Nebuliser

[Two2sheds]

My consultant has recommended saline through a nebuliser, this I have had to buy, approx. £50, and is just like breathing in cold fog!!

I can't see how this helps lung problems, any ideas?

[newlands]

Saline solution helps you cough mucus up

[Dazzler142]

Its to loosen the mucus.it really helps me and hope it does you too.

[Two2sheds]

Ok, thanks for replies, it just seems really cold.

[skischool]

Twosheds,may i ask why you have had to purchase said items when consultant advised use ?hope it gives relief after your trial period,others on here use similar and i am sure they will advise accordingly.good luck my friend,,x

[Two2sheds in reply to skischool]

My GP said they would supply the saline solution, but I had to supply my own nebuliser as there was no funding for this equipment.

[skischool in reply to Two2sheds]

How strange?i am sure others that use nebulisers on this site would obviously be better advised as to what you are entitled to receive from the nhs?good luck anyway

[Dazzler142 in reply to Two2sheds]

Wow..i am really shocked you had to buy one especially if its been agreed as your treatment.my hospital supplied it for free.i initially was sent one home on trial with the physios and once that was over they ordered me a brand new one.

Maybe see if you can get reimbursed.

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Two2sheds.

If your consultant advised using a nebuliser, s/he should really have let you have one on loan from the hospital. The benefit of this is it would be changed every year and you would have new cups, masks or mouthpiece and tubing. If they don't supply it please make sure you get the medical VAT taken off the price.

Are you nebulising isotonic saline 0.9% or hypertonic saline 3%, 6% or 7%? The isotonic is the same strength as is in all bodily fluids. Hypertonic is a higher strength. It works by osmosis and draws in fluid into the lungs which helps to loosen any mucus which makes it much easier when you do your lung clearance. The fluid is reabsorbed by the body again.

Good luck.

love cx

[Hidden in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Hypertonic saline should only be done tried at hospital due to lung airway contractions

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have hypertonic (7%) for home use with hospital supplied nebuliser. It is on repeat prescription with GP.

Don't actually use it very often now that I am on nebulised colomycin twice daily - i make that up with isotonic saline (0.9%).

I sometimes use the isotonic by itself to loosen up when I need to submit a sample of sputum.

The first dose was done at hospital to check that I would not have chest spasm but that was a one time only.

[Two2sheds]

The saline I have been given is, 0.9wv physiological saline.

Nobody has supervised my introduction to this, I was just given the prescription and told to get a nebuliser.

What bothers me, is that in the leaflet it mentions adding it to the "other" solution. I am just using the one steripoule on its own, is that correct?

[Hidden in reply to Two2sheds]

Yes it is.

It's primary use is for making up injections or infusions or as a carrier for nebulised drugs.

We are using it to loosen mucus and ease clearing it.

If you are not adding anything to it then you don't need a nebuliser capable of delivering antibiotics (increases viscosity) so a cheaper one would work. Evergreen is one company with a selection.

Have you been seen by a physio to go through the technique?

There are 'huffing' or 'active breathing technique' videos on youtube.

Have fun.

[Two2sheds in reply to Hidden]

Yes, last year I did 12 sessions with pulmonary rehab, and I have a physio appointment next week at the hospital.

I am familiar with the huffing technique, but most of my thick sticky muck is in my throat.i bought an omron c28p nebuliser.

[Roessner541]

It helps clear lungs I use mine a couple times a week