Average sputum measurement from one nebulizing treatment 7% saline

Since nebbing with 7% saline and usitaking NAC and guaifenisen, my mucus has changed from thick and sticky to mostly clear and a little that is light yellow and pretty thin.

NAC.?

Be careful with NAC, it can cause bleeding.

Hi. Do you know why your doctor is against 7%? I am starting to introduce 7% (newly-diagnosed and have been building up a tolerance to saline) and so I am curious about their concerns. Thanks!

Hi my pulmonary function test showed I might have asthma so she said that 7% could cause a bronchospasm. But I have never produced any sputum even when they tried to induce it. And I worry because I cannot provide a sputum sample after five months of taking meds.

Sue,
when do you do mucinex, saline, albuterol and clearing - morning in what order? evening in what order and when do you add to this symbicort- after albuterol or later after all the other are done?

Mucinex is in my system full time. If you have normally viscous mucus or no mucus (known as dry bronchiectasis) there is probably no need to use it.
I don't use albuterol, the Symbicort replaces it with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA). Albuterol is a short-acting med (SABA.) I use Symbicort, 2 puffs, twice a day, morning and evening. I only use levalbuterol nebs if I am having a severe asthma attack or and exacerbation (respiratory illness.)
After I use Symbicort, I go about my morning routine, then do with saline or with exercise, followed by airway clearance with the Aerobika.

Reminder - this is what works for me, we are all different and need a routine that works for us. Also, I don't (as far as I know) have MAC right now. If I begin to feel the least bit ill I immediately switch to saline and airway clearance daily or even twice daily, along with the med regimen I worked out with my pulmo for my lungs.

This is why MAC and Bronchiectasis are so frustrating to treat - they are as variable from one person to another as food preferences or artistic talent!

Also, do some reading about dry bronchiectasis. It is important to do airway clearance, but to not be obsessed by trying to bring up sputum that isn't there.

Sue

Of course. We just share our experiences and I always follow my docs instruction. But I also learned a lot from this forum . When I was diagnosed I had no idea about Mac or bronchiectasis. If I had known I would ask doctors more about my treatment. I have a feeling that most doctors do not like patients who explore and ask at least mine. I am trying NJ but it takes time and at mayo they do not accept my advantage plan. Thanks for all your time and input

Like you said, the not knowing, the uncertainty = anxiety! I want to share a recent emotional breakthrough. It may support you in getting on with living! Which has not been the case for me as well! During a second opinion pulmonologist appointment with a leader in the field (Mac/Bx) I was hearing the oft repeated suggestion that I NOT go on the Big 3 Treatment which at this point is worse than the disease. (I'm very lucky to have caught this disease early) Wait and monitor. When I told him my family who are MDs are going to be dismayed that we aren't going straight for treating this infection, he said, "tell them you are treating. Airway clearance is the frontline treatment." 2/3 will have progressive MAC disease, worsening of bronchiectasis due to the infection. 1/3 will remain stable with a sliver of that spontaneously converting to negative MAC infection. We will monitor intensively. When worsening occurs it is immensely slow and if there is a whisper of worsening we start antibiotic treatment.
I hope you might be in a similar place and can take heart with this pulmonologist's confident suggestion which landed so well with me. I think there is a hesitancy or lack of skill by some doctors to communicate confidently and clearly about ways forward.

I have sticky mucus with Bx. Sometimes I see yellow globs. Could that be an infection?