I too had the usual hot showers or sat in the bathroom running just hot water through the shower head. However my first steam mask was an accident. For Mother's Day I got my mom a 'facial sauna' that for all practical purposes was a steam mask. Resembling a blender the base using s ceramic heater and water storage, on 'high' steam billowing through a ceramic grate I would place my face against the soft gasket at the top of the unit and suck steam. The advantage is multifold. The gasket neatly covered my entire face heating all my sinuses, allowing them to open and drain. Breathing absurdly hot steam alternately in through the mouth, out through the nose was relief almost indescribably healthy in its effects. Another addvantage with the facial sauna, which is still made by Sunbeam and of course imitators at every drugstore chain, is all you have to do is raise your head to hack out phlegm. Although I hadn't yet been diagnosed with CF, my parents, doctor and by 12 when I bought my mom this facial sauna, my mom suggested I use it. I eagerly tried and 40 years later, still use it. I add stuff to my steam mask (facial sauna) sometimes Albuterol Sulfate and nebulize with steam.WARNING CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANYTHING I CLAIM IS SO GREAT. Adding albuterol to steam is potentially dangerous, maybe even fatal. Same goes for some personal favorites such as camphor oil, capsaisan oil, peppermint oil and a couple others. The original Sunbeam Facial Sauna with all ceramic parts lends itself to cleaning and sterilization. For a period I used a knock off with metal and plastic. It worked fine, but took a little more to assure sterilization. Whatever you choose, steam mask, facial sauna, or a wet towel over a boiling pan of water, intense hot steam can be frighteningly effective. You don't want to loosen too much too fast. I had to get to an ER fast once when I over did it. They went in and sucked two liters of thick stciky icky, I had loosened. With me, I was purposely trying to see how far I could push the process. Try this at your own peril. With parents of young CFer's should monitor them. In short, it is the best thing since ear buds. I have asked several pulmonary docs and none have told me not to do this and 40 years is a long term testimonial to be simply anecdotal. I tried a medical steam mask and prefer the alternative.
