Hello Raney! Just read your post. I was going to suggest to Josey als0, to cut the 7% saline with the 3% until she can build a tolerance to it. It was my understanding that the 7% saline is supposed to burn a little and make you cough. It causes your lungs to be irritated to the point of coughing so that you bring up the phlegm. NIH did a study and found that it takes the 7% saline to kill the mac bacteria. I have been nebbing 7% since 2013 and have such a tolerance to it now that I don't even feel it or cough. It is still necessary to do it because the salt keeps the bacteria from flourishing.