1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

questions for fellow members: Fireplace, whirlpool and other things

Posted by donnaturn @donnaturn, Jan 15, 2023

I have only been doing airway clearance since last summer, although my bronchiectasis was diagnosed in 2005 (another story!). I have questions on 3 topics for those of you with more experience and knowledge than I have. I am so grateful to be a part of this group and have learned so much from the rest of you.
1. We have a wood-burning fireplace. Although we love using it, we have pretty much stopped since learning more about my condition. Does anyone have any experience or information on whether or not it is harmful to use a wood-burning fireplace?
2. We also have a whirlpool bathtub and again have always found it very relaxing. I have taken baths recently, but do not turn on the jets. I would appreciate what you know about the dangers of using a whirlpool bathtub.
3. I have read on this site that some of you have switched from albuterol to levalbuterol. I currently nebulize albuterol 2.5mg/3 ml. I do get somewhat shaky and it lasts for a while. The last time I saw the pulmo, he said that I could try using 1/2 vial until I needed a refill or try a lower dose. Do you recommend switching to levalbuterol? I did not know about it at the time I saw the pulmo, so I did not ask about that. Also, do you know if levalbuterol is just as effective as albuterol?
THANK YOU ALL for your help! Donna Turnbaugh

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

egayle187 | @egayle187 | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @nana43 "Hey gang! I have a question for my fellows as well. I have been on treatment..." + (show)
@nana43

Hey gang!
I have a question for my fellows as well. I have been on treatment for almost 7 months and I seem to feel really bad with fever and exhaustion to the point of being a couch potato 1 to 2 days a week. However, the other five days I function semi-normally. When the fever goes up to 100+ it just puts me flat. My doctor seems to think this is strange and not a symptom of NTM. Anyone else experience this? Any insights?
Many thanks!
Dee

Jump to this post

@nana43 ...This must be difficult for you. Have you had your blood tested for tick-borne diseases or some of the relapsing/remitting arthritis diseases? You may be unique in that your immune system fires up every week to force you to rest. Are you resting enough and drinking enough water during your normal days or are you doing too much when you feel good (like most of us). gayle

REPLY
1 reply
nana43 | @nana43 | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @egayle187 "@nana43 ...This must be difficult for you. Have you had your blood tested for tick-borne diseases..." + (show)
@egayle187

@nana43 ...This must be difficult for you. Have you had your blood tested for tick-borne diseases or some of the relapsing/remitting arthritis diseases? You may be unique in that your immune system fires up every week to force you to rest. Are you resting enough and drinking enough water during your normal days or are you doing too much when you feel good (like most of us). gayle

Jump to this post

Hey Gayle!
Quite honestly- I have had SO many blood tests, blood cultures, urine, sputum, and 2 bronchoscopies as well as lung biopsy. They don’t have anything definitive other than MAC, Bronchiectasis and high antibodies from aspergillosis previous lung infection. Lymphocytes are high, EOS absolute is high, ANA is abnormal. I know that fever is a symptom of MAC but I don’t know why my pulmonologist is so adamant that there is something else going on with me. ( he’s not got the best bedside manner anyway). So, I was just seeing if anyone else was dealing with this.
Thanks for responding!❤️
Dee

REPLY
donnaturn | @donnaturn | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @irenea8 "Just to add one more point on the whole wood stove and air quality topic. It..." + (show)
@irenea8

Just to add one more point on the whole wood stove and air quality topic. It is also a good idea to have your home tested for radon. If it is over a certain amount you need to have it mitigated. Too much radon exposure is very bad for the lungs and they say even as bad or worse than smoking. When we finally had ours tested it came back very high. Once it was mitigated it now tests as lower than the radon levels outdoors! Anyway just another air quality point. Sorry if this opens up a new can of worms!

Jump to this post

We did have our home tested for radon perhaps 15 yrs. ago and it was high. We did the mitigation and it seems to work well. I have not even checked the device for a long time, but it has always showed that it is working as it should. You have reminded me to continue to check it occasionally!

REPLY
1 reply
irenea8 | @irenea8 | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @donnaturn "We did have our home tested for radon perhaps 15 yrs. ago and it was high...." + (show)
@donnaturn

We did have our home tested for radon perhaps 15 yrs. ago and it was high. We did the mitigation and it seems to work well. I have not even checked the device for a long time, but it has always showed that it is working as it should. You have reminded me to continue to check it occasionally!

Jump to this post

Yes good idea to check. I need to do that too. We also order test kits once a year or so to make sure the levels remain low. They get sent to a lab.

REPLY
1 reply
@ling | @wangling | Jan 18, 2023

Thanks irenea8. You have very good instinct.
I thought bronchiectasis condition only gets worse after infection/excerbation. But of course aging causes all things worse.

Thanks again.
Ling

REPLY
donnaturn | @donnaturn | Jan 18, 2023
In reply to @irenea8 "Yes good idea to check. I need to do that too. We also order test kits..." + (show)
@irenea8

Yes good idea to check. I need to do that too. We also order test kits once a year or so to make sure the levels remain low. They get sent to a lab.

Jump to this post

Thanks for the reminder to test. I confused the radon test level with a device we have in the basement that tests "system vacuum pressure." It always stays at the same level, so I assumed that meant it was doing its job. I will look into test kits.

REPLY
donnaturn | @donnaturn | Jan 18, 2023

Thank you SO much to all of you that answered my questions. There seems to be some confusion about a fireplace and a wood stove. We do not have a wood stove, but our wood-burning fireplace may be just as harmful. We are going to look into an electric insert for our fireplace. Also, we do not have a hot tub, but rather a bathtub with whirlpool jets. Again, the dangers may be the same for both. I have not seen my pulmo. since I learned about Levalbuterol, but I will call and leave a message asking if he will prescribe the Levalbuterol. I am so grateful to be able to share info and experiences with all of you. Please take care and stay healthy this winter! Donna T

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.