My doctor has advised me to visit a&e if I am in a lot of distress for time on a nebuliser would a bought nebuliser do same thing .

[Hondabike3]

[barnsleysue]

I do not know answer ,but you can b sure some 1 will know & respond ....hope you feeling ok :sue

[Hondabike3 in reply to barnsleysue]

good grief Sue I am overwhelmed at the response and thank you im feeling much better now the prednisolone is taking effect its a shock to realise what I though was just a cough is c o p d but I can expect no less being an ex heavy smoker it is very kind of you to care regards steve

[barnsleysue in reply to Hondabike3]

Hi Steve , no probs , glad u ok & are smoke free , as am I , I gave up 10 months ago wish I had done it sooner ...keep in touch :sue

[Hidden]

Hi there,the difference is,when going to hospital,or surgery etc.the nebuliser has oxygen as well.Not the home one.Hope that makes sense! xx

[johnwr]

It's not just the nebuliser that matters, it's the drugs as well. I think you're probably thinking about the one on offer at Lidl at the moment.

I would say speak to your respiratory nurse first, there maybe nebulisers available on loan. There are issues around the drugs used in them, (direct contact with the eyes by some steroids can cause cataracts to form), so instruction in the use and management of them is a very good idea. Keeping the tubing, mask and associated bits clean is also something to be kept in mind.

Having said all that, nebulisers area great piece of kit for getting the drugs where you need it, in the lungs. Take professional advice before you buy, and be sure that your GP will prescribe the drugs for you.

breathe easy

johnwr

[Hondabike3 in reply to johnwr]

Thanks John I have only recently discovered I have this copd problem reaping the rewards of being an ex smoker I expect I have taken you advice and everyone else's advice on board again thank you

[Ellie_D]

I know a hospital resus nurse. He hates people using home nebulisers for emergencies (fine for routine). He says they invariably turn up in a far worse state than if they'd gone straight in because you only have access to basic drugs at home. I do appreciate that he doesn't see the ones that use their nebulisers at home & are helped by it & then don't need to go to A&E.

I think the message there is, don't become over reliant on it to help you in emergencies, you may require more advanced help x

[mcnally]

I bought one just to take on holiday when we go abroad, I have used it a couple of times and it done the job. My doc prescribed the nebules 2.5 mg no problem. Mine is a small Omron travel nebuliser. I have never used it at home though I stick to my rescue pack. Xx

[CornishBrian]

I only use water in my neb and have to go to hospital for anything other than water. However, most of the time the water is enough to keep my chest clear and sputum moving. Without it, the sputum just didn't move until I was in a real bad way.

[knitter in reply to CornishBrian]

Hi cornish Brian, the practice nurse said I could use water in my nebuliser, I used to have saline nebules but they seem reluctant to give them to me.

Do you use boiled water?

[CornishBrian in reply to knitter]

I boil the water, let it cool and store in a sterile bottle. My GP said that the sterile or saline water costs more than the drugs but after a lot of pressure from my respiratory team, he prescribed it. Before that I had bought both from the chemists and e-bay but then found that anyone that you know that uses it, will give you a small supply.

[helingmic in reply to CornishBrian]

I suppose that by water, you mean saline. This is indeed very good to move the sputum up.

I also came across a type of breathing called Assisted Cyclic Breathing Technique (ACBT). Physio and respiratory team can teach you it, it's worth doing too.

I heard also about the Flutter, but don't know much about it.

[CornishBrian in reply to helingmic]

I tried all methods after pr but the neb was the best one for me. Everyone is different. You are right about the water either saline or sterile but before my GP would prescribe it, I di use water.....boiled, cooled and stored in sterile containers.

[helingmic in reply to CornishBrian]

did you use this to shift mucus up? I find mucus sticking and impeding my breathing. wonder what a Flutter is like?

[Eve3066]

Home nebulisers are great and most GPS will give you the ventolin to go in them. Use it sensibly and you can get a great deal of relief. The only thing the hospital does is sometimes connect them to the oxygen as well, obviously you cannot do this unless you have oxygen at home. If you use a nebuliser then you must not use your ventolin inhaler (blue one) at the same time.

[grandadbrian in reply to Eve3066]

hi Eve, What do you mean I must not use a Ventolin inhaler and the nebuliser at the same time ? I have not heard this before and would appreciate guidance. Thanks. B rian

[Eve3066]

Well the medication you put into the nebuliser is the same as you get from the ventolin inhaler so you end up overdosing if you use both.

[Hidden]

Run it past your doctor, see what is advised, if your GP thinks it will be good for you to have one at the ready at home he will I am sure agree to prescribe you with the medications that can be used in the nebuliser.

[grandadbrian]

I was thinking on the lines of later in the day after having used nebuliser earlier, this I assume would be ok. Sorry to confuse the issue. Thanks. Brian

[knitter]

Its a dilemma, I have had a home nebuliser for years, first on free loan then I bought a portable one. It is reassuring to have it, but I only live 5 minutes from A&E so I know when I need to go there rather than relying on my own nebuliser.

I can be checked over, blood pressure, SATS, oxygen etc.

I have problems if I overuse my reliever medication