HS

ladybug

New member
Hello.

I have been on HS for a couple months now. I notice I really don't cough very much at all when I do it. I used to cough a lot when starting it, and during the first 5 minutes of my treatment... it was quite amazing.

Well, now I can get through almost the whole thing without a cough. What does this mean? Are my lungs "clearing out" or am I becoming "immune" to its effects? Does this happen to anyone else??

Thanks-
 

sarabeth87

New member
I still cough when I do it, but not as much as when I first started. So here's my theory.......
maybe when we first started because we weren't used to it and it irritated our throats, it made us cough. Now since we have gotten used to it, it doesn't irritate our throats like it once did, then we don't cough as much. Or then again, your lungs could be "clearing up" Who Knows?????????
 

princessjdc

New member
Sometimes I can go threw the whole thing without coughing but sometimes I make myself cough, and especially when I do my vest after Hs, then I try and huff or cough a little just to help move stuff around in there. Eventhough the HS doesnt make me cough all the time.
 

Jem

New member
I too coughed a lot more when I first began the HS treatments than
I do now but I believe, like Amy said, that it means that our lungs
now are cleaner so there is not much to bring up.  I bet if
you skipped doing the treatments for a day or two then started
again you would notice a big difference and cough more.  But I
would not want to do that.  I believe the HS is a wonderful,
safe, cheap treatment and well worth the time it takes to do.
Coughing less with the HS is not a bad sign, I believe it is a good
one! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

cdale613

New member
I experienced the same phenomena, but felt that it was more to getting used to the treatment than "clearing out." After thinking about why this was happening, and what it meant, I emailed the primary investigator of the UNC Chapel Hill study, and asked if increasing the % of saline inhaled would produce more results (ie. sputum production).

This was what I asked him:

"How was 7 percent saline determined to be the desired concentration? After using 7 percent for the last two months, I feel that I have gotten used to the treatment, and don't find it nearly as "harsh" to inhale as I once did. I also find that 7 percent isn't bringing up stuff as easily - I can still "feel" the junk down there, its just harder to clear than it was at first.

I am writing because I have been tempted to try inhaling 10 percent saline, hoping to get more of a clearing effect, and find that I indeed do. I recognize that there may be legitimate reasons behind not using 10 percent on a regular basis, particularly the creation of a severe inflammatory response that might result in less toleration of saline - even at lower concentrations. However, if 7 percent was selected because it represents a balance between the positive effect of the HS and what CF patients (across the spectrum of the disease) could be expected to tolerate and comply with, then that's different."

This was his reply:

"Regarding the concentration that was studied, 7% was a compromise between a dose that was most effective and what is well tolerated (in short term studies of mucociliary clearance - where 0.9%, 3%, 7%, and 12% were tested - 7% and 12% were similar, and better than 0.9 and 3%, but 12% wasn't well tolerated). Therefore, if concentrations higher than 7% are well tolerated in an individual, we have often gone up to 10% with further benefit (if you tolerate 7% easily, you probably will tolerate 10%, but obviously should do this in conjunction with your CF doctor). Your instinct to increase to 10% is probably a good one, therefore..."

After talking to my Dr., I began inhaling 4ml of 10% twice a day.

It does indeed make the saline treatment feel like its doing more for me.

It also costs me half as much, because CFF Pharmacy considers the 7% "kit" two prescriptions (which is ridiculous, but that's another topic).

Anyway, if you feel comfortable with 7%, I would recommend trying 10% to see if you feel like its doing more for you.

Chris
26 w/CF
 

ladybug

New member
Thanks for the info., Chris!

Did they mention anything about whether or not it is because you're becoming used to the treatment or because you're cleaning stuff out that you weren't getting the results with 7%? I suppose either could still be the case, you may need higher % because the remaining stuff is much harder to get out OR you may need higher because the stuff that's in there is no longer responding to saline. Interesting stuff. I'm very curious. (lol,,,, that's for you, Laura! lol)
 

Asexyblond23

New member
Can you tell me morea bout the 2 kit thing from the CF pharmacy? I just started on it today and I can get the .09% from my military pharmancy but have to get the 10% from the Cf pharmacy.
 
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