Doing airway clearance 1x/day vs 2x/day

@mirsy It makes a difference for me. I think most people mention doing airway clearance of some sort, twice a day. For me it means fewer infections ( none in over a year) and less inflammation. I use postural drainage and the huff coughs most often now.

There are days every now and then, that it takes an extra few minutes for the mucus to start to loosen so I can clear the deep stuff, but I would recommend keeping up with the clearance twice a day, unless the pulmonologist recommends a different approach.

Twice a day is the gold standard for bronchiectasis. It's possible that excess gunk is causing SOB. Good that your husband is having a CT scan. Will he always have spirometry testing?

I'm wondering about the different instructions for airway clearance by different doctors. Mine tells me to flutter - neb saline - flutter - neb Albuterol - flutter..... 3 X a day. Each round of this takes about an hour. I've been in denial that this is what life looks like for me for the next 20 years or more. He didn't mention huff coughing or postural drainage. I'm just wondering if it is trial and error for everyone. The program he has me on leaves me with a headache, burning feeling in my chest and neck/shoulder/back pain. I'm new to this and haven't been able to tell if I'm getting better or worse.

@cyndanna
I don’t have MAC to contend with but I have a diagnosis of very mild Bronchiectasis that affects all the lobes and I must clear my lungs each day. Your situation might be quite different.

You said you are new to this. Do you see a pulmonologist? Everyone’s experience with Bronchiectasis (BE), or BE and MAC seems to be somewhat unique to them.

You can search through this forum to see past discussions about airway clearance or the huff cough etc. Click on ‘MAC & Bronchiectasis’ at the upper left corner of this discussion.

There are also very good YouTube videos often with trained Respirologists demonstrating postural drainage and the huff cough and other breathing techniques. You can likely request training on these options too, if you are near a pulmonary clinic or hospital.

I believe that learning how to huff cough is very important for us who need to cough up phlegm. As you read about the technique, the breath hold before you huff cough is critical.

Hold your breath before you exhale while using the huff cough or Aerobika for a count of four or five and if you can up to a count of 10, at times. It helps move more mucus upward as we huff cough.

Hope that helps!

My pulmonologist said to set an amount of time, no more than 45 minutes for each session. I used to use AD app but gave up on that and switched to my own AD, which is 4 breath holds instead of 10. A time savings. With AD I use 4 postures, upright, laying flat, and on each side. The morning is the most time consuming. Once I started to focus on where the secretions were in my lungs it became less exhausting. In addition, I use 2 vials of 7% saline and sip hot water or tea with honey throughout as the saline can be irritating. I also pre-treat with albuterol to help make the saline more tolerable as well.

Thank you, this is giving me some more things to look into. I appreciate it. I wasn’t familiar with an AD app. He only has me on 3% since he said 7% can be irritating. I don’t know if it has the same effectiveness though.

Thank you, this is helpful. I am working with a pulmonologist, and so far have been contending pseudomonas. Still waiting for the second sputum sample to come back with MAC. Thank you for the Huff coughing tips, and the others! I will look them up.

Huff Coughing is vitally important.. I believe it stands the cilia in the airways on end to help push the sputum out. I will add doing the Airway Clearance is vital. I will even drive and use my Aerobika without taking my hands off the steering wheel. When I walk in the neighborhood or around a track, I deep breath and combine it with Huff coughing. My energy level is vastly improved. I am 76 with both Brochiectasis and Myco abscessus.

He doesnt do the Aerobica or the huff coughing. He uses a saline solution in the nebulizer and then the vest. Thanks alot for your reply.

Hi Jnmy,
I agree with the comment from scoop. I have Bronchiectasis and recently went positive again for MAC.
2x per day is the best practice protocol at minimum. Neb Albuterol Solution, Flutter/Aerobika, Neb 3% saline and end with a Flutter.
Sometimes I will do deep breathing, and Huff Coughing as well....and that has been helpful
Sure hope the shortness of breath will subside as it did for me.
I'm 78 yrs. old and following the AWC protocol has
given me a new lease on life.
Flo @frankie160