@cindyrnc, Cindy, can't remember if I have given you the below resources on Bronchiectasis already .. if I have ignore .. if not .. do some reading .. Knowledge is Power! You say "My bronchiectasis isn't that bad yet." KEEP IT THAT WAY.. by keeping your lungs CLEAR!! Yes it takes time and effort .. BUT it will take even MORE time and effort if your "thick mucous plugs" become BREEDING GROUNDS for mycobacterium MAC or other bacteria!! Hope the below might help you! Hugs! Katherine

From my File Cabinet:
1. SALINE NEBULIZED TREATMENTS-IMPORTANCE OF WITH BRONCHIECTASIS AND MAC Member @windwalker Terri: Told my Dr that the saline treatment wasn't bringing anything up. It is because my lungs are crystal clear at the moment. He said it is STILL important to continue the saline inhalation anyway. WHY? Because it acts as a preventative, it thins the mucous. When the mucous is thin, there is less thick, sticky stuff for the MAC and other bugs to breed in. From @windwalker Terri .. First, I use my Inhaler, (to OPEN my lungs, then I use the saline to cleanse out the lungs. The saline moistens your lungs to help thin out the mucous, making it easier to cough up. Plus, it irritates the lungs a little to make you cough, it also makes for a salty environment which germs do not like to set up house in.

2. NEBULIZING SALINE SOLUTION
PARI COMPRESSOR SUPPLIES FOR NEBULIZING SALINE
a. PARIO VIOS LC PLUS ADULT AIROSOL NEBULIZER COMPRESSOR .. found a good price at:
https://www.exmed.net/p-3907-pari-vios-aerosol-delivery-system-compressor.aspx?defaultvariantid=28616&gclid=comzx6_cwtqcfyidaqodxgqlkg
b. PARI LC PLUS RESUABLE NEBULIZER $69.75 http://justnebulizers.com/pari-lc-reusable-nebulizer-set-buy-5-and-save.html

3. GETTING RID OF THE THICK MUCOUS PLUGS
https://www.trudellmed.com/products/aerobika https://www.nationaljewish.org/treatment-programs/medications/lung-diseases/treatments/using-the-aerobika

Members @decosmo and @maryjo2sell who have given great info about the Aerobika in the past.*Aerobika. I highly recommend it. I love mine. I have two. They vibrate well to loosen the stuff and they are so much easier than an Acapella to clean. (I use a bit of antibacterial dish soap. Suds it up .. agitate .. hold the parts and shake them very thoroughly through the sudsy water. 2. Let the parts soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then several times fill the measuring cup with very warm rinse water .. again agitate the parts thoroughly to make sure they are thoroughly clean of the antibacterial dish soap. ) I have had mine for at least 2 years.

@katemn .. I did some research and decided to share my research. I am NOT recommending this to ANYONE .. just saying it worked for me .. AND if you decide to purchase from Ebay .. ONLY purchase from the SAME vendor on Ebay that I did .. I purchased from him twice (purchased from-100% rating: ravenator123) and the product was EXACTLY the same as the one I purchased from the Medical Supply Co.

AEROBIKA-EBAY http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aerobika-Oscillating-Positive-Expiratory-Pressure-Therapy-PEP-Device/222365799192?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D770f957ccb25404b97e7b52a01662bde%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D162365627793 purchased from-100% rating: ravenator123 ( 1146 ) $54 w.shipping 6/19/17 $64. w/shipping

4. AEROBIKA-MY PERSONAL ROUTINE-INHALERS/LUNG CLEARANCE HYGIENE/AEROBIKA Below is my particular routine in using my Aerobika
1. use my 2 inhalers PRIOR to brushing my teeth
2. use a "huff" cough at least 3 times .. like you were cleaning your glasses and fog them with your breath .. only MORE forcefully. Then use the Aerobika device per the instructions. Do the huff cough along with the Aerobika until you feel you have gotten up as much sputum as you possibly can. I have found using the Aerobika you are able to " pull" mucous out of those lower lung airways in a way you cannot without the device. Personally I do this twice a day.
3. Inhale 7% Sodium Solution using my Pari Compressor and nebulizer
4. after my Saline Inhalation I again use my Aerobika. I use a "huff" cough at least 3 times .. like you were cleaning your glasses and fog them with your breath .. only MORE forcefully. Then use the Aerobika device per the instructions. Do the huff cough along with the Aerobika until you feel you have gotten up as much sputum as you possibly can.
5. using peroxide to dampen my toothbrush and toothpaste to brush (purchased a squirt dispenser for the peroxide)
6. rinse my toothbrush .. then using peroxide for toothbrush storage for sterilizing
I think this routine will help oral thrush by keeping my Sonicare toothbrush sanitized daily. http://www.good-gums.com/sanitizing-your-toothbrush.cfm

