7% Saline in Nebulizer for Mac

I’m not an expert, but just came back from NJH and have been to a seminar on MAC at MUSC they can’t stress enough how important airway clearance is with saline and I also use an Aerobika at same time.

@healthybon Welcome to Mayo's MAC community - we are not experts, just people walking your path. But one thing many of us have learned is that there a pulmonologists who know and treat MAC regularly, and there are others who run across a patient occasionally and just follow their "standard protocol."

Fortunately, the recent addition of 7% saline nebs by National Jewish Health (NJH), Mayo and other centers of excellence in treating MAC has been a game changer for many of us. But it has totally escaped the notice of many pulmonologists to our detriment.

Is there any possibility that you can make an appointment at one of the specialty clinics? Or search your area for a pulmonologist with more expertise?

Sue

I had to send reports that were posted here, to my pulmonologist in order to get him to prescribe 7% saline. I do it twice a day with the percussion vest. I have MAC and Bronchiectasis. It has made my condition stay the same for a year. Not better but, thankfully not worse. I can't do without it. I feel it's very important to keep airways clear.

Lorraine

I forgot to add that's 30 minutes of vest together with about 10 minutes of nebulized saline.
Lorraine

I was at njh last year. I literally just got home from the Mayo clinic today. Both facilities stressed airway clearance/nebulizing.

Hi group. I was dx. with bronchiectasis 5 yr. ago and mac positive about 2 years. Thankfully the disease progression has been fairly slow. I'm on 3% saline/ Duoneb, do airway clearance and use Aerobika. I have a good pulmo doc (NJH affiliated) who changed me over to 7% saline. I quickly noticed alot of bronchial irritation/soreness, excess coughing and sputum - been doing extra airway clearance to control it. I'm now alternating 7% and 3% daily to see if this helps. Anyone else experience this?
Thanks, Karen

I started with 7%, right out of the gate. I had throat irritation/burning for the first month, but now, I'm used to it.

I'm right there with you Karen - 7% was tough at first - and I was jumped from .9% right up to 7%. At the Respiratory Therapist's suggestion, I mixed the .9% and 7% half-and-half to start, gradually adding less and less until the 7% was tolerable.

I might be an outlier though - my RT and doc both told me that I didn't need to use all of the saline neb every time - once I was easily clearing my lungs, I could stop and discard the rest.

Also, in allergy season, when my throat is very raw, I often alternate 3% and 7% like you do.
Sue

Hello dear group - I am on no meds for MAC (diagnosed more than 2 years ago) and I also have bronchiectasis. I was going to talk to my dr about putting me on 7% saline. But I have no problem at all with airway clearance whenever needed. I wanted the saline because I was under the impression it could possibly kill off the MAC as saline is a very unwelcoming environment for it. Is the saline simply to aid in loosing sputum? Input please.

If you haemoptysis, (coughing up blood) it can aggravate that, so if that is one of your symptoms please do get more advice.