Cleaning + disinfecting nebulizer and aerobica

I rinse my neb cup parts in Berkey filtered water (MAC sterile) and then put in wide mouth mason jar of 70% alcohol, shake it and either keep it in there til next use or lift pieces out w tongs and air dry. On the NJH web site they say to use 70% alcohol to sterilize the areobika/vibrator devices.

I do the same with my vPEP device which I rarely use as I find positional drainage with huff coughing works just as well and nothing to clean!!

I use a mask instead of mouth piece and rinse it with the sterile water and then dose it w alcohol.

@cate123456 @kathyhg @cavlover @303wendy
Good morning everyone. I am going to say something here that will have some on this forum unhappy, but bear with me. If you are already concerned about keeping your equipment clean and doing periodic sterilization, you are well ahead of half the population. Studies of CF and COPD patients show that half or fewer routinely clean and disinfect their nebulizer, CPAPs and other devices.

The biggest challenge in living with MAC and Bronchiectasis is learning to do the best we can to minimize risks while still having a life. When I was first diagnosed, and very ill, we stayed home & limited contact with everyone for fear of more issues. I felt like I was suffocating, not sure if life was worthwhile lived that way. For me "living with" means taking common sense precautions, but not letting fear take over my life.

Base of the pyramid: Exercise, eat well, rest, take my necessary meds, live my adapted life
Next level: Neb 7% saline, do airway clearance, avoid sick people, wear a mask
when prudent
Third level: Keep equipment clean daily, sterilize as recommended, avoid high risks
(hot tubs, close soil contact), take short showers
Top Level: Keep learning & adjusting

Not in my pyramid: I do not sterilize my water, though I do filter my drinking, cooking &
equipment cleaning water.
I'm not concerned about water or ice in restaurants, friends' homes, etc.
If I use my neb for 8 days without sterilizing because I am traveling, I
don't panic.

My adapted life includes traveling, carefully, but a lot. Going to outdoor functions, a lot. Going to select indoor gatherings, quite often masked. Gathering with friends and family when all are healthy. Caring for my grandkids. Pursuing my passions in volunteering, fiber arts and gardening (in mask & gloves.)

If you want to travel, please give yourself permission to create your own "pyramid" or philosophy for living with a chronic condition, not surrendering your life to it.
Sue

Thanks. Your experience and wisdom are always appreciated. There are so many differing opinions out there about what to eat, supplements to take, how to clean equipment, what equipment to use, etc etc and, I guess, at some point we just make our best decision and move on.

You said it just right, "I guess, at some point we just make our best decision and move on." This same advice applies to anyone with a chronic condition. We have a choice of whether to live with it or let it rule us.

I worked in health care for my entire work life and many of those years were with people who had chronic respiratory, cardiac, renal diseases, etc. I was often reminded then that it is very easy to let one’s medical condition rule their life when pain or suffering of any kind is a daily challenge. I hadn’t heard of NTM or MAC but see now, regardless of the illness, it sometimes requires that we live intentionally in order to avoid letting our illnesses begin to define us. Sue’s comments reminded me of that today so thank you.

Anyways, enough pontificating for today. Thanks again for your helpful comments and all the helpful comments I read here daily!

Sue,
I don’t see how this can get anyone upset. For me anyway, it is very helpful. I need to hear your words and not live in fear. I did a lot of traveling before Covid and I plan to continue as it is one of my favorite passions. And I’m glad I did a lot of hard adventure trips like trekking gorillas, climbing mountains, etc. when I did - and not because of now having Bronchiectisis, but because I’m getting older😂The bottom line is I need to do what works for me, listen to my body, do the best I can (and this can differ depending on the circumstances) and live life.

Now may I ask how you filter your drinking, cooking and equipment water? I like your ideas! Thank you! 😘

.2 micron filter with its own tap at the sink. Sorry I don't know the brand, I left those details to my husband.
Sue

cate123456 will you tell me the company that you bought your mask . Name of mask. I have a mask bit it does not fit well and I am loosing too much meds before they enter my mouth. I would like to buy a good mask that fits. I have copious amounts of mucus and my jaw gets sore from holding the mouth piece.

Has anyone gotten a sinus or eye infection from using a nebulizer that wasn’t propertly cleaned?
I've been nebulizing 7% saline once daily using a PARI Vios with a Sprint reusable nebulizer cup. To clean the nebulizer, I alternate between soaking the cup pieces in hot water and dish soap on one day and boiling them for 5 minutes the next day. I recently noticed that the hose tube gets moisture sometimes that it never did before. Now I sometimes run the Vios without the cup after nebulizing to get rid of the moisture in the tube, but sometimes I forget to check. I also have been using the same cup for more than 4 months because I only nebulize once a day. Two days ago, sometime after nebulizing and a shower, my face around my left eye turned red and itchy and there was a puffy area near, but not adjacent to, my eye. I’m trying to figure out if it has anything to do with my nebulizing. I’ve read that cellulitis can come from a bacterial sinus infection.
I’m panicking because my ID doctor retired and I’ve not yet met my new one, I don’t want to go to urgent care because I don’t believe they will have the necessary background, and I don’t have an ophthalmologist to go to.

Hi Sara and Mayo friends,
I agree- sterilizing our nebulizing equipment is tedious –and extremely important. After years of dealing with this drudgery every other day, I bought additional sets of Aerobikas and cups to make my life easier. My preferred sterilization process is to boil my equipment. However, the manufacturer does provide cold sterilization options.

I use the Medela baby bottle bags when traveling. They are reliable. Many people use baby bottle sterilizers. I heard the Avent brand is good. Be sure to get one with a dryer.

Also, remember to change your tubing regularly and check your filter to see if it needs to be changed.

Most importantly, create a sterilization plan that works for you and your lifestyle. Do not let the tedium of sterilizing sideline you. I credit airway clearance and strict sterilizing protocol with one of the main reasons I was able to clear MAC. Now my goal is to keep it from coming back and to prevent other infections.

Best,
Linda Esposito