7% saline continues to deliver.

lp8

lp8, I routinely walk outside briefly every day. My pace is far from blistering due to arthritis and wobbly legs. Nonetheless, beyond the widely accepted merits of walking as exercise, the commitment and activity buoys my sense of having a modicum of control over my well being. I think being vividly aware of my lungs expanding and contracting adds to the experience.
Is this or something similar present in
you daily life? And if not would it be practicable to add it? Don

I'm on xarelto and took antibiotics for 14 months. The antibiotics worked for me and my specimens do not show any MAC. However, bleeding in my lungs has never been a problem for me. If you have a history of bleeding, your doctor may see a problem with the antibiotics.

I have been on 7% saline now twice daily for about 2 weeks. Starting to feel like I can breathe again and my cough is almost gone. I even went for a bike ride this weekend; first in several month. So thankful for the advice of this group. I also ordered the Aerobika and add that to neb time. Wondering about chest percussion vests; any favorites? A friend recommended the Volara but would love the group input. Thanks

I use Phillips In Courage vest. It does a great job for me. Comes with it's own luggage.

I own a Respirtech InCourage Vest (fondly known around my place as “ole Thumper.” It cost Medicare something north of $1,300. Used it unquestioningly faithfully until I got suspicious that didn’t detectably augment the effect of the “solo” nebulizer.

So now it’s stowed in it’s “luggage” (hat tipped to lp8 for terminology) patiently waiting to get old enuf to audition for the Antiques Roadshow.

And to think; I wouldn’t be having all this fun if I didn’t have “Bronch.”

Me too!

Does anyone know what the Mayo Clinic or National Jewish Health think of the 7% saline solution as a potential cure for MAC or keeping bacteria in check? Thank you, Hauoli

When we talk about MAC, I have never heard anyone refer to curing it - only knocking it down to undetectable or at least asymptomatic levels.

In 2019, while I still had positive sputum cultures, I needed to stop antibiotic therapy. My ID doc and pulmonologist consulted with NJH, and supported the replacement of the Big 3 with 7% saline. Hypertonic saline, alone with regular use of an inhaler and daily airway clearance have kept me healthy for 19 months, except one small exacerbation 2 months ago. That was treated by amping up nebs and airway clearance for several weeks.

Here are some references I found from NJH:
There is a reference in a slide presentation in 2019 the showed a reduction in NTM with hypertonic saline: https://www.nationaljewish.org/NJH/media/ProEd/NTM%20Provider%202019/McShane-Bronchiectasis-NEW.pdf at slides 28-29
"Inhaled hypertonic saline may be used to loosen airway mucus for easier clearance. Common strengths of hypertonic saline are 3% and 7% and are generally used once or twice daily and are administered with a nebulizer." from Dr Huitt (https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/bronchiectasis/bronchiectasis-overview/treatment)

Here are results reported in a small on-going study of NTM patients in Europe. The conclusions were that it worked better with non-cavitary infections, and a larger randomized study was needed to support their conclusions. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/early/2019/04/05/13993003.02143-2018.full.pdf

I know there are docs at Mayo who support the 7% saline, but I couldn't find any published information.
Does this answer your questions?
Sue

Sue, Thank you so much! 7% saline solution seem so helpful . Everyday seems like a challenge for me. I dont seem to have a problem getting rid of sputum but cant seem to rid the bacteria which is showing the same results in recent sputum tests. I am still doing 3% but will meet my pulmonologist in mid August and will ask about going to 7%. Thanks