@cila, Cila, it was simple to pull an answer from my file cabinet .. JUST LIKE doctors not to explain!! Thank heavens for Connect! As I recall I did NOT need a prescription for the PARI unit .. only the Amikacin and the saline. Truthfully I still feel lousy .. really don't know why. I ended the 1st cycle of the 3 cycles of the Inhaled antibiotic Tobramycin for the 3 new bacteria in my lungs .. a 6 month process .. just extreme fatigue daily .. plus my husband is in the hospital .. 3rd time in the past 3 months. No rest for the wicked! But I will get through it .. we all do ,. we all have! Hugs to all! I think of all of you daily and am SO proud of how you have carried on with our wonderful Connect .. keeping it so active and caring .. wonderful job!! Katherine

From my File Cabinet:
ANTIBIOTICS-INHALED AMIKACIN inhaled Amikacin there was a stress on STERILIZATION! Really keeping things clean! Now since I stopped with the inhaled Amikacin 5/14 perhaps there is a new machine but THESE WERE MY INSTRUCTIONS .. THEY MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE 2011!!
1. If you wish to use Mayo Pharmacy, you will need to call the pharmacy to set up a mail order account. The phone number is 1-800-445-6326, and press "0" to speak with a live person. They will ask you for your mailing address as well as your credit card information and prescription insurance information, if not already on file. If you travel, just let them know to which address you wish to have your prescriptions sent.
2. Once you have an official amikacin prescription from Dr. Aksamit or your Doctor, contact the pharmacy and ask them to mail the Amikacin out to you. The first prescription will be for one vial, for your test dose. Once you receive the medication, please call your physician to arrange for the administration of your test dose. If your doctor is unfamiliar with this procedure, then s/he will need to contact Dr. Aksamit/your doctor.
3. In addition to the amikacin, you will also need normal saline (which will be included) for diluting the amikacin prior to inhalation. Your doctor will also need to supply you with, or write a prescription for, a nebulizer (machine for administering inhaled medication).
USING

1.Use a clean syringe each time you enter an amikacin vial. Reorder the syringes each month when you refill the amikacin.
2. Needles/syringes should be disposed of by placing them in a "sharps container". Syringes should be dropped into the container needle end first, and we do not recommend recapping the needle. While sharps containers can be purchased, you can also make your own by re-using an empty hard plastic bottle, such as one used for liquid laundry detergent, shampoo, wet wipes, coffee, etc. The container should be labeled, "Do Not Recycle: Household Sharps", and may be placed with the cover on in the trash, though you may wish to check to see whether there are any sharps collection sites in your area (which are considered safer than placing sharps in your trash).

DAILY SCHEDULE
1.In 4-Cup Plastic Measuring Cup http://smile.amazon.com/Norpro-4-Cup-Plastic-Measuring-Cup/dp/B000HJBFFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462336680&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+4+cup+measuring+cup Took apart and washed the nebulizer parts in antibacterial dish soap in HOT water .. rinsed carefully in HOT water. Let sit overnight in to dry in measuring cup. In morning transferred clean parts into a “baby bottle sterilizer”. From the millions of things I had researched .. I had read about this trick .. a whole lot easier than trying to boil the parts for thirty months! By having a weeks supply of the nebulizer and this sterilizer .. I was able to make a frankly unpleasant task a little less unpleasant AND keep myself safe. Maybe someone else can come up with something better/easier but this is the best I could come up with. Mine was: The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer from: http://smile.amazon.com/First-Years-Power-Electric-Sterilizer/dp/B002WN2B6O?ie=UTF8&keywords=baby%20bottle%20sterilizer&qid=1462337037&ref_=sr_1_12_s_it&s=baby-products&sr=1-12
TIP: The only other tip was we travel a lot so I purchase a 2nd Pari that was smaller but took longer. I would envy you if a newer unit has come out that would take a shorter time. Personally it always took me close to a half hour to get the Amikacin in my lungs .. no matter how deeply I tried to breathe .. AND if I tried not to pay too much attention to a TV program that I was trying to distract myself with! BUT I got healthy so DO IT! In the end all this is worth it .. GO FOR IT! Good luck .. hope some of this has helped.

TIP MY UNIT: PARI VIOS LC Sprint, Deluxe I found the best price at Just Nebulizer $55.95 .. just checked .. still the best price I could find. Ask the doctor .. this is the one I used. http://justnebulizers.com/pari-vios-nebulizer.html?
gclid=Cj0KEQjwmKG5BRDv4YaE5t6oqf0BEiQAwqDNfBm39YY5GKewgU0u12sOyKrzsuPl1iFF6-faEvvUjxkaAmQd8P8HAQ

TIP I then purchased Reusable Nebulizer Part No 023F35 : I PURCHASED SO WILL HAVE 7 NEBULIZERS-ONLY HAVE TO STERILIZE ONCE A WEEK! $14.95 ea but I was willing to do 7 for the convenience at a stressful time in life .. plus I wrote it off as a medical tax deduction. http://justnebulizers.com/pari-lc-sprint-reusable-nebulizer-set.html?gclid=CLr_vtvLv8wCFQwxaQodgMwGBg

Katherine, you are supposed to be on sabbatical! I am sorry your husband is
in the hospital again. Are you getting any support there?
 

@windwalker,Terri, taking him home tomorrow .. not nearly as sick as he was in February .. a blessing! Hugs to all! Katherine

Katemn....we are all thinking of you and hubby and sending our love tdrell

Oh dear @katemn...I didn't know that you are fighting off a bug!!! I'm so sorry to hear that! I always visualize myself boxing with the "bug" (bacteria) & visualize myself winning...I think it helps...somehow...silly I suppose but you need to use all the tools you have got to fight & win these battles! AND as they say, when it rains it pours...YOU have so much going on AND in addition, you have a loved one who is not well (& in the HOSPITAL)...that starts to be a little too much!!! Life sure knows how to throw some curve balls at us just when we think things are going pretty well! We all have experienced that multiple, multiple, times but we are patient & diligent with self care & we preserve & are back up on our feet again (hopefully sooner rather than later!!!).

I've been up all night taking care of Emma, who doesn't feel well. The difficult part about her getting sick (besides her not feeling well), is that I now sit & wait for my turn to be up next for getting the virus/bacteria...which of course sits & festers & decides to set up camp in my lungs & then boom, I'm actively sick! There's no good way for me to avoid it...hand washing etc. alone don't help the airborne illnesses my husband & daughter are always bringing home bugs then I get it!!! Anyway, I hope you start feeling better soon AND that your husbands gets well, also!!! I'll be praying for both of you! Much love, Jen

Your visualization technique of boxing with the bacteria and winning is far from silly. Bernie Siegal wrote about it in "Love, Medicine and Miracles". A technique that he recommends is fighting a la Ms. Packman and actually visualizing the "bugs" lessening in number and being destroyed. He cautioned that if someone does this and does not get better never to put the blame on themselves or feel "less than". So if it works, great ... but if it doesn't it is certainly not the person's fault. If anyone is interested, I believe that Siegal's book is still available. Katherine: I know that you are reading all the posts-- just wanted to say that you and your husband are in my prayers as so many people have posted. Terry

That is good news indeed.
 

I really appreciate the information Katherine, I need to get the nebulizer and learn to clean it just like you said. Maybe get the Reusable one, like you said get 7 so I don't get so stress out. Thank you so much and get well. Blessing Cila