1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Need Advice for Traveling Internationally

Posted by kareninny @kareninny, Nov 13, 2023

Hi all. I've been following all the discussions since I was diagnosed with Bronchiectasis back in February, but this is my first time posting. On Friday, I'm headed first to Denmark and then to Italy. This will be my first international travel since being diagnosed. My current routine is 7% saline with the Ombra compressor/nebulizer plus Aerobika. I sterilize the nebulizer after each use with the Medela microwave steam bags. Here are my specific questions: Which battery operated nebulizer should I buy to take with me? I know I can buy distilled water, dish soap, and a bowl when abroad for cleaning, but what do I do if my various hotel rooms don't have a microwave for sterilization? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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

scoop | @scoop | Nov 19, 2023
In reply to @cavlover "Hi! I hope I’m not too late in responding. I recently returned from a trip to..." + (show)
@cavlover

Hi! I hope I’m not too late in responding. I recently returned from a trip to Italy. I was so apprehensive about traveling abroad with bronchiectasis. I traveled all over before my diagnosis, and I knew it was time to let go of my fears!
Like others I took the Nathome Drizzle Travel instapot, and it worked beautifully. I read that Italy didn’t have microwaves so I didn’t take my microwave bags. However I found out upon arrival that my tour company would’ve provided me with a microwave. (I highly recommend Taulk tours!) I brought a foldable bowl and a small bottle of clear Dawn and a toothbrush to wash my equipment before boiling. The Pari Trek S nebulizer has always been reliable when traveling in the US and it didn’t disappoint me in Italy. I took several sets of cups and Aerobicas, but I only used two because I sanitized my equipment nightly. I brought paper towels to put my equipment on to let it air dry. In case it didn’t dry, I brought some dish towels to wrap my equipment. I didn’t end up needing these. I brought several plastic bags and labeled them “clean” and “dirty” in case I couldn’t clean equipment each night. A small spritz bottle of alcohol and alcohol wipes were also included.
As you can see, I brought more than I needed. Often after doing something once, I get over my fears. It really wasn’t hard to do at all. And there were some travel companions who ended up getting very bad chest colds and coughs. And on the way home, my seat faced someone who was extremely sick and must’ve coughed every minute 😢 Thankfully I could lay down (on my left side!!) to try to avoid him.
I feel confident that air clearance kept me healthy. And drink lots of liquids…..including the delish wine lol

Jump to this post

@cavlover sort of a tangential question to the discussion....how did you handle the early mornings of a Tauck Tour? So many of their tours start early each morning, which is when I get the gunk out. Nebbing along is 20 minutes and another 20 to clear. Inquiring minds would like to know!

REPLY
cavlover | @cavlover | Nov 19, 2023

I had to do my air clearance at night.
At home, I do it in the morning every day after working out, but there was no time to do that on my trip…. One of the ways I had to be flexible.

Also some of the hotels provided distilled water for free. If you can, try to do the small group tour.

Hope this helps!

REPLY
kagilb | @kagilb | Nov 20, 2023
In reply to @cavlover "PS I highly recommend the Larq bottle." + (show)
@cavlover

PS I highly recommend the Larq bottle.

Jump to this post

Hi. I share many of your strategies for international travel. My husband and I have taken several Viking cruises since my Bronchiectasis dx. often with extra hotel stays on both ends. Most ships don’t allow microwaves, but I was given an electric pot to boil water. After washing neb, I would use micro bag to put boiling water/ nebs /Aerobikas into. I take at least 3 neb sets and several Aerobikas to rotate. Many hotels had microwaves, so I take advantage when available. I’m also not shy about using a mask in crowded situations or showers that I can’t vent well enough. I carry a LifeStraw water bottle with me and drink bottled spring water. Travel on!!
Karen

REPLY
1 reply
cavlover | @cavlover | Nov 20, 2023
In reply to @kagilb "Hi. I share many of your strategies for international travel. My husband and I have taken..." + (show)
@kagilb

Hi. I share many of your strategies for international travel. My husband and I have taken several Viking cruises since my Bronchiectasis dx. often with extra hotel stays on both ends. Most ships don’t allow microwaves, but I was given an electric pot to boil water. After washing neb, I would use micro bag to put boiling water/ nebs /Aerobikas into. I take at least 3 neb sets and several Aerobikas to rotate. Many hotels had microwaves, so I take advantage when available. I’m also not shy about using a mask in crowded situations or showers that I can’t vent well enough. I carry a LifeStraw water bottle with me and drink bottled spring water. Travel on!!
Karen

