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.

I just started the 7% saline solution and am finding it hard to finish the treatment. As soon as I start inhaling, I start to cough and the saliva in my mouth increases that I have to expel it. This doesn’t happen when I use 3%. Has anyone experienced this reaction? Any suggestions?

REPLY
@sisterpulse

Hi Sue
Some good news to share - my December CT thorax results showed a reduction in size of the left upper lobe nodule, from 10mm to 6 mm, so the respiratory consultant will postpone the big 3, unless there is a change in symptoms! Whoopee!
I’m continuing daily ACT using an Acapella, homeopathic remedies, organic raw honey, good diet, and fluids.
Thanks to Mayo connect et al 🤗
The European Lung Foundation Zoom conference on Bronchiectasis will be Sat 23 March 2024.

Jump to this post

I’m hoping my CT scan shows improvement so I don’t have to start the antibiotics. Could you please expand on what homeopathic treatments you are following?
Thank you

REPLY
@isabellad

I’m hoping my CT scan shows improvement so I don’t have to start the antibiotics. Could you please expand on what homeopathic treatments you are following?
Thank you

Jump to this post

Hi,
Re homeopathic remedies- they are specifically advised and prepared by a qualified homeopath. We’ve had a few zoom consultations over the last few months and she has altered the remedies to help with the symptoms of fatigue and the colour and texture of the mucus!
I haven’t started the saline nebuliser yet, until I’ve seen the respiratory physio for spirometry and a test dose of the 7% saline as apparently it can cause bronchodilation. Good luck with your scan too.

REPLY
@reneemc

Is it still considered airway clearance when you nebulize and use the flutter valve and huff cough but don’t cough up anything?

Jump to this post

I’ve only gotten mucus from my lungs one day out of the 10 months I’ve done airway clearance and it was during an active sinus infection. The docs let me cut back from 2x/day to 1x. I continue the daily clearance since prevention of infections is the key to staying healthy. My bronchiectasis is mild.

REPLY
@isabellad

I just started the 7% saline solution and am finding it hard to finish the treatment. As soon as I start inhaling, I start to cough and the saliva in my mouth increases that I have to expel it. This doesn’t happen when I use 3%. Has anyone experienced this reaction? Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

I often start coughing when I start the 7% saline and do some coughing and spitting all the way through. Most of what I expel is mucus. Some days it's the nebulizing that starts this clearing process, but others the coughing and spitting starts as soon as I get up, or while doing my morning stretches. My days start with about 12 minutes of stretching and waking all my joints, a glass of water, and then nebulizing. Maybe, if you can stick with it, that cough while nebulizing could be doing some good?

REPLY

I am waiting for results for MAC testing. I had a Bronchoscopy last week. Doctor feels strongly it may be MAC.
I cannot find the protocol for how the medication is given. Reading about how some doctors are not using the correct medications and protocols.
I also would like to get a 2nd opinion if needed but I am on Obama Care in Florida and cannot find a facility!

REPLY
@isabellad

I just started the 7% saline solution and am finding it hard to finish the treatment. As soon as I start inhaling, I start to cough and the saliva in my mouth increases that I have to expel it. This doesn’t happen when I use 3%. Has anyone experienced this reaction? Any suggestions?

Jump to this post

isabellad, I was on 7% and it dried out my mouth and throat. I coughed constantly.
I tried 3% and the cough stayed the same. Also, I had less sputum which concerned me.
Occasionally I still try the 3% because I want to keep trying to stay as good as I am right now. Dr. told me 3% is fine. Some can not tolerate higher. So, 3% is better than not doing any.

REPLY

Reading the posts tells me that what I am now experiencng during the day and expecially when nebulizing....the constant needing to clear ones throat and bronchi of mucus....... is fairly common for a great many people.
So, that tells me I am not the only one experiencing nearly an all day need to clear the throat and bronchi of mucus.

Quesstion: Has anyone gone from needing to clear the throat and bronchi all day long to it finally getting it, the mucus clearing, to subsiding to a lesser amount during the day....and especially after eating............ after being on the routine of nebulizing and aerobika therapy for a certain amount of time??

Question: Does anyone know if one type of labeled bronchi damage causes the all day long clearing vs. another type of bronchi damage that does not cause the all day clearing??? Does it have to do with the type of labled lung damage seen on the CScan??

REPLY

These comments convinced me since some recent ones coincided with an upper respiratory infection. I just tried it and tolerated it really well. I tried the 3% a few months ago and it irritated my throat. I didn’t get out lung mucus afterwards, but had a little increase in sinus drainage. I’ll see how it goes. 😀

REPLY

Does 7% hypertonic saline cause blood pressure to go up? Did anyone using this solution have that happen to them?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.