5. @katemn NOTE: because I purchased a large supply of nebs I use the same cleaning method as below for the Aerobika and nebulizers per my File Cabinet.
I can ONLY speak for myself .. I follow the cleaning method on the Aerobika website: https://www.monaghanmed.com/patients-education .. the same one that came with the Aerobika.
1. I use very warm water .. I use a 4 cup plastic measuring cup to wash the various parts .. I like the cup handle as I agitate the parts I am cleaning! Norpro 4-Cup Plastic Measuring Cup https://smile.amazon.com/Norpro-4-Cup-Plastic-Measuring-Cup/dp/B000HJBFFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1493589199&sr=8-1&keywords=4+CUP+measure+plastic
I USE THE: The First Years Power of Steam Electric Steam Sterilizer (I remove ONE shelve & make the bottom shelf TALLER to accommodate the tall nebulizer with two other more narrow shelves) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WN2B6O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use a bit of antibacterial dish soap. Suds it up .. agitate .. hold the parts and shake them very thoroughly through the sudsy water.
2. Let the parts soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then several times fill the measuring cup with very warm rinse water .. again agitate the parts thoroughly to make sure they are thoroughly clean of the antibacterial dish soap.
3. I then toss them into the large round center baby sterilizer with the drainage holes at the bottom for storage (that I have removed from the unit) until I am ready to sterilize them all at one time. (This may sound dumb but I store all this equipment in my unused bathtub since I only use my shower!)
4. When I sterilize .. I make SURE I place the AEROBICA on THE TOP SHELF!! After I do sterilize them .. I let the sterilizer cool down. Re assemble and I am good to go! I use distilled water .. I feel it is a good cautionary detail to keep the unit in good condition. If you are unsure you could confirm by calling 800) 833-9653 .. or better yet .. ask your Pulmonologist or respiratory therapist .
I called Monaghan Medical (800) 833-9653 Aerobika Customer Service directly and told them my cleaning method .. their only concern was that I rinse well the antibacterial dish soap after soaking. BUT they are NOT experts on MAC or Bronchiectasis. https://www.monaghanmed.com/patients-education. They finally admitted their ONLY cleaning research was based on boiling SO cannot comment on any cleaning method other than boiling .. baby bottle sterilizing? LIABILITY!! (BUT see 6/17 post from Member @lindam272, the new instructions from Aerobika NOW approve baby bottle sterilizing!)
IF you are using inhaled saline (Sodium Chloride Inhalation Solution) with your Aerobika .. I found a good price at: http://justnebulizers.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=p22f81cn .. I purchased the 5 package. I use the same cleaning method.
From Member Linda @lindam272 We benefit from sharing information with each other. *PR0BLEM I learned from my Respiratory Therapist: I WAS NOT sterilizing my equipment DAILY! I sterilize the three main pieces of the Aerobika plus my nebulizers! * my Respiratory Therapist suggested using a baby bottle sterilizer for DAILY USE FOR BOTH MY Aerobika and Nebulizers

SUBSCRIBE: https://bronchiectasisnewstoday.com/2017/01/05/antigen-presenting-cells-may-contribute-inflammation/

You can easily get past issues of the Weekly Digest: http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/home/?u=52c64784d386bd00ea57ee792&id=d9df0e1c03

@lindam272, thanks Linda, I've added it to my File Cabinet .. every person needs to research and try different probiotics .. what works for one might not work for another .. I'm glad to provide options .. which reminds people "one size does NOT fit all!" Hugs! Katherine

@cindyrnc, Cindy and @irene5, Irene, below is some info that may clarify? Hope you find it helpful! Hugs! Katherine
Zithromax, Rifampin, and Ethambicol.

FROM MY FILE CABINET ANTIBIOTIC ..STANDARD TREATMENT Standard treatment of MAC recommended by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a combination of 3 or 4 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The drugs include:
Clarithromycin (Biaxin) or Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Rifampin (Rifadin) or Rifabutin (Mycobutin) + Ethambutol (Myambutol)
Streptomycin (Strep) or Amikacin (Amikin)

The first three drugs are pills/capsules and may be given daily or three times weekly (Monday-Wednesday-Friday). While taking these medicines, routine laboratory tests to check kidneys and liver along with a complete blood count (CBC) should be performed, at least routinely for the first six months

Patients who fail therapy after taking the 3 standard medicines (clarithromycin/azithromycin, rifampin/rifabutin, and ethambutol) are usually required to take additional medicines. (such as injectables or “shots”) which may be effective. For extensive or severe disease, or disease that has failed therapy, the injectables or inhaled streptomycin or amikacin are often added for the first 2 to 4 months of therapy.

what is Mac/Mai above disease?

@virtuous69, hope that help! Hugs! Katherine
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare is MAI
Mycobacterium avium complex is MAC

My mother had TB as a German war bride when I was born. Was in Jewish sanitorium in Denver for a year and was smart enough to tell birthing docs she would not nurse me. I worked for a hospital for a time and have always tested negative. I,m concerned that the disease can spread by drinking water???

You will only get MAC if you are susceptible. MAC is everywhere in the environment.

@virtuous69 Most households have NTM in the drinking water. Well water does
not (usually).
 

Irene,

Thank you for posting this information.  This is absolutely correct.  Only those who are immunosuppressed get MAC.

Cindy

I'm not sure about the conclusion that only those who are immunosuppressed get MAC. I think anyone with weakened lung and/or brochi can get MAC. I'm not immunosuppressed. But I have brochiectasis. Although I've only been diagnosed with it 2.5 years ago, I believe I've actually had it for many years prior to that but was mis-diagnosed as allergies. I was also believed to have been exposed to TB in childhood (my skin test for TB is positive) although never developed TB. But that exposure left scarring on my lungs. These are all things that make me more susceptible to MAC than other people without those problems.