Starting neb meds again and have some ?s

[MOM247]

I also ordered extra nebs & Pari hard plastic masks online. Our clinic doesn't give out equipment anymore, our insurance only pays for one set every 6 months. That wasn't cutting it! Best money I ever spent. On Parent Education nights the drug reps usually pass out new nebs, and I get as many as I can


Sarah

 

[2005CFmom]

As far as getting the extra nebs... We went ahead a bought enough nebs to last 2 days. It wasn't cheap, but well worth the investment. Pari's hypersal now comes with a neb, so we get one neb a month from that to help us stockpile for the next neb change.

As far as getting 1 every six months from insurance, have you tried explaining why you need more. Our insurance had the same policy, but we were able to change it to 3 every 6 months. 2 a day for albuterol and 1 a day for pulmozyme, so every 6 months I get one full days worth of nebs.

 

[littlemisscoughsalot]

Awesome! I never knew buying online was an option. I should clarify, insurance pays for 2 pari and one side stream. Dd on saline tobi and dnase.

I wash with soap and water and air dry after one use and boil after the second. I've been wanting to try something i saw online though. You can buy a small electric tea pot, and poor them in there for 10 minutes. This would prevent me from ever leaving them on the stove and making a plastic pancake again... I hope I'm not three only one who's ever done that.

 

[briarrose]

The way we were taught to do it (and this is why it would be nice if there was consistency between clinics since everyone does it differently) is:

Every day, after treatment, we rinse the neb/spacers in warm water. Then, at the end of the day, we wash the pieces in hot, soapy water. We place them in our Avent Steam Sterilizer with distilled water (or water that's been boiled for 5 minutes if we run out of distilled). Then we shake out the pieces, and place them to dry on a new paper towel in a place away from food in our kitchen and allow to air dry. Right before each step, we use purell on our hands to make sure we're not adding any germs to the process.

We were specifically told not to use microwave steam sterilizers and only the electric kind. It is so much easier for us than boiling (which we did the first six months until our RT told us we could steam sterilize.)

 

[rebeccarph]

Hey all,
I am a pharmacist and have been working exclusively with CF patients and families for the last few years.
Cleaning of nebulizers and parts is a very big deal! You wouldn't believe some of the nebulizers that we receive back here at the pharmacy. It's unbelievable how nasty they can get when not cleaned properly (if at all).
We feel is is so important to clean properly that a couple of years ago we created a video on how to clean your Trio or Altera nebulizers. This technique can and does apply for most nebulizers. We also provide a starter cleaning kit to patients receiving neb's from us. The baby bottle sterilizers are also available but just remember you must also keep it clean as well. You can find the video's at www.foundcare.com or request a DVD to be sent to your home at 877.291.1122.
Don't mean for this to be a commercial, but watching a video can be very helpful.

Here is a list of MUST's:
1. Do not use tap water to clean or rinse - use distilled water or water that has been boiled for at least 5 minutes
2. Wash all neb parts in hot water and non-antibacterial, clear soap for at least one minute as soon as possible after each treatment - have soapy water ready to go so you can just throw in container when done
3. Rinse all parts with distilled water
4. Allow to air dry
5. At the end of the day must disinfect all parts (excluding base). This can be done several ways:
a. place all parts in boiling water and boil for at least 5 minutes. Allow to air dry
b. place all parts in container of distilled water with Control III solution. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with distilled water & allow to air dry
c. place all parts in baby bottle sterilizer (electric) and allow to run. Allow to air dry when complete

Hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[Ratatosk]

Somewhere, sometime ago I read NOT to use distilled water because pseudo has been found in that. I'm heard certain bottle sterilizers don't reach the optimum temperature... So for me, IMO washing in soapy water to get rid of the residue from Tobi, etc., and boiling for 10 minutes kills all the potential bugs.