1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

3% Saline vs. 7% for Nebulizing

Posted by zscline @zscline, Aug 13 11:07am

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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zscline | @zscline | Aug 22 7:54pm
In reply to @suzyqueue "Your inhaler probably is a steroid which is fine. Its the oral pills or IV of..." + (show)
@suzyqueue

Your inhaler probably is a steroid which is fine. Its the oral pills or IV of steroids that aren't good for constant use

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We discussed so many other things that I never got to ask this question. Next time or else I might check with the pharmacist.

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zscline | @zscline | Aug 22 8:04pm
In reply to @zscline "Very helpful info. Maybe I will try diluting the 7% with .9% solution. Originally, I was..." + (show)
@zscline

Very helpful info. Maybe I will try diluting the 7% with .9% solution. Originally, I was on a plan to have 2 boxes of solution sent to me I think it was once a month. I really got ahead of myself so now have 100 vials to use up! Yes, my doc told me that if I don't use a whole vial up that I can save it until later that day. I've done that and it seems to work fine. Thank you.

Summer has been hard to get a hold of my pulmonologist. We were traveling and I got a bad flair-up. Maybe my first or perhaps second ever. He also was on vacation. I called the office, and his nurse called me back but couldn't suggest much via long distance without the doc being there. I need to discuss a plan that I might be able to have in place when traveling and a flair-up happens. My appointment is in about one more week, so I think I can wait. I'm okay right now.

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I just met with my pulmonologist yesterday and he confirmed exactly what you said about how to dilute the saline solution for a nebulizer. He said that very few of his patients can handle the 7% solution. So odd, because it's the most common one I see and finding the 3% is a challenge.

Anyway, thanks again for your information.

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1 reply
lvnl | @lvnl | Aug 23 7:57am

In my experience 3% saline was covered by insurance and 7% is not. So yr doc might be able to send a script to yr pharmacy.

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kgggg | @kgggg | Aug 24 8:01am

7% is worth any discomfort which should dissipate

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1 reply
lilianna | @lilianna | Aug 25 8:57am

please check with your insurance. mine covers both 3 and 7 %.

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1 reply
zscline | @zscline | Aug 25 10:49am
In reply to @lilianna "please check with your insurance. mine covers both 3 and 7 %." + (show)
@lilianna

please check with your insurance. mine covers both 3 and 7 %.

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Are you able to find it through a pharmacy? I couldn't, so finally just ordered it via Amazon. It's not very expensive.

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1 reply
zscline | @zscline | Aug 25 6:11pm
In reply to @kgggg "7% is worth any discomfort which should dissipate" + (show)
@kgggg

7% is worth any discomfort which should dissipate

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It's good that you can tolerate it. Some days I can. I'm just not sure if it helps me or causes more upset to my system that it's worth. My doc says that so many of his patients can't handle it, so I just don't know yet what my final decision will be.

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2 replies
liz440 | @liz440 | Aug 25 6:37pm
In reply to @zscline "It's good that you can tolerate it. Some days I can. I'm just not sure if..." + (show)
@zscline

It's good that you can tolerate it. Some days I can. I'm just not sure if it helps me or causes more upset to my system that it's worth. My doc says that so many of his patients can't handle it, so I just don't know yet what my final decision will be.

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I am having trouble tolerating 3%. At one moment it loosened nose mucus, sinus mucus via throat and lung mucus. I felt I was drowning and my 02 dropped briefly to 87. It was so scary I have been reluctant to restart but maybe tomorrow! I have very loose coughing mucus anyway so I am not too worried about avoiding the sodium for a bit.

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happyhealthyme | @happyhealthyme | Aug 26 7:29am
In reply to @zscline "Are you able to find it through a pharmacy? I couldn't, so finally just ordered it..." + (show)
@zscline

Are you able to find it through a pharmacy? I couldn't, so finally just ordered it via Amazon. It's not very expensive.

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I was able to get 7% Saline at Rite Aid through GoodRx for $11 (I did post this a while ago, so this is for new members to know of.)

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positivethinking | @positivethinking | Aug 26 12:30pm

I get my 7% sodium chloride from Walgreens and pay $10.28 for a one month supply (using twice daily) using GoodRx. My doctor had given me a prescription for the sodium chloride

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