” I was referring to. Maybe tonight while sleeping, I'll recall and jot it down. Tough getting old.

woot | @woot | May 26, 2021

In reply to @pop55 "No, I am scheduled to go back this summer to see her but not sure if..." + (show)

I saw Dr Daniels yesterday. I’ve been a patient of Huitt for years. Daniels says her labs are doing a good job finding Mac, etc I haven’t been hospitalized for a year and a half with Daniels treating me for that last big infection. I deliver a sputum sample tomorrow. For now, I feel ok with not flying to Denver every year as I did.

pop55 | @pop55 | May 27, 2021

In reply to @woot "I saw Dr Daniels yesterday. I’ve been a patient of Huitt for years. Daniels says her..." + (show)

I love Dr Daniels, she is a good DR. I have only had one culture done at the UNC lab and I don't recall getting the report. Dr. Daniels was going on maternity leave and I had just found out that my labs for last 5-6 months were wrong (done at Rex) so that was when I decided to go to NJ so I could find out what bacteria and how many colonies . I am still going to send my sputum to NJ because I want the details ( how many colonies, what specific bacteria not just Avium complex). I don't think the UNC lab provides those details but I could be wrong. Where in NC do you live?

woot | @woot | May 27, 2021

In reply to @pop55 "I love Dr Daniels, she is a good DR. I have only had one culture done..." + (show)

Thanks. I live in Cary. Your telling me Rex lab made a mistake makes me pause my plan to deliver sputum sample there as Daniels encouraged me to do (closer to me than driving to Chapel Hill) where do you live?

pop55 | @pop55 | May 27, 2021

I live in Wake Forest. Rex uses different labs to perform tests. When REX used the Mayo Clinic lab it was always correct. For some reason they changed and starting sending them to another lab and then the cultures came back saying I had Abscessus. When Dr Daniels sent my culture for sensitivity testing the lab came back and said they were unable to perform the test since I did not have Abscessus. Dr Daniels had some of the cultures redone at Mayo and they came back saying I had Mycobacterium Avium. I think if they send them to Mayo you should be fine. I like the detail from NJ which I did not get from the other lab. Have you ever been treated?

shooei | @shooei | May 28, 2021

In reply to @bnthorson "I have been using the Innospire Go for a couple of years. I recharge it about..." + (show)

I use the Innospire Go and I love it. Drawbacks for me is that it is spendy and with the 7% saline, it wears out quicker than they say it should. @sueinmn , I find it just as fast as my Pari Vios Pro with the Sprint nebulizer. Though I'm sure the Innospire Go wastes med if you don't turn it off while "coughing, sputtering, clearing gunk". Probably why I neb at least 8 ml of saline! But I enjoy the silence sooooo much!! If I weren't getting the gunk up, I would switch in a heartbeat. I do rotate between that and the Pari Pro, and I do like the new mouthpiece on the Sprint with the expiration valve.

Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 28, 2021

Hi there Don! I too have become lax in my mouthpiece cleaning since testing negative several yrs back. I DO want to get back into the habit of doing it though. I soaked mine in hot soapy water, rinsed in clear, then soaked in white vinegar and air dried.

thumperguy | @thumperguy | May 28, 2021

In reply to @windwalker "Hi there Don! I too have become lax in my mouthpiece cleaning since testing negative several..." + (show)

Teri, I briefly rinse in warm water, then dunk in vinegar, rinse again, air dry. Whatever survives this punishment then faces the awesome specter of tangling with my immune system. Welcome to June. Don