nebulizer to clear phlegm suggestions

[Cyril123]

Hi, can anyone recommend a good nebulizer to help clear the phlegm in my throat using a saline solution as I have Bronchiectasis and am finding it very difficult to shift. I am on carbosistine and also is the huffing method. Any advice would be very much appreciated

[Dottie11]

Sorry I do not use a nebulizer but many here do. Also have you tried the search bar for old posts ? Might find some info there. Good luck.

[Cyril123 in reply to Dottie11]

Thank you for your reply. I will do a search and see what I can find

[janedivney]

If you have bronchiectasis you should be able to get a nebuliser on loan from your hospital, and saline nebules prescribed by your gp. You can get varying strengths of saline and your chest physiotherapist should be advising you on this, and helping you with airway clearance exercises. If you haven’t seen a chest physio, your consultant should arrange it as a matter of urgency, it’s important to do these exercises correctly and at least once daily

[Cyril123 in reply to janedivney]

Thank you for your reply. I saw my respiratory consultant yesterday and they don’t provide them on the NHS but she said I could buy one. I’ve already seen the physio and done the pulmonary rehab course and am already using the chest clearance techniques. I also suffer with Sjogrens which doesn’t help as this drys everything out anyway, plus I also have Pulmonary Fibrosis

[Poppins23 in reply to Cyril123]

Whereabouts in the uk are you? I”m in Birmingham and was supplied with a nebuliser after an assessment with a respiratory physio. It is exchanged annually for a service and my saline nebulae’s are prescribed by my GP

[Cyril123 in reply to Poppins23]

I’m in Berkshire but unfortunately they don’t supply them

[jackwok in reply to Poppins23]

I am in NE Derbyshire, we were Tory until the last election and I have a nebuliser supplied,

[Axolotl1 in reply to Cyril123]

I gave my main nebuliser on the NHS and each year I have to phone them up for a new year pack. I’ve been doing this for decades even after they changed hospitals a couple of years ago.

[Swizzy in reply to Cyril123]

I have had nebulisers supplied by the hospital since 1981 as have many other members on this forum. Whoever told you that the NHS does not supply them is either ignorant of the facts or too lazy to get you supplied. Go back and push for one. We really do have to be very pro active in our own interests.

[Nula2 in reply to Swizzy]

Hi Swizzy, I saw my resp physio who showed me how to use a nebuliser but had to buy my own as my local hospital don't supply one although I get the saline nebs on NHS. Guess it's a postcode lottery 🙄xxx ❤️

[Marmite78]

Hi, have you tried 'cupping' where someone cups their hands and pats up and down your lung area? Also try a steamed bathroom? If your under the respiritory team, ask them to give you an Aerobika device? Look it up and see if this is something you want to try? Hope this helps? Let me know if you need anymore advice x

[Cyril123 in reply to Marmite78]

I’ve not tried the ‘cupping’ method I’ll give it a try. The shower helps bring up a lot of phlegm but then I’m struggling with the steam as it seams to be lowering my oxygen levels. Physio prescribed me the Aerobika device but I find the huffing method works better for me. Unfortunately as soon as I clear my chest it seems to be back again. Thank you for your advice x

[janedivney]

They are definitely available on the nhs. If they’re recommending that you nebulise saline, they have to provide the means to do so.

Anyway, if you want to buy one there are lots to choose from. As with most things, you get what you pay for. A good source of information is evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk They’re very helpful.

The one usually provided by the NHS is a Pari-Boy Classic, which is a reliable compressor-type one. However it’s quite slow and isn’t portable, but that might not matter if you’re not going to be using it a lot. Because I nebulise 3 drugs, plus saline, I’ve now been provided with a Pari E-flow, which is much faster and can run either on batteries or the mains. But it’s expensive if you’re buying it yourself. Hope this helps

[Cyril123 in reply to janedivney]

I think it might depend on where you live as to whether they are available on the NHS. Unfortunately my consultant said I would need to pay for one. Thank you for all the useful recommendations and I will look into them

[Marmite78 in reply to janedivney]

Evergreen is good. I've bought from there before. If they do provide you with one, as Jane says they can be big, loud and slow! You can also get a years supply of masks (usually 4) just some more ideas. The handsung one I mentioned earlier is really small and compact and that's usually my 'go to' one.

