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First time for using nebulizer breathing treatments for bronchiectasis

Posted by Stella Tucson @fraytv, Feb 16, 2023

I was hospitalized twice within 2 months for pneumonia. This was my first episode after being diagnosed with bronchiectasis in 2019. My dr prescribed nebulizer -sodium chloride 7% inhalation 2x daily am & pm, albuterol 2.5 mg/3ml (0.83) inhalation 2x daily am & pm, & Breo 100/25 inhaler 1x daily, which I have always used since it came out on the market, & continue to use flutter valve after each treatment. My question is which do you use first & do you space them apart, how many hours between breathing treatments or is it ok to use one right after the other? I am 71 years old, was a very active person who liked to hike & walk. I am now on oxygen & using a walker, I hope to get my active life back. Thank you for any responses & stay well!

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liz440 | @liz440 | Feb 17, 2023
In reply to @fraytv "Thank you for the reply! I also have a vest but have not been able to..." + (show)
@fraytv

Thank you for the reply! I also have a vest but have not been able to use it due to a fast heartbeat. 2 pulmonologist said I must use it if I want to get well, 1 pulmonologist said not to use it until my heart slows down & I gain weight, he said I could break some ribs. They all 3 work in the same practice, using my own judgement & waiting for my heart to slow down.

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I had a fast heart beat and they gave me a beta blocker which slowed it down. Also there is a calcium channel blocker that slows heart rate. My heart rate even with a beta blocker goes up when I am especially sick but not too high as it did before. I am skinny too and age 77 with osteoporosis but no problem with broken ribs and the vest (I have had 2 broken ribs in the past from playing golf LOL). People say the arobika is almost or as good as the vest. I don't know what the studies show though

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cmb1 | @cmb1 | Feb 17, 2023
In reply to @sueinmn "Hi, I do my treatment like @spider109, except now I have learned that if my asthma..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hi, I do my treatment like @spider109, except now I have learned that if my asthma is well-controlled I can just use a couple puffs on my inhaler instead of the albuterol neb. I wait about 5 minutes between the albuterol and the saline, giving it time to open my airways. Then the saline, then Aerobika (with my nebulizer I cannot do together.) I stop 2-3 times during neb & Aerobika to huff cough or whatever it takes to get mucus up. After that a brisk walk keeps it flowing - I'm sure my neighbors are appalled seeing me walk down the street huffing & coughing into a tissue, but my lungs are clear.
Sue

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Hi Sue! I think l can finally offer YOU advice!! If I have to clear while walking in the neighborhood l carry an empty go cup from the local coffee shop. I pretend to drink while slowly expelling into the small hole in the plastic top! Now l carry other places and in the car too. A real lifesaver!!!! Hope it works for you. Even have at the bedside instead of a cup overnight. And even found a pack of the disposable cups with lid and hole at the grocery this week! So glad for all your helps in the past.

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spider109 | @spider109 | Feb 18, 2023
In reply to @liz440 "I started the 3% about a week and a half ago and I get so much..." + (show)
@liz440

I started the 3% about a week and a half ago and I get so much mucus up and also nose stuff that I couldn't possibly use the vest at the same time because I am coughing and blowing my nose almost constantly (it seems to open up the sinuses). (and just forget the arobika) I lose a lot of the 3% time due to this coughing and nose blowing but it seems to do the job. Afterwards I use the vest for 30 min and not much is left to come out though usually some does. I still cough and nose blow for an hour or so afterwards. Mornings are rough. Evenings not nearly as bad. I normally use albuterol inhaler when I get up which is maybe an hour or more before I do the 3% and vest.

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I wonder if you Dr. Would try you to nebulize with albuterol also rather than to puffs from your inhaler.

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1 reply
liz440 | @liz440 | Feb 18, 2023
In reply to @spider109 "I wonder if you Dr. Would try you to nebulize with albuterol also rather than to..." + (show)
@spider109

I wonder if you Dr. Would try you to nebulize with albuterol also rather than to puffs from your inhaler.

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I did the nebulizer albuterol in the hospital recently but it didn't make any difference. I prefer and the Dr. okays the 2 puff albuterol method. Open lungs is not my problem. Massive mucus is! I have no trouble producing.

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donnaturn | @donnaturn | Feb 19, 2023

In reply to @fraytv
I nebulize the levalbuterol first, followed by the 7% saline, followed by the Aerobika. This seems to be the most common recommendation that I've seen. I also use Breo once daily, in the AM, but separately from the airway clearance. I wish you good luck with your treatments. Donna T

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spunkye | @spunkye | Dec 19, 2023

Is it really necessary to use sodium chloride after albuterol in the nebulizer?

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1 reply
tumanic | @tumanic | Dec 20, 2023
In reply to @spunkye "Is it really necessary to use sodium chloride after albuterol in the nebulizer?" + (show)
@spunkye

Is it really necessary to use sodium chloride after albuterol in the nebulizer?

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For what it’s worth, I combine the sodium and albuterol and neb them all at once. My pulmo saw nothing wrong with this approach. He moved me from .9% sodium to 3% and I was able to clear my lungs much better.

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2 replies
Rick | @rstel7272 | Dec 20, 2023
In reply to @tumanic "For what it’s worth, I combine the sodium and albuterol and neb them all at once...." + (show)
@tumanic

For what it’s worth, I combine the sodium and albuterol and neb them all at once. My pulmo saw nothing wrong with this approach. He moved me from .9% sodium to 3% and I was able to clear my lungs much better.

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titanic - were you doing them separately before?

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1 reply
tumanic | @tumanic | Dec 20, 2023
In reply to @rstel7272 "titanic - were you doing them separately before?" + (show)
@rstel7272

titanic - were you doing them separately before?

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I was doing them separately and realized that I could be more efficient by doing them together. There was no change in the result, I was eliminating the sputum effectively.

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1 reply
spunkye | @spunkye | Dec 20, 2023
In reply to @tumanic "For what it’s worth, I combine the sodium and albuterol and neb them all at once...." + (show)
@tumanic

For what it’s worth, I combine the sodium and albuterol and neb them all at once. My pulmo saw nothing wrong with this approach. He moved me from .9% sodium to 3% and I was able to clear my lungs much better.

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Thanks Tumanic!

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