do healthy people have sticky sputum too if they nebulize?

Hi Bon, I don't know what "normal" is but, when I neb with 7% I cough up clear, sticky sputum and also some that is light yellow. But, the clear is rather gooey. I look at it as a good thing. Anything that helps my lungs expel mucus is good, in my opinion.

Hi there....me too...after nebbing. clear, sticky sputum. Do you find the cooler weather change affects you, like a tiny bit of intermittent coughing..not much at all? I live in Georgia .........By the way, how often do you send in sputum samples and get CT Scans Chest? Do you have Mac and Bx?

Hi Bon, I have BE and MAC and live in L.A. My pulmonologist takes samples every 6 mos or so. CT has been done every 6 mos to a year. My cough has improved considerably since I've been nebbing with the 7%. Over the past couple months, I have noticed a reduction in my cough which I suspect may be due to my consistent nebbing routine. In L.A. the weather is pretty warm year round so I can't really comment on seasonal changes.

I have started walking briskly for 20 minutes daily and it has lowered my bp and i hope is helping my lungs too......where the heck did we get this insidious lung thing anyway? it's so bazaar...never heard of it and I'm 73 years old..then suddenly, I have it. Go figure!
I neb religiously 2 x daily 7 percent saline......no matter what, I do it.......I'm lucky I get some up each time......I tried the antibiotics....couldn't handle the side effects. Do you take them?

Help! I cannot bring up any sputum. None at all! How am I going to check the progress of the disease without a sputum sample?I’ll either be taking the antibiotics too long or not long enough. I nebulize and huff every day but no joy. A bronchoscopy will do it but that’s an extreme test for checking sputum. I produced a sample when I was very sick with MAC and pseudonymous but after 3 1/2 months on the Big 3 I’m dry. That’s good but I need to know how I am progressing. Would appreciate any ideas.

Mary Jane

What percentage Saline are you using and what kind of breathing device are you using?

Hi Mary Jane - That can be an issue! When I was on antibiotics, but had not yet learned about 7% saline, I too was unable to provide a sample.

My pulmonologist had me come in to the office where his nurse first handed me 2 bottles of water to drink. Next, she loaded a nebulizer with 10ml of 10% saline, and had me neb the whole thing, while trying not to cough. She also had me sipping on a third bottle of water. When I used the Acapela for a few minutes, and finally huff coughed with her coaching. I finally got enough for a culture. I asked what would have happened if that didn't work, and she said she would have done manual percussion on my chest and back. She said in 20+ years as a pulmo nurse, she only had to send 2 patients for bronchoscopies to get their samples.

The biggest things I learned - enough liquid in the body, getting as mush saline in as possible before coughing, and proper huff coughing technique (I had been coughing from my throat which wasn't engaging the bronchi.)

Is there any chance you can work with an experienced pulmonology nurse or respiratory therapist?
Sue

7% saline and the Aerobika.

Thank you Sue, those are great tips. I will try to set up an appointment with my pulmonologist’s nurse and get this ball on the road. My doctor is Dr. Colin Swenson who gets rave reviews on this site so I’m sure he has a plan that will work for me.

Ball on the road! You know what I mean!