Jump to this post

Thank you, Karen for your info. I hear Viking cruises are great!
Susan

REPLY
cwal | @cwal | Nov 20, 2023
In reply to @irenea8 "I just got an Ombra with the Aeroeclipse XL cups. It took a long time and..." + (show)
@irenea8

I just got an Ombra with the Aeroeclipse XL cups. It took a long time and seemed less effective than my Pari set up but I guess that is more the cups than the compressor. I have only used it once so far. Need to try it longer to see if it is effective.

Jump to this post

How is it going with the Ombra? Have you been able to use it more?

REPLY
1 reply
irenea8 | @irenea8 | Nov 21, 2023
In reply to @cwal "How is it going with the Ombra? Have you been able to use it more?" + (show)
@cwal

How is it going with the Ombra? Have you been able to use it more?

Jump to this post

I have used it a few times now. It does not seem to bring up the mucus. Maybe because mine seems to be mostly in the upper respiratory tract? Still need to use it more to know for sure.

REPLY
kareninny | @kareninny | Nov 30, 2023

Hi all. I'm back from trip. Thanks to all of your help, I had the tools and systems in place so that everything went okay, and I now know that I can successfully travel internationally! I bought the Pari Trek S which worked beautifully (at home I use the Ombra; with the Pari I was also able to connect my Aerobika). I also bought the Drizzle Pot -- the first night in Europe, I had forgotten to twist the disc on the bottom from 120 to 220 volts, so the water boiled over, and we also blew a fuse in the hotel room. However, once I realized that I needed to manually move it to 220 volts, everything worked fine after that. I bought dish soap in both Denmark and then again in Italy. I couldn't find distilled water anywhere, but in Copenhagen, I used demineralized water, and in Italy, I used purified water (bought at a pharmacy). The one minor issue that I had was that the nebulizer cup for the Pari Trek had a sort of chalky residue on it, even after boiling it for 10 minutes in the drizzle pot. Not sure why that happened. Next time I travel abroad, I will bring tongs with me to use for dealing with the equipment in the boiling water of the Drizzle Pot. I will also bring a collapsible bowl.
I was traveling with my 20 year-old daughter, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with her, but I did! I made sure to do airway clearance every morning before starting our day. We then came back to the hotel and rested for 1-2 hours each afternoon before dinner; during that time is when I would soak and sterilize my equipment.
My pulmonologist had prescribed antibiotics for me to take with me just in case I got sick there. I felt good knowing I had them and felt even better that I didn't need them. Overall, the trip was a success. Thank you for all of your helpful suggestions!

REPLY
1 reply
sara10 | @sara10 | Nov 30, 2023
In reply to @becleartoday "Thank you! Yes, a fabulous trip. 🌟The Pari Trek S gets the job done, but it..." + (show)
@becleartoday

Thank you! Yes, a fabulous trip.
🌟The Pari Trek S gets the job done, but it is not a workhorse like the Ombra.
🌟I really liked using the handheld massager. Perhaps not the same as a vest, but again, got the job done.
🌟 The drizzle pot was a disappointment. Even in its glitchy state, I tried my best to use it when I could. Perhaps I should’ve gone with cold sterilization like isopropyl alcohol but because it cost $50 I stubbornly tried to make it work and then ended up using a pot. By the way, the drizzle pot work fine at home in NYC. The issue was both in my Florence and my Venice apartments.

Jump to this post

Can you explain what you mean by handheld massager. How does it help you with airway clearance?

REPLY
1 reply
becleartoday | @becleartoday | Nov 30, 2023
In reply to @sara10 "Can you explain what you mean by handheld massager. How does it help you with airway..." + (show)
@sara10

Can you explain what you mean by handheld massager. How does it help you with airway clearance?

Jump to this post

On Amazon there are many options for handheld massagers. I have a Therabody mini. I use it to target and vibrate over my lungs where I have bronchiectasis. I also target the area under my right breast where in the past I had a MAC infection. Warm regards, Linda Esposito

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