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How do you know that you get the sputum at the bottom of lungs out?
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Nov 24, 2022 | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
@ling Good morning, that's a good question about mucus collecting in our lungs. A normal lung keeps this in check - breathing and normal daily movement help it move up through the airways where we cough it out. Lungs damage by bronchiectasis or COPD (and some other disorders) don't work to expel it normally, so it collects and germs breed in the nice warm environment.
Nebulizing saline solution (.9%. 3% or 7%) thins the mucus, airway clearance exercises gets the mucus moving. For me, I find physical activity first (yoga, a brisk walk, bending and stretching) get me coughing and help move the mucus. Then I use my neb if needed followed by my Aeorbika, and finally, if I don't think enough has moved I will bend from the waist & huff cough. Others use postural drainage techniques to get help from gravity - here is a visual aid to show a few possible positions :
https://www.xopt1.com/blog/postural-drainage-techniques-home/
What has you lung doctor suggested?
Sue
Replies to "@ling Good morning, that's a good question about mucus collecting in our lungs. A normal lung..."
Thank you so much Sue for your detailed practice on how to get mucus out. It is really helpful. It is good to know that yoga helps. I do yoga and walking. My pulmonologist asks me to use an albuterol inhaler before using the flutter. I was able to get mucus out this way. But recently, I am not able to. I am not sure if I don't produce mucus any more, or if I am not able to get it out. I need to find out from the pulmonologist what condition I am in. Thank you so much as always for your reply. Much appreciated.
Take care,
Ling
I have recently discovered that if I lie on my back late morning to mid afternoon, not completely flat because of Gerd, sputum starts to bubble up after about 15 minutes, lasting another 15 or so. Seems to be most effective if done every few days and seems more effective than chest PT- hard to explain. Whatever works…..!
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I've just started on the antibiotics 2 months ago. I wasn't able to produce a sputum sample so was diagnosed via a bronchoscopy. On some mornings I'm able to cough up a bit of sputum, but I don't normally produce sputum. My doctor has so far not prescribed a nebulizer or Aerobica. My previous pulmonologist did prescribe Aerobica but even using it I did not cough or produce sputum. I'll see my pulmonologist next week and I'll ask him about the nebulizer and Aerobica. But maybe I'm just one of those people who can't cough up sputum??
Diane