Can anyone give me tips on collecting a sputum sample for culture

Posted by Elaine @laneyk, Nov 14 6:28pm

I have had a return of MAC after 10 years. I need to collect a sputum sample for AFB but I don’t ever cough. I was recently in hospital for a breathing flare. I have Pulmonary Hypertension as well as COPD. Because of an early reaction on a sputum culture for MAC my pulmonologist started the three meds. He wanted a follow up sputum but I can’t collect one. Any suggestions on how I can get this done. I never seem to have a productive cough.

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Elaine | @laneyk | Nov 17 4:15pm

In reply to @linda1334 "@km6 Not trying to be a know it all, but it's my understanding that activated carbon..." + (show)

@linda1334 I will look up, but where do you get carbon filters? Or come in contact with them?

linda1334 | @linda1334 | Nov 17 10:59pm

In reply to @laneyk "@linda1334 I will look up, but where do you get carbon filters? Or come in contact..." + (show)

@laneyk @km6 said they have a Weddell shower filter. From what I can see, these filters use activated carbon as a primary filtration material and they can harbor MAC germs that can grow in the carbon material. So you would want to make sure that any shower filter you get does not use activated carbon. You also would need it to filter particles down to 0.2 microns. Then it will filter the MAC bacteria. I understand that Pall and Safe Water are two companies that make such filters.

Elaine | @laneyk | Nov 18 7:00am

In reply to @linda1334 "@laneyk @km6 said they have a Weddell shower filter. From what I can see, these filters..." + (show)

@linda1334 I remember now what someone said previously. Thanks for the reminder. I don’t plan on doing that anyway. It’s too late now.

irene5 Irene Estes | @irene5 | Nov 18 7:56am

This will probably sound a bit silly, but it has worked for me because I have the same problem. I eat and drink a lot of dairy prior. Like a big old vanilla milkshake is very helpful because dairy increases mucus. A bowl of vanilla ice cream doesn’t hurt either. Also yogurt. Good luck. Irene 5

linda1334 | @linda1334 | Nov 18 12:26pm

In reply to @laneyk "@linda1334 I remember now what someone said previously. Thanks for the reminder. I don’t plan on..." + (show)

@laneyk If you're saying it's too late for a shower filter, it's really not because you would want to make sure you're not continually exposed. You say that this is your second infection and I also was reinfected shortly after I stopped the big 3. I didn't know about the shower filters during the time I was being treated and my doctor didn't mention anything about it. I wish he had. Now I'm in "watch and wait" mode because I couldn't tolerate the more aggressive every day drug regimen he put me on.