Bronchiectasis: Is nebulizing helpful?

Yes, I agree. The mask outside, especially on the hot days, was a drag....
As much as nebulizing gets tiring at times, I try to keep telling myself I am keeping my lungs as healthy as can be and am protecting myself as much as possible against MAC with the 7% saline. My physician was so sure I had MAC and was surprised when everything returned negative. I was grateful. This forum has educated me on how much people suffer with this. I am a nurse by background and had never heard of MAC or had one chart I reviewed reflect a patient had MAC. I fit the profile for "Lady Windermere Syndrome", but was glad did no have it....so far. That is a fancy sounding name for a disease one would not wish for!

What is the best timing for Nebulizing, before or after meals? I am trying to get my wife to start, but getting slight resistance...Thanks for your input in advance!

Whenever her favorite TV show is on! Turn up the volume and get her to neb while she watches.
Or right after morning coffee while she reads the paper.
Anyone else have a preferred time?
Sue

I prefer in the morning when I get up and later afternoon before dinner. Mainly though, I find something to do I enjoy while nebulizing 🙂 I check this forum for information, browse the internet or read a book. Makes it much more enjoyable to find something you like while nebulizing.....

I am new to this forum as of June. At that time I was diagnosed with my 3rd flare of MAC. I felt like I was on the brink of death. After reading Don's post about 7% saline I started twice daily and have not looked back. My lungs feel clear, cough is gone, and my chest pain has resolved. I will also say I am a health care provider and realize just how little is know about management of this disease in the medical community. I find that I am educating my colleagues. Thank you for this forum, Sue's great moderation to keep it scientifically based, and all the encouragement from others!

Just curious, as a health care provider are you a physician? My general practitioner defers most of my questions/care/treatment to my pulmonologist. As an RN I knew nothing about MAC. Is that your case? None of my co-workers were familiar with it either. You are right, we are educating others!

@ge53 and @tampamac and other MAC/Bronch members - Our moderators recently asked what is the most gratifying thing about being a mentor.
I didn't even have to think very hard - it is how we, as a group with MAC & Bronchiectasis, both rare diseases, are able to learn from each other, resulting in better health and quality of life for many of us.

You are quite correct that even medical professionals are often totally unaware of what we have or how to treat us. It was from this group that I learned much about both these conditions and treatments. Advocating for myself using what I learned on Connect when speaking to my pulmonologist got me "fired" by him. He had 27 years of experience and proclaimed himself well-versed in treating MAC, but was outraged that I dared to suggest 7% saline and other strategies outside his normal protocol.

No worries though - I ended up with a great team of ID doc for the MAC & pulmo for my asthma - and have been off meds and on 7% saline for 20 months now! Have a followup at the end of the month, where I hope imaging will show no changes.

Thank you for being part of a great team.
Sue

Careful Tampamac, feeding my outsized narcissism is likely a dubious thing to do. But nonetheless, thanks for your kind words and glad to hear your improving. Don

And maybe I should add that I don’t think my self diagnosed “outsized” narcissism is in the same league with that of Tampamac’s pulmonologist which, to my psychologist ear sounds very fragile. Don

I have my nebulizer set up at my computer desk which gives me something to do while nebbing the 7% saline. I also wear over the ear wireless headphones and listen to music at the same time. The headphones also helps to drown out the loud sound from that noisy little machine. I neb before breakfast and dinner so there is less chance of inhaling tiny bits of food that might be left over in my throat after a meal. Bill