1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis
Mentor

7% Saline Success Story that warmed my heart.

Posted by Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn, Jan 8 8:37pm

Last year, I met a woman at our winter church who has had MAI (MAC) and Bronchiectasis for years, and had a horrible chronic cough. When she heard that #1 I knew what it was, and #2 I was on Mayo Connect, she started asking questions.
Over many conversations and text messages I convinced her to give 7% saline and airway clearance a try. Her doctor here never heard of it, so her husband ordered it on Amazon & she started using it daily.

Yesterday, she was waiting by my usual pew when I arrived at church and said to me, "I need to hug you. You saved my life!" She went on to explain she convinced her pulmonologist back home to order it, got Medicare to pay for it, and used it twice a day for months. By Fall, she was down to 5 times a week, and now she uses it twice a week (but daily airway clearance.)

Here was her story - in 2022 she was on antibiotics and/or steroids 19 times. She coughed a lot during the day, all night long, and whenever she tried to exert herself.
In 2023, she had ZERO exacerbations requiring antibiotics or steroids. She coughs far less (they used incense in our service, I was hacking up a lung, and she only coughed once or twice.) Her lung function improved 12% between her Spring appointment and December. She has been able to regain a little weight.

This is a lot like my experience with 7% saline and rigorous daily airway clearance. I made it through 2023 with one exacerbation that required steroids, no antibiotics. My lung function has held steady for 4 years using only airway clearance & saline. In my case I also use oral NAC and Mucinex because I have very "sticky" mucus and it helps keep it thin enough to expel.

Has anyone else managed to "ditch the Big 3" by using airway clearance and saline?
Sue

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

lcwilkie | @lcwilkie | Jan 16 8:13am
In reply to @equanimous "Hi Isabella, I can only speak for myself. I had no problem going from 3% to..." + (show)
@equanimous

Hi Isabella, I can only speak for myself. I had no problem going from 3% to 7%. Just know, however, that the 7% may cause you to cough, which it does me. I look at that as positive because what I am coughing up is mucus and that is the whole point of airway clearance. Besides that benefit, the 7% creates a very uncomfortable environment for that nasty MAC bacteria. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes for you.

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Hello! Quick question! Why the move from 3% to 7%? Thank you!!

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 16 8:51am
In reply to @lcwilkie "Hello! Quick question! Why the move from 3% to 7%? Thank you!!" + (show)
@lcwilkie

Hello! Quick question! Why the move from 3% to 7%? Thank you!!

Jump to this post

Several studies have shown that 7% saline can actually suppress growth of MAC/NTM in the lungs. 3% has not been shown to be as successful. In my case, I knew I had MAC when I stopped antibiotics 4 years ago so I continued to use the stronger saline.

I guess if one is just trying to thin mucus, and not suppress bacteria, 3% is fine. But if you know you have MAC and are trying to stay off antibiotics, 7% is the way to go if you can tolerate it.

Sue

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2 replies
kathleenlp | @kathleenlp | Jan 16 5:09pm

Yes, I agree that this forum has been so informative and helpful!! I'm so grateful to Sue and others! I have Bronchiectasis, Mac abscessus and possibly Aspergillus(positive tested but been treated).
The Saline was a huge game changer for me! I am religious about using it twice a day along with bronchodilator and steroid inhaler. Even when I travel!! In the past 3 years my CT has improved greatly with some areas completely "resolved" My PFT has also improved each time. My immune system is much better too. I am very active and also try to keep informed and try new things. I also have been on NAC forever.....even before diagnosis plus an array of "whole food" supplements.(Agree with Sue, be cautious and do your homework on supplements.) Glutathione, but only sublingually, and a product I love...Biocidin....you just have to read up on that. Also sublingual. Airway clearance twice a day. Exercise daily!! At least 30 minutes....just added a rebounder to my regiment and I love it. This clears lymph system and really gets your heart rate up. It's sometimes a struggle to juggle it all. My husband has Alzheimer's and Lewybody and I am his caregiver too. I want to stay healthy to care for him. Dodging respiratory illnesses is the challenge! Especially this time a year. We are a target for that. I say don't give up or become despondent... try to fight.......everyone is different and you might have to experiment but can hopefully you can improve your quality of life! Blessings in the new year!

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2 replies
lcwilkie | @lcwilkie | Jan 16 5:13pm
In reply to @sueinmn "Several studies have shown that 7% saline can actually suppress growth of MAC/NTM in the lungs...." + (show)
@sueinmn

Several studies have shown that 7% saline can actually suppress growth of MAC/NTM in the lungs. 3% has not been shown to be as successful. In my case, I knew I had MAC when I stopped antibiotics 4 years ago so I continued to use the stronger saline.

I guess if one is just trying to thin mucus, and not suppress bacteria, 3% is fine. But if you know you have MAC and are trying to stay off antibiotics, 7% is the way to go if you can tolerate it.

Sue

Jump to this post

Sue! Is this possible? I’m so excited. I was diagnosed with MAC. Two sputum came back positive. The third and final, after 8 weeks, grew nothing! I had been in 3% saline 2x a day with a vest! I hope this sticks! Next CT is in Feb!

