I used 10% hypertonic saline (alternating with 7% am/pm) after I was
diagnosed. The first 6 months I could get nothing up and felt like it was not helping so my doc put me on alternating 7% / 10%. The 10% is harsh and takes a lot of getting used to. Over time I could feel my lungs loosening up and started to produce sputum. I now just use 7% twice daily (add 10% if I am sick). I do feel that it took a long time for my lungs to "get wet enough" to actually be able to get sputum up. Now I am a daily morning producer.
I think it really helped me but it is not for sissies 😉