Here was an article published after this discussion took place: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32827399/
Once again, it seems like the results are inconclusive. I share the concern @pacathy has about sanitation. In addition to my concern about the inhaler, I worry about the purity of the salt itself. The hypertonic saline in vials is sterile, but the salt in an inhaler is not; additionally it may be contaminated by debris, heavy metals and other substances.
Finally, with an inhaler, there is no way to measure the amount of saline - it depends on the user, how deeply they breathe and the saline content of the salt itself.
If you have mild BE like I do, it may not be necessary to nebulize saline every day - I use 7% saline about twice a week, and step up to daily if I have an exacerbation of my BE or Asthma or a respiratory illness. But I do airway clearance daily - promoting the elimination of mus=cus either with exercise or my Aerobika.
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
I did take the antibiotics in 2018 and 2019, but stopped before my cultures were consistently negative due to the side effects. Around that time I also began saline nebs twice a day before airway clearance. I believe that is what got me "back to healthy"
Since then I have maintained- CT stable, no positive cultures, only a few exacerbation. My therapy is daily Symbicort (I also have asthma) exercise and airway clearance. I use 7% saline a couple times a week to discourage NTM from taking up residence again.
Let me say that unless I get very serious evidence like persistent coughing with mucus, fever, weight loss or cavities, I won't gp back on the antibiotics- I'll do more saline and more clearance. I did not like life on the antibiotics but your results may be different.
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I get mine via prescription from walmart pharmacy - medicare & bcbs pay portion of cost
@sueinmn
Hey Sue. Reading a lot of your post which are so helpful. Appreciate you so much. Just wondering about the 3 meds. Did you go through that treatment? And now negative? I have not started yet. Have MAC and of course want this out of my body. Just seeing who has had success with treatment. Hope things are going well for you!
My pulmonologist prescribed it. It wasn't very expensive and in individual vials.
I did take the antibiotics in 2018 and 2019, but stopped before my cultures were consistently negative due to the side effects. Around that time I also began saline nebs twice a day before airway clearance. I believe that is what got me "back to healthy"
Since then I have maintained- CT stable, no positive cultures, only a few exacerbation. My therapy is daily Symbicort (I also have asthma) exercise and airway clearance. I use 7% saline a couple times a week to discourage NTM from taking up residence again.
Let me say that unless I get very serious evidence like persistent coughing with mucus, fever, weight loss or cavities, I won't gp back on the antibiotics- I'll do more saline and more clearance. I did not like life on the antibiotics but your results may be different.