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leslie51 | @leslie51 | Jan 16 6:28pm
In reply to @sueinmn "Good morning, Ling - Here is my daily routine: Inhaler first thing in AM with my..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Good morning, Ling -
Here is my daily routine:
Inhaler first thing in AM with my morning meds and a small bite of breakfast. Meds include 600mg of long-acting guaifenesin (Mucinex) and 600 mg NAC.
30-45 minutes of gentle yoga, or stretching & a brisk 15 minute walk - depending on weather and day of the week.
Deep breathing 3-4 minutes then airway clearance with Aerobika for 10 cycles or until nothing more comes. 1-2 times a week 7% saline before this, or if I am feeling tight or congested. (I used to use every day, but find I don't need that often now unless I have a respiratory bug or an asthma attack.)
Later in the day, another short brisk walk or 15-20 minutes of vigorous house or yard work, then maybe Aerobika again. (Sometime just the exertion is enough and I can cough stuff up.) I usually do this session leaning over from the waist and more junk comes out. My friends are used to me interrupting outings to cough for 5-6 minutes.
Bedtime - my inhaler again and evening meds, again including guaifenesin and Mucinex. Then 3-4 minutes of deep relaxation breathing when I lie down in bed. This will bring on coughing of there is more mucus to get up, so I sit on side of bed and huff cough until it clears. This helps me sleep through the night.

So, you can see each of my sessions is short but targeted, and I have figure out how to fit into my day with minimum disruption.
Sue

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Thank you Sue. I would love to have my clearance routine be shorter. Part of it may be learning to trust that the intermittent breathing exercises I do during the day with huff coughing and clearing a little bit of something are enough so that one 20 minute session later is enough.

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Christine | @thisoldewe | Jan 19 10:18am
In reply to @kathleenlp "Yes, I agree that this forum has been so informative and helpful!! I'm so grateful to..." + (show)
@kathleenlp

Yes, I agree that this forum has been so informative and helpful!! I'm so grateful to Sue and others! I have Bronchiectasis, Mac abscessus and possibly Aspergillus(positive tested but been treated).
The Saline was a huge game changer for me! I am religious about using it twice a day along with bronchodilator and steroid inhaler. Even when I travel!! In the past 3 years my CT has improved greatly with some areas completely "resolved" My PFT has also improved each time. My immune system is much better too. I am very active and also try to keep informed and try new things. I also have been on NAC forever.....even before diagnosis plus an array of "whole food" supplements.(Agree with Sue, be cautious and do your homework on supplements.) Glutathione, but only sublingually, and a product I love...Biocidin....you just have to read up on that. Also sublingual. Airway clearance twice a day. Exercise daily!! At least 30 minutes....just added a rebounder to my regiment and I love it. This clears lymph system and really gets your heart rate up. It's sometimes a struggle to juggle it all. My husband has Alzheimer's and Lewybody and I am his caregiver too. I want to stay healthy to care for him. Dodging respiratory illnesses is the challenge! Especially this time a year. We are a target for that. I say don't give up or become despondent... try to fight.......everyone is different and you might have to experiment but can hopefully you can improve your quality of life! Blessings in the new year!

Jump to this post

Thank you kathleenlp for your encouraging post. I do hate doing the saline 7% - thanks for the 'push'.
You have much on your plate. All the best to you in your health and in your caregiving.

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kathleenlp | @kathleenlp | Jan 19 3:38pm

Thank you Christine! Hang in there!!

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becleartoday | @becleartoday | Jan 20 6:04am

Yes, I was able to clear MAC with 7% hypertonic saline, an Aerobika, vest, postural drainage, Autogenic Drainage, exercise and a handheld massager.

Also, I got my weight up to a BMI of 20-21 and focused on reducing stress.

I did not have cavities. Generally speaking, with cavities one needs to seriously consider antibiotics. Linda Esposito

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2 replies
cwal | @cwal | Jan 20 6:56am
In reply to @wangling "Hi Sue, Thanks a million for such a detailed note about your daily routine. I learned..." + (show)
@wangling

Hi Sue,
Thanks a million for such a detailed note about your daily routine. I learned so much from you and some others in this community. As you can see, I don't want to miss anything from your experiences as I navigate my condition. I am going to Hawaii for a vacation tomorrow and want to make sure I am doing a good job for airway clearance. Last year we cancelled our annual trip to Hawaii because based on the research, mycrobaterium is more prevalent there. As I learn more about this disease, I am gaining confidence in managing it. The information I learned from this community gives me the power of living a normal life. Last year we took 5 road trips and 2 fly trips. Going to Hawaii will mark the resumption of my normal life. I am very grateful to all the experiences you shared.
Take care!
Ling

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Good for you! It is a challenge to learn to manage our conditions and live normally as possible- especially when there is still Covid and other viral conditions to think about also.

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cwal | @cwal | Jan 20 7:08am
In reply to @becleartoday "Yes, I was able to clear MAC with 7% hypertonic saline, an Aerobika, vest, postural drainage,..." + (show)
@becleartoday

Yes, I was able to clear MAC with 7% hypertonic saline, an Aerobika, vest, postural drainage, Autogenic Drainage, exercise and a handheld massager.

Also, I got my weight up to a BMI of 20-21 and focused on reducing stress.

I did not have cavities. Generally speaking, with cavities one needs to seriously consider antibiotics. Linda Esposito

Jump to this post

Encouraging news! Was your MAC/Bronchiectasis "caught" early before much damage / symptoms?

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