Cleaning + disinfecting nebulizer and aerobica

Posted by sara10 @sara10, Jan 20, 2022

Diagnosed with bronchiectasis several years ago. No antibiotics so far but 2x airway clearance with aerobica and nebulizer recommended. Some MAC bacteria was found.
Finding all sorts of info how to properly clean and disinfect but none agree with the other. Should both be cleaned each time and is it good enough to disinfect once a week? Alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or boiling best option?
Finding the whole process very tedious especially if cleaning 2x per day was necessary.
Does anybody have experience with Evenflo silicone steam sanitizing bag for disinfecting? Or, what baby bottle cleaner and dryer can you recommend?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

nora49 | @nora49 | Oct 18, 2022

In reply to @nora49 "My doctor told it is pretty much unavailable everywhere because cover patients who need it get..." + (show)

Sorry, that should read "covid," not "cover."

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 18, 2022

In reply to @nora49 "My doctor told it is pretty much unavailable everywhere because cover patients who need it get..." + (show)

I have not had any issue getting it through my Walgreens in Minnesota & Texas since last January. At most, I have had to wait 3-4 days, but they text me when it arrives.
CVS Mail Order stopped supplying it, and I had to turn to local sources.
Sue

donnaturn | @donnaturn | Oct 19, 2022

I am new to all of this and have been using an Acapella. I am not impressed with it or with the medical supply rep that gave (sold?) it to me. I would like to switch to an Aerobika and will ask my pulmo. when I see him in Nov. My question for all of you is where to get one and whether it is covered by Medicare. I appreciate any help you can give me. Donna Turnbaugh

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 21, 2022

In reply to @donnaturn "I am new to all of this and have been using an Acapella. I am not..." + (show)

Hello Donna, Under my Medicare supplemental insurance, the Aerobika is covered if I get it from the doc as part of an office visit. If I go to but one, I pay.
If you get one from the doc, ask to have correct use demonstrated, it made a huge difference for me. My original pulmo had a fabulous nurse who was good about demonstrating. My current one actually has a respiratory therapist on her clinical staff who is awesome. She also gave me some new tricks for getting the mucus up last spring.
Sue

donnaturn | @donnaturn | Oct 21, 2022

In reply to @sueinmn "Hello Donna, Under my Medicare supplemental insurance, the Aerobika is covered if I get it from..." + (show)

Dear Sue,
Thank you so much for your reply. I am very thankful for any help I can get from patients with experience. I'm sure you know how fortunate you are to have such good medical care and the availability of a good nurse and a respiratory therapist. I live in Asheville, NC, which used to have good medical care, but unfortunately things have changed. My pulmonologist who is the best one I've had thus far, told me to go to Lincare, a medical supply store, for a flutter valve. The only one they had was the Acapella. There was minimal instruction on use and the wrong information on cleaning- "you can't put it in water, so just clean the mouthpiece." I looked that up on my own and have been hopefully cleaning it properly. I don't see the dr. until Nov.21 and the office is critically understaffed. It is the only pulmo. practice in the area and the doctors also staff the ICU dept. at the hospital. This seems to be common in our area since the pandemic, so I feel like I'm on my own for a while. I also have a Medicare supplement, but it was my understanding that they only cover the 20% that Medicare does not. I found the Aerobika on the manufacturer's website in Canada and I can order it without a prescription, which I may do. I am having what I suspect is a flare now. It is 1:25 PM and I'm still waiting for a call-back from my primary care dr.'s office, since my pulmo. is off today. Again, I greatly appreciate your mentoring and any advice you can share. Donna Turnbaugh

sweethighland | @sweethighland | Oct 21, 2022

In reply to @sueinmn "Hello Donna, Under my Medicare supplemental insurance, the Aerobika is covered if I get it from..." + (show)

Sue, can you please share the new tricks for getting the mucus up. I have been having tiny bit of blood every week mixed with mucus and I'm not sure whether from force coughing that I have been doing. I feel my throat area is dry and not sure if the blood is coming for the throat or lungs.

marianm44 | @marianm44 | Oct 22, 2022

My pulmo, specializing in Bronch and MAC, sold me an Aerobika and told me to look on EBay for one. There seem to always be a number on there much cheaper than Amazon. Be sure any one you order is new and in original packaging.

kagilb | @kagilb | Feb 25, 2023

In reply to @gardiner "I used to just rinse the nebulizer under filtered water, but now use Medela and microwave..." + (show)

I also use the Medela microwave bags -so convenient! I keep several Aerobikas and nebulizers in rotation and steralize daily. Make sure to air dry well. On a recent european cruise there was no access to microwave, but I was able to use an electric tea pot to boil water and soak devices within the Medela bags.