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3% Saline vs. 7% for Nebulizing

Posted by zscline @zscline, Aug 13, 2024

I started out using 3% saline but the company seemed to discontinue that option. I am finding the 7% saline solution so harsh for nebulizing. True. I do cough out a lot of mucus but feel almost exhausted when I finish 20 min. of this. I am wondering if the process is only helping to clear my lungs or if it's irritating my throat and lungs and generating more mucus than need be. Any comments or suggestions? I plan to talk to my pulmonologist about this but don't have an appointment until the end of the month. Thanks!

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bayarea58 | @bayarea58 | 6 days ago
In reply to @kathyjjb "@cwal A few studies that have shown up to 25% negative test result after nebulizing 7%..." + (show)
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@cwal A few studies that have shown up to 25% negative test result after nebulizing 7% , 2/day with ACT. It did not show to be so effective when cavities were present, I don't believe any of the study participants with cavities ever achieved a negative without antibiotics. Participants included those with MAC, Abscessus, etc. and the results didn't discriminate. I know a 7% saline nebulizing study at Univ of Oregon has or is winding down-nothing published with 50 or 100 participants-so more info should be released within the next year. I believe that study included people on antibiotics. It would be nice to see a large-scale study of at least 100 nebulizing prior to antibiotics. I was diagnosed with M.Abscessus in 11/24 (and symptomatic). I am so thankful for my pulm doctor for telling me I needed to start nebulizing immediately. He had the compressor and supplies on STAT and I got them within a few days. Last year, I had 3 negatives and in the fall positives but low counts (32, 22, 8). So, it's still there but no change in my CT's and counts are very low.

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@kathyjjb it was reported at the NTMir conference last week that the Oregon study did not reach enrollment and closed early. I believe they are still going to report their results for those enrolled, but we were told the study is not large enough to be statistically significant.

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kathyjjb | @kathyjjb | 6 days ago
In reply to @bayarea58 "@kathyjjb it was reported at the NTMir conference last week that the Oregon study did not..." + (show)
Profile picture for bayarea58 @bayarea58

@kathyjjb it was reported at the NTMir conference last week that the Oregon study did not reach enrollment and closed early. I believe they are still going to report their results for those enrolled, but we were told the study is not large enough to be statistically significant.

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@bayarea58 Thank you for the update. That's disappointing.

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zscline | @zscline | 6 days ago

My question regarding nebulizing was posted in 2024, but suddenly seems to be getting quite a few comments. Meanwhile, quite some time ago I did discuss this with my pulmonologist (i.e. - that I could no longer seem to find the 4% solution. He recommended using a 0.9% saline solution with the 7% solution. This brings the salinity to the 4% level, which is basically the human saline content. So, that's what I now do. I mix the two solutions, and the coughing is way less. Sometimes not at all. It's a little bit extra work, but nothing that complicated.

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