Ambivalence: Pardon the Yuk factor

Posted by thumperguy @thumperguy, Jul 31, 2021

My ambivalent relationship with yellow sputum; hate that it’s always lurking, but love bringing it up. Don

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I get it too. Glad to cough it up but kind of hate to see it.

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Another newbie question: I have what is called a 'mild case' of bronchiectasis. When I do my once-a-day nebulizing, I rarely get much 'gunk' to come up. Is this good or bad? I use the 3% saline solution.

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@patsolstad

Another newbie question: I have what is called a 'mild case' of bronchiectasis. When I do my once-a-day nebulizing, I rarely get much 'gunk' to come up. Is this good or bad? I use the 3% saline solution.

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Well, my favorite answer in a case like this is "that depends" - you may not have a lot of collected mucus.
Do you use any airway clearance device or technique along with nebulizing? Like a vibratory device (Acapella or Aerobika) or technique (belly/diaphragm breathing and/or "huff" coughing)? You can find these discussed at length here, or using Google.
Please feel free to ask any other questions that occur to you - there are a lot of helpful people in the group!
Sue

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Patsolstad, my not-very-educated guess is that if you're not having periodic flare-ups of acute bronchitis, it's "good." I doubt you will do any harm by moving your saliine solution up to 7% and see if you notice any difference, though I doubt you will. Let's count on some other forum members chiming in here who may have other ideas. Don

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Thanks, thumperguy. I do not think I have ever had acute bronchitis. Sue, I do use the Aerobika device, as well (along with 'huff' coughing. I will be going to Mayo next month for a second opinion.

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@patsolstad

Thanks, thumperguy. I do not think I have ever had acute bronchitis. Sue, I do use the Aerobika device, as well (along with 'huff' coughing. I will be going to Mayo next month for a second opinion.

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Glad to hear you have a second opinion coming, though like @thumperguy said, no exacerbations are the good news.
Sue

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@patsolstad

Another newbie question: I have what is called a 'mild case' of bronchiectasis. When I do my once-a-day nebulizing, I rarely get much 'gunk' to come up. Is this good or bad? I use the 3% saline solution.

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I also dont get much gunk out by nebulizing two times a day with 3% saline and .5% budesonide. Usually white bubbly mucus. However like what Sue suggested, before I nebulize, I walk one hr and do one hr of yoga and sort of a jumping exercise and that has me coughing up gunk.
Im always surprised when I nebulize to get a little bit of gunk. Getting the white bubbly stuff sure helps with coughing and I think, is this stuff pre gunk?

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