Getting it all in a day...

[sunshine5637]

I'm currently on Hypertonic Saline and Pulmozyme. I'm switching 28/28 with Tobi and Cayston. I'm going to start the inhaled Albuterol soon.

I'm having such a hard time getting all of these meds in and working/living...I know the Tobi has to be taken 12 hours apart, but what about the albuterol, saline and pulmozyme? I'm wondering if I can bring those three to work with me and take them during my lunch hour? And then the Tobi in the morning (while getting ready) and then at night?

Any thoughts/suggestions/comments?

 

[Ratatosk]

Albuterol is 4 hours apart.

DS isn't on hypertonic saline, but we do albuterol/atrovent in the morning followed by tobi (6 am). Then the same before supper -- albuterol/atrovent followed by tobi. Then before bed he does albuterol/atrovent followed by pulmozyme. On the nights he has gymnastics, right after school we do albuterol/atrovent, then pulmozyme and tobi after supper.

 

[mag6125]

Have you tried using an Albuterol inhaler instead of neb? It'll cut down on your med time and I know at least for me personally it works better than the neb because that makes me actually more wheezy and shaky

 

[carmick]

I strongly prefer nebulized albuterol to my inhaler for treatments. I have an inhaler to help me get through the day, but I don't find it nearly as effective. If the albuterol makes you shaky, try xopenex. Same thing, but without the side effects. It might cost a little more depending on your insurance.

As far as suggestions go...see if you can get a prescription for the concentrated form of albuterol (or xopenex). That way you can mix it in with your hypertonic saline and get both done at the same time.

What kind of nebulizer are you using? Eflows are much quicker for Tobi than compression nebs.

Saline, technically, is not medication and you don't need to keep a steady amount in your body so you can do that when you need it/when it fits into your schedule. For example, I do it before bed (so I can sleep) and when I get up (so I can get through the day) even though that may only be 7 hours apart.

How many times per day are you on the other meds? I only take pulmozyme once per day so I could do it whenever, but that would depend on your dosing schedule. Ditto with albuterol...I do one treatment per day for sure and then do an extra one (or two or three) if I need it.

No doubt about it...fitting it all in is a pain.

 

[sunshine5637]

What is an Eflow nebulizer? I don't really know what kind I'm using.

When any of you take Tobi, do your lungs feel compressed?

My dr. wants me to take the albuterol, hts, pulmozyme twice a day. Tobi is twice a day and then the Cayston is 3 times (which Cayston is absolutely no problem).

 

[Kristen]

The eflow is another name for Altera, what you are using for Cayston. You might be able to get another one so that you can use it for some of your other meds.

When I worked, I bought an adapter and did some of my meds in the car. That saved a lot of time.

 

[sunshine5637]

Ooo, I LOVE the car adapter thing. It takes me like 30 minutes to get to work, that would be awesome. Where did you get something like that?

 

[Ratatosk]

I think we got our adapter at Best Buy or Target. We've used it for doing Tobi on the road. Just plug it into the cigarrette lighter in the car and we plug the pari compressor into that and off we go. Our new VW Jetta has an actual outlet in the backseat which I've used for dvd player, nintendo DS and the Ipad for longer trips.

 

[sunshine5637]

That is one of the most awesome things I've heard in a while. I'm actually in the market for a car! I'm going to check into this for sure. Thank you again!

Any suggestions for my order of meds and the time in between?