There is lots of information on the Internet and also look at all the reviews x

[knitter]

check with your GP practice to see if your Consultants advice has been passed on to them , and they will provide the necessary saline nebules on the NHS .

My first nebuliser was on loan from the hospital , but I bought my own later as easier to use .

Evergreen can offer advice which model is best for your needs , not the cheapest but a reliable firm , but check with your surgery tomorrow about the saline

[Beccles82]

I use an omron neubilser. It's fast and I chose it for this reason as I'm short on time. The omron is good at not wasting the saline as it synchronizes with your breathing.

My hospital would not loan me a neubilser either so I purchased the omron. I then neubilse 7% saline and this is very effective rice in clearing my lungs.

I'd really rate it. Boots stock it.

boots.com/omron-c28p-compre...

[Cyril123 in reply to Beccles82]

Thank you I will look into this one as it sounds like what I’m looking for

[O2Trees]

If you are buying a nebuliser, remember to either not pay the VAT or get a refund. The company should provide a form to fill in to say you have a chronic condition.

[Cyril123 in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you I will remember to do that when buying

[Lupino in reply to Cyril123]

Hello Cyril, Have you tried the Respiratory team where you did your pulmonary rehab course? They usually give you a contact number on completion of the course. Good luck and don’t give up. 🤗

[garshe]

I was given my nebuliser whilst in hospital. I could keep it , it hat was many years ago and my Respiratory team have replaced it twice when faulty. I get my saline prescription from my GP. Ask your Respiritory team I'm sure they will supply one to you.

Good luck .Sheila xx🙏💕

[Cyril123 in reply to garshe]

Thank you Sheila for your advice

[PAP48]

I, too, have been issued a Pari-Boy nebuliser from my respiratory team, which I use for antibiotics. For saline I use a handheld, which I bought myself, as it’s easier for me to be able to use it anywhere. Evergreen Nebulisers are so good and helpful if you wish to buy one.

[Cyril123 in reply to PAP48]

Thank you. I’m glad you’ve found something that works. I will look into it

[gingermusic]

I have the Apex Mini Plus nebulizer which was provided by the NHS. I use one phial of saline and one of Salbutamol up to four times a day. Hope this helps

[Cyril123 in reply to gingermusic]

Thank you it’s very helpful to have everyone’s different advice for me to look into to see which one would suit me most

[Seagullcity]

Thanks for asking this Cyril123, I have the same problem so have been making note of all the very useful replies you’ve had. The huffing method doesn’t seem to work well for me so I need something else to help clear my lungs.

[Cyril123 in reply to Seagullcity]

I’m glad some of the reply’s have been useful. Good luck finding something that helps

[Emily-G]

Hi, I was lucky to borrow a nebuliser from my GP until I saw the consultant

I bought myself a omron nebuliser which I have plugged in beside my bed. I also got the omron portable nebuliser which goes in my bag when I’m out and I use on the sofa. Both are very reliable

Hope you find one that suits your needs and that it helps

All the best

Emily

[Cyril123 in reply to Emily-G]

Thank you Emily-G. That sounds like a good idea to have both

[Emily-G in reply to Cyril123]

The wee portable omron is the best portable I’ve tried, I got mine on Amazon

[Chip_y2kuk]

Someone on here recommended evergreen nebulisers... they appear to be a smaller company, but the team are knowledgeable (quick delivery too)

I nebulise 6% saline and one of the concerns was the salt crystals blocking the tiny air hole in the chamber .... I was looking at all kinds of nebulisers but they recommended (which was about half the price of one I was looking at)

evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/...

As the chamber can withstand being poured in boiling water (most can't apparently) ... as I've been using this for over 2 years and it's been boiled every night (you have to replace the filters every 6 months and the hose and chamber every 12) it's still going well... evergreen also sell the parts (filters,hoses etc)

Some also need to have the motors serviced at regular intervals and will need to be sent away for this... so that's also worth bearing in mind