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I use my nebulizer 3 times a day. It is so very loud and I get a huge headache from it. Mine is a Philips Respironics InnoSpireEssence. Does anyone use one that is relatively quiet and fast. It takes about 20 minutes to get done. Bleh. Hating my nebulizer right now. But it helps me breathe.
Thanks!
DeeDee
Thanks!
DeeDee
Albuterol is known to cause headaches in a minority of cases. However, I think it is pretty safe to say that practically everyone has gotten a headache from "nebulizing" (is that a word? Smile) at one time or another. Especially if you try to 'hurry' the process. (It causes a retention problem similar to hyperventilation without going into details.) Twenty minutes is probably the most common length of time - and it takes time. If getting headaches - I would suggest slowing down. WHICH OF COURSE is exactly what you didn't want to hear. Smile.
If it gets too long then discuss it with your Dr. You might also try another nebulizer - time is also dependent on strength or how much medication is "grabbed" with each breath.
It seems a little faster with a Parilc Sprint ('teapot') than with the cheap inline thingy they throw in with the medication occasionally.
My dr told me that i could get one at the medical supply store or thru my 02 delivery.
I went to lincare & she showed me 2 kinds; the one that has a compressor that i guess most people use & the "Aeroneb Go Nebulizer"
I must say, the Aeroneb is very quiet, easy, puts out a soft mist and goes for about 15 minutes.
Albuterol doesn't seem to help me, it just makes me shakey & feel like I'm going to have a heart attack (which the PFT showed it didn't help me when they did the before & after- DUH) so i quit using it after many tries.
you might want to talk to your dr about the headaches & possibly a new type of nebulizer...and if you have lincare, maybe they will let you try one out???
can't hurt to ask :)
ps. the Aeroneb is more expensive, but medicare paid for mine. I believe medicare will furnish a new one every 5 years
I hope you get some releif---my prayers are with you (((HUGS)))
Thanks. I've been "down" a couple of months post-pneumonia and I'm trying to get close to where I was only a few months ago. I forgot a chuckle helps the breathing. Ahhhhhh!
With the DS modifications, I hope they have a button for "You've got to see this."
Gnott I nebulize (word?) albuterol and ipratropium whatever - sulfate? The headache only lasts for the time the machine is on, so pretty sure it's the freakin' noise.
Jarca SuperCare is my supplier. I will call them and ask about the possibility of a different nebulizer. Guessing they gave me the least expensive one to start. But I've had it for about 3 years now. I just started to use it every day recently. Bleh. And I love/hate it.
Grannie I miss Dennis. He had the best suggestions.
McHugh so maybe a longer tube? :)
jcalkins I'm going to look into buying a quieter nebulizer. Did you need a prescription?
You have already said noise is a problem for you, so an ultrasonic is likely the way to go. Ive played with both, and here are my simple observations:
With an old style air compressor, the actual nebulizer is the delivery device on the end of the air hose you place your medication in. The air flow causes the vaporization or mist. With an electronic or ultrasonic, microair nebulizer the mist is produced via vibrations and all the components are far more integrated into the delivery system. (To keep it simple, in the following I will just refer to them as compressors or ultrasonics.)
Compressors are loud (they make some that are billed quieter, but never as quiet as an ultrasonic, occasionally not as efficient (in misting ALL the medication), take longer, and work with a wide range of nebulizer delivery devices, which range just as widely in their lifetimes, quality, ease of cleaning (Rinse out then air dry four or five times, then simply throw away at the end of the month and use a new one.), etc. The delivery devices are in general cheap and disposable. Compressors also tend to be cheaper although you have to shop carefully, since like all medical products prices seem to have extreme variations. Most are all covered by Medicare or insurance, and readily available via any medical supplier (your current O2 supplier, for example).
Ultrasonic devices are very quiet, more efficient, and far faster than air flow devices; which is often all the reasons many people need to buy them. They have fewer options in masks and mouthpieces which also tend to be more expensive (but that is changing), and they require far more attention when it comes to cleaning how often and how through. The two I tried clogged easily (Although likely my own fault). That was a show-stopper for me (also note Im partially deaf, so noise was never an issue. Smile) Another possible problem with an Ultrasonic device is that they have a list of medications they cant be used with. Now whether that was because the vendor never tested it with a medication (and submitted for approval) or whether a specific medication reacts poorly to being vibrated? I havent a clue. But one might look into making sure their medication is approved for any specific device before they buy. Many medical suppliers wont mess with them.
As far as the medication aspect, I never noticed any difference between the two. I went back to the simple compressor because; one, Im slightly deaf so noise was no problem; two, I liked the simple cleaning; three, l dont care for messing about with batteries and recharging; four, time doesnt bother me, I spend a lot of time just reading or at the computer anyway.