Saline nebulized inhalation

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Dec 21, 2019

Rx’d. 0.9%,3 mL. If three is good might five be even “gooder?” I can get it in 5 mL doses. Any reason not to go for it?

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Thanks, Kate. I’m still learning my way around this website. I was referring to the msg which said 7% saline kills MAC. I had never heard that before and it seems not to make sense to me........too simple,I guess! I will read what you sent to me.

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@alleycatkate

@esssbeee ...Not sure if you are responding to the article link that I posted but if so...I am not sure. I found it when researching papers on saline for MAC. It sure caught my attention especially the chart #2 which has been posted a few times since. In case anyone missed it ...here is the entire article again. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4850692/
Chart #2 is a good summation instead of reading the entire report. It seems to be an independent study that was published online by National Center for Biotechnology Information and cited by the National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health. It is amazing what can be found online!! Kate

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@alleycatkate Well, that is one very interesting study!! Thank you so very much for sharing that. Who knew? Not I! And yes, the internet is certainly a plethora of information! (Irene5)

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@alleycatkate

@windwalker Hi Terri. I already posted the link to the original article on saline strengths for Don @thumperguy which includes the chart but Im not sure if he saw it. (Above) I went back and found my original post of the full article as i thought it might be worthwhile to repost it in its entirety. The chart is the second chart within the article. Kate.
Have a great holiday, Terri!

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I did see the chart caught your point re: 7%. Forgive me for neglecting to let you know. Don

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@thumperguy

Thanks Nan. Time for me to talk to the Pulmo about the 7% solution. Humm, sounds like the title to a mystery novel.

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@thumperguy I first learned about nebulizing saline as a cure for mac back in 2007. It was being used only in France at that time. I would mention it to my pulmonologists and they would just blow me off because they had never heard of it. It wasn't until I went to the Mayo clinic in 2013 that my dr there suggested I use it. I wasn't surprised that HE knew about it as Mayo is pretty cutting-edge. My mac has tested negative since 2014. If you think about it, the saline makes a lot of sense. Mothers have been making their kids gargle with warm salt water at the first sign of a sore throat. Why? Because the salt kills the germs. Also, meats keep forever when salted as do fish. Salt kills bacteria. As for your question about tolerating the treatment.....that would depend on the condition of your lungs. If they are super inflamed, they may be too fragile for the salt at 7% or even 3%. If you get the 'ok' from your dr that it is safe for you; you can always start out slowly and build up your tolerance for it. Try doing only several puffs, wait a bit, and try some more. I am traveling right now and ran out of my saline 4 days ago. I can feel the krud building up and starting to feel crappy. I will go tomorrow to the CVS up here and have my script transferred. It makes a big difference for me. I hope this helps.

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@thumperguy

I did see the chart caught your point re: 7%. Forgive me for neglecting to let you know. Don

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@allycatkate, Thank you for digging that out for Don. I looked hi and low for that chart and couldn't find it. I keep trying to save it where I can grab it easy, but I never seem to find it again. We had a wonderful Christmas today with my daughter. I hope yours was good also.

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@windwalker

@allycatkate, Thank you for digging that out for Don. I looked hi and low for that chart and couldn't find it. I keep trying to save it where I can grab it easy, but I never seem to find it again. We had a wonderful Christmas today with my daughter. I hope yours was good also.

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@windwalker ...Hi Terri...I hear ya..It is always that way when trying to find an old post...I scrolled through all of my old posts to find it...And just emailed the link it to myself to file in my email "health file" for easy access next time. That is so interesting that you first heard of the saline when it was in use in France. Of course, Dr L would know about it!! He knew everything!! I'm sad that I just started with him and he retired....but I am sure, not half as sad as you over losing him, since he has been treating you so well for so long. At least we know Mayo has lots of other good Docs.
Glad you had a good Christmas! Ours was very peaceful with a special dinner (as special as they get these days..haha) and several delightful beach walks. Fingers crossed for all of us that our New Year is to the upside and good health prevails!! My Best, Kate

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I'd like to know if nebulized saline is harmful to the kidneys. I have CKD.

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@lupine

I'd like to know if nebulized saline is harmful to the kidneys. I have CKD.

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There are 280 milligrams of sodium in 1 4 ml vial of 7% saline. (210 mg in 3 ml vial) Not all of the nebulized liquid makes it into your body - some floats away in vapor, some residue stays in the machine. In addition, most of the sodium stays in the mucus in the lungs. You can test this by skipping nebs for a day - when you cough, the mucus is still salty tasting! So, yes, some sodium will cross the cell barrier and make it to your kidneys. How much? Just a guess, but far less than half - so roughly the amount in a slice of bread or a few chips.
I find 7% saline very valuable in staying healthy, so if I had CKD, I would still neb, and adjust my sodium-restricted diet a bit to compensate.
Have you asked your pulmonologist or nephrologist?
Sue

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@sueinmn

There are 280 milligrams of sodium in 1 4 ml vial of 7% saline. (210 mg in 3 ml vial) Not all of the nebulized liquid makes it into your body - some floats away in vapor, some residue stays in the machine. In addition, most of the sodium stays in the mucus in the lungs. You can test this by skipping nebs for a day - when you cough, the mucus is still salty tasting! So, yes, some sodium will cross the cell barrier and make it to your kidneys. How much? Just a guess, but far less than half - so roughly the amount in a slice of bread or a few chips.
I find 7% saline very valuable in staying healthy, so if I had CKD, I would still neb, and adjust my sodium-restricted diet a bit to compensate.
Have you asked your pulmonologist or nephrologist?
Sue

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Thanks Sue. That’s helpful. I will ask the new ID doctor when I get to see him next month. He’s also trained in Nephrology so I’m hopeful he can suggest appropriate treatment options. My Pulmonologist advises the antibiotic regimen but I really don’t want them.

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@sueinmn

There are 280 milligrams of sodium in 1 4 ml vial of 7% saline. (210 mg in 3 ml vial) Not all of the nebulized liquid makes it into your body - some floats away in vapor, some residue stays in the machine. In addition, most of the sodium stays in the mucus in the lungs. You can test this by skipping nebs for a day - when you cough, the mucus is still salty tasting! So, yes, some sodium will cross the cell barrier and make it to your kidneys. How much? Just a guess, but far less than half - so roughly the amount in a slice of bread or a few chips.
I find 7% saline very valuable in staying healthy, so if I had CKD, I would still neb, and adjust my sodium-restricted diet a bit to compensate.
Have you asked your pulmonologist or nephrologist?
Sue

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Hey Sue,
Catching up on old posts. Read that hefty article on the effects of saline on mucus. I found it fascinating that they said if saline delivered slower, not as effective. I was wondering if that is why the first year I was nebulizing 3% NS with a slowwww nebulizer(20-24 minutes). I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. Now I'm doing 7% with a faster nebulizer (10-12 minutes)(the green machine). and feeling much clearer. Just thought I would add this healthy tidbit to the general knowledge base. ...Cindy

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