Hey Boo,

I haven't been prescribed the nebulizer either. My doctor mentioned it but didn't seem concerned. He is very aware that I don't have insurance and said something about the cost.

Congrats on the weight loss!

Boo, I'm with you in that I hadn't heard of nebulizer treatment until there was a recent discussion within this group. I did some investigation and concluded that it seems to be used by those who don't respond well to some inhalers. I don't know if I'm responding well or not - it seems to be what it is i.e. I don't know what "well" is. I remain curious because just maybe I can feel better.

At my latest testing, the Dr. mentioned that there was an improvement in my breathing, therefore, he concluded that the meds I'm taking are working appropriately. I'm guessing as long as this is the case there's no need to change anything so I'm tabling the nebulizer discussion for now.

I was given nebulizer treatments when I was in the hospital with pneumonia and was SO grateful for them cuz I was having such difficulty breathing. The treatments stopped, tho, when I left the hospital and I've never been prescribed them. But I don't feel the need for them, either.

And congrats on your weight loss, Boo. That's terrific!

I was put on the Nebulizer before any other Meds because of my Asthma. I had Asthma before the COPD came in play. You might ask want to ask you Doctor that question dear.

P.S. Congrats on the weigh loss, well done.

I am on a nebulizer and it works great for me. Boo, you said you had moderate COPD. I have Severe COPD/Emphysema. Maybe that is the difference. Dunno. The nebulizer meds are also cheaper than the Albuterol rescue inhaler and I use the inhaler much less now.

Of course you should ask your Dr. if it's a concern.

Congrats on losing the weight. Keep up the good work. Ummmm....does it make your fingers tired? You have been posting much less now so I thought i would ask. *lol*

Terry

oops.....forgot. I also use Spiriva and Advair 500/50.

I have severe emphysema and do not use a nebulizer. I do just fine with symbicort, spiriva and albuterol as needed. I would not like nebulizer treatments because of the time it takes. (I get impatient waiting a minute in between symbicort puffs.)

Boo,

I have been using a nebulizer for several years and I think it helps me greatly. I use it at least 3 times a day, and right now the only drug I nebulize is Albuterol. Sometimes during a flare up Doc Infectious has a couple antibiotics he has me use via nebluizer up to 4 times a day. It seems to me that the mist created by these nebulized drugs permeate my lungs quicker, and the drug is absorbed into the system quicker. It's a PIA to neb 4 times a day but I think the results are worth it. -- Take care, Bill

I brought up the Neb question just recently. Finally when I saw my Dr on Monday to see what was ailing me. She asked me if I had a nebulizer. I told her I just bought one on CL's in south Florida. So she prescribed me the nebs. She has me on a cocktail combivent. She told it would be more expensive if I bought the liquid combivent and said it was cheaper if you mixed your own from two and you would end up with combivent.

She neb'd me in the exam room and she said my 02 blood level went up from 93 to 95. I still don't feel the difference though. I never really did like it when they neb'd me in ER and in my hospital room. It makes my throat very dry and I go through a coughing spell toward the end of the neb treatment.

Anyone else feel this way?

Hey Boo,

When I was Dx'd with end stage emphysema in March, 2010, one of the first things they started me on in the hospital was Albuterol via nebulizer every three hours around the clock. That lasted for about six weeks when it was determined that I am extremely allergic to Albuterol or any med that has Albuterol in it!

So, nowadays, I take Brovana and Budesonide twice a day via my nebulizer.

To tell you the truth ..... I HATE IT!!! But, in order to breath properly, I put up with the aggravation of it all. No sense in complaining about it though. I chose to smoke and ruin my lungs and life, so I "pay the price" of my twice daily nebulizer treatments.

it was me that liked the nebulizer better. i do it with just albuteral, which is the same as your inhaler.
i only needed it when my lung shut down and i liked that i could just sit and do it in my recliner.
for me it seemed to work much better at getting the goo loose so i could cough it up than the inhaler.
of course i was home sick, maybe the inhalers are better if you need to use them when out and about as an inhaler you can just do a quick puff anywhere.
maybe some need both, the inhaler to carry when they go out and the neb for when they are housebound with sickness.
ask your dr---couldn't hurt to ask, right?
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS!!! i'm so proud of you!

boldprint - that's funny; I had to respond to: "..I get impatient waiting a minute..." I'm the same way - in fact, there's the possibility that the more "intrusive" I have to get with my meds, the sloppier and more impatient I'll get. It's possible that I'm cutting corners - now and then I re-read the directions (after a few years!) just to make sure I haven't gotten too complacent.

The nebulizer will get more of the medication into your lungs. I was on inhalers a few years back and they weren't having the desired effect. I nebulize Pulmicort and Brovana 2x per day. When need it I will use xopenex and I have a rescue inhaler. The best part of it is Medicare pays 100% for them.

Hi Boo,
I have been on nebulizer treatments for a long while. I only use them when I'm really having difficulty breathing. They seem to work quicker than the inhalers. I use the inhalers when I go out. I use albuterol in my nebulizer. Talk to your Dr. about it. Great job on the weight loss.
Hugs