Can nebulizing 3% saline cause hard balls of stool?

I have trouble with saline also, and anything like NAC or Mucinex that thins the mucous. I presume it's because these substances are taking significant fluid from the gut for use in the lung to thin the mucus, leaving the gut dry. I know enough to up my water intake, but still have stools as you describe, Due to a natural tendency toward this problem, I have always eaten a lot of fruit and veggies, nuts plus plenty of water. What's helped lately, is drinking at least two cups of Mullein tea (for thinning mucus) in addition to drinking at least 48 of water, bringing fluid intake up to 60 oz for my 115# frame. I have added some beans to my diet at least twice a week. And most importantly, I devote at least one session a day to air clearance - usually evenings, because my body is ready to cooperate at that time.

@ursala7 Thank you so much for your input. I thought I was crazy. I have had an issue with constipation my whole life, but this was not my normal trouble. I don't eat any veggies and only a few fruits. I follow the fodmap diet. I don't drink tea. I do drink a lot of water. I use the Aerobika first thing in the morning and a few hours after dinner. I have a good amount of mucus come up and out at those times and actually at other periods during the day. I will call my pulmonologist and write my NJH pulmonologist about the saline. I weight 88 pounds and am 84 years old. I've been trying to gain weight, but I have a lot of food intolerances so it's hard. I actually have added a dark chocolate candy to my breakfast oatmeal. Glad you saw this and responded. Roz

@rozie83 Roz: I have food sensitivities, plus react to additives and gluten (gluten gives me a rash). Rich fast food and salty snacks (all the good stuff) make more mucus for me. I used to love cappuccinos (cannot tolerate now) and chocolate of any kind - these days I allow myself a small piece of chocolate with my oatmeal too! I take no meds except I will nebulize saline if I get a flare. I am taking a Boswellia capsule, which is supposed to calm the inflammatory response to the irritants/triggers we ingest; I believe it does help - the directions say to take it with a little fat, hence the chocolate! I'm 76 and I can see that I will drop weight as I get older, because of the food restrictions. I love that you are walking 3 miles a day - I try to walk for an hour a day. On bad weather days I have a rebounder that I use in place of walking. But the activity requires calories, and boy, it's hard to eat enough. Good luck with everything!

@ursala7 Hi Ursala,
Where do you live? I'm in Arizona. Sounds like we have many of the same sensitivities. It does make it hard to keep up the weight. It's only 1 pm and I've already had 3 "meals". Right now I'm also trying to cut back on some meds that might affect my thinking. I'm having a rough time. My daughter is coming for an overnight visit in a few hours and two of my granddaughters are coming on Friday for a concert and a visit. I wish I felt better. I hid the cup with this morning's sputum. Plan to just get sputum up in my bathroom without the Aerobika tonight. What a disease. It could, however, be much worse.
Good luck. We'll talk more another time. I'm going to try to nap before my daughter gets here.

Thanks again. It's really helpful to talk like this. Roz

rozie83 ursala7 So much of our system changes and what you are describing, the hardened stools and small pieces of hard stools is something that can happen with aging (however not always and not for everyone) and our system changes with time. My mother had this problem. My Mom had emphysema and on a good few medications, bed ridden and more than likely did not drink enough water but had coffee at least once a day. Mother did not nebulize just the puff inhalers. I can have this problem at times depending upon how much water intake I have had, the amount of fiber I have had and in general possibly due to the colon itself in terms of it aging..... The only thing I am on right now is the saline for nebulizing.
With some of us much of our system slows down and doesn't move like it use to with age. Some people may have some diverticulosis or even diverticulitis and not realize it. Think about how the lungs are with BE.
I think there are a good many reasons why the stools can become as you describe, and yes including medications can possibly cause it. We are all different and therefore different things could be causing it for different people, as you know. Wish I knew fully why.
As far as the saline causing it...if you find a answer I would like to know.
For me, the saline appears to cause me to have too much salt in my system. If I do not eat enough bananas or take a potassium tablet once in a while I get leg cramps. Now can I fully know it is the saline for sure, don't think so, but as long as I found a way to control the cramping...that's what matters to me.
Barbara

I have these problems, also. I eat a lot of fruit in the am, take Metamucil, and try to get other fiber items in too. I went to my PA and she suggested a squatty potty, which really helps, walking more, water (more), and stool softeners. I have done all this and added Magnesium Glycinate gummies. Of course ASK your doctor if they are ok for you. I take a half of one at a time.... they do have sugar. I find the gummies help me relax (sleep), help with leg cramps, and help prevent my migraines. I stay away from large amounts of cheese. All of these things have helped the stool situation, though when I don't stay on it, the problem returns. I believe it is the antibiotics causing most of the issue. When I worked and walked miles in the hospital, I had no problem.... go figure!

@texaseve Thanks for your reply and suggestions. I've dealt with this problem all my life. Lately, I have found Kiwi to be a natural laxative. Just a few bites does the trick. Sometimes I have leg cramps too. I use an aerosolized lotion called Theraworx I get from Amazon. Does the trick in two minutes. So many people on this site have so much knowledge. It's really helpful. Hope your day goes well. Roz

@rozie83 Thanks for the Kiwi suggestion, I'll have to try it. My husband uses Theraworx, which doesn't do a lot for me, simply because I don't want to get up and find the bottle, squirt it on my legs, rub it in (a couple times), etc. I have a hard time sleeping, so this procedure is daunting. (It is also a Magnesium product.) Thanks for mentioning this one, as I'm sure it will help some of those suffering from leg cramps. I love this site!

@ursala7 I neb 3% sod chloride 2Xdaily and had terrible constipation since ending of my Big 3 antibiotics for MAC. Have begun drinking hot filtered water with a little EVOO early each morning, what a difference this has made. No more rocks!!

@hoopsnest17897 What is EVOO?