7% and excessive phlegm

Hi Sue
Very slowly I am improving but a ways to go but improvement is encouraging.Before the pneumonia I had no shortness of breath.I am working on my stamina and stability.The Mucinex seems to be helping,but I am not sure about NAC,how can you tell if it helps,
Rita
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I am new to this forum but have been on another in the past. I was diagnosed with MAC 5 years ago after being hospitalized with flu and pneumonia. Treatment with Big 3 followed for 18 months. Bronchitis followed. I have an “incourage” airways clearing device and am in the vest 2x daily. A recent sputum culture shows MAC is back. My question is in regards to the dosage of saline solution. I presently inhale .09 2x daily in conjunction with vest pumping. I had a plentiful amount of disgusting dark phlegm this last weekend. I’ve also had some strains of bright blood. I weak from the deep coughing. Am wondering if .09 is an accepted dosage? I’m also debating whether or not to start treatment once again. I tolerated the Big 3 treatment fairly well but am presently turning 79 in November. Thank you for listening and as others know and newer ones will learn, it is helpful to vent.

Sue. Things are not good. The antibiotics did not agree with me.I am now using 3 and 7% twice a day for 15 minutes.Also use Albuterol inhaler occasionally.My coughing and wheezing is getting so bad. Today I tried Benzonatate 100mg for it.I spent 10 days in the hospital in July for pneumonia and the flu and I can’t seem to get my strength back.I have shortness of breath.Just started Respatory therapy.Nothing seems to be working.Bronchiectasis and Mac is a killer.

Oh Dear, I am so sorry to hear you are not doing well. I understand about the antibiotics, I had to stop them too. I had a good appointment with my pulmonologist last week, where she explained that since I cannot tolerate the full antibiotics, she will prescribe shorter term meds for me if I get another exacerbation, to try to keep things suppressed as long as possible. That made me happy, since I feel some day the saline won't quite be enough.

Pneumonia is such a hard thing to heal from - it makes our already compromised lungs so much weaker. To be honest, I am more concerned about it than Covid these days!
Sue

I got out of this today without recording the information pulmonologist must include on prescriptions for costs to be covered. Could someone please repeat that. I have always wondered why Nebulizer, Netti Pot, HydroSal etc weren’t covered.
Thanks so much!

@ritapearl, after being radiated and having covid twice, the excess mucus was trapped behind frozen vocal cords. I did not believe my cords could be paralyzed because I can eat, drink and talk. That horrible mucus...up all night long nebulizing to try and get it out...hospitalized many times with lung infections due to trapped mucus, on and on. The only strength of saline that somewhat worked was 9% solution. The 3% and 7% did zilch. I finally listened to the ENT that told me my vocal cords were paralyzed and relented to having surgery. At that point it was nearly impossible to do anything without feeling like I was going to die. Maybe this is not your problem, but SOMETHING is trapping that mucus. In my case, it was the bilaterally paralyzed vocal cords. Instead of the cords looking like a peace-sign, mine are almost closed together. Yes, it did require a tracheotomy, but what a miracle. It saved my life, the mucus is right there to be coughed or suctioned out, and I can BREATHE! Thank God I am back to doing everything I did before and am very active. I wish you luck, and hope you find out what is trapping the mucus.

I too have trouble getting the mucus out because part of my trachea collapsed years ago. Bronc is my only answer right now.

@totty I was curious about that about that as well. I asked my pharmacist and was told that the doctor must have the correct "diagnostic code" on the prescription in order for insurance to cover my 7% saline. I did a google search and it appears that J479 is the code for bronchiectasis. You might ask your doctor about that and hope that he/she is familiar with it. I will be asking my Pulmo in December at my next appointment. Bill

Thanks so much Bill! We see a new physician Oct 31 and I will inquire. We see Dr Patrick Flume at MUSC and would never have known about him if not for this wonderful support group! We were able to listen to the seminar at Kiawah, SC, held early September and shortly after were told the physician in Jax would not be seeing patients in office in the future so it worked out well fir us that we were aware of Dr Flume. We certainly need each other!

Sometimes 7% is too rough and can cause irritation. Perhaps you should discuss with your doctor whether you should go back on at 3%.