Does Using a Nebulizer Make You Salivate (Slobber?)

Urgent Care Doc asked if my daughter was a "dripper" when she used her nebulizer.


You know, I've never heard of my daughter called that before, but.....okaaaaaaay. 
 
Apparently Urgent Care Doc didn't mean that in a BAD way.

We were at Urgent Care last fall because we were on vacation and didn't pack our nebulizer. It was a short 3 day trip to grandma's and my teenage daughter Kitty had packed her albuterol inhaler, so I wasn't too worried. 

But Kitty had a cold and we had a major change in elevation. Those two things combine must have made her feel that her albuterol inhaler just wasn't helping. 

So, Mean Mom that I am -  I dragged her to the Urgent Care.

 Urgent Care Doc could tell that she needed a breathing treatment and I sheepishly admitted that we hadn't packed our nebulizer and that's why we were there.

 The Doctor was really nice about it and assured me that I wasn't a bad parent. She went off to get the nebulizer and brought one back with the canister and mouthpiece.


Sometimes people drip (or slobber) when they use a mouthpiece with the nebulizer. You can really taste the medication with the mouthpiece - it's sort of salty, which of course make your mouth salivate (or slobber/drip) a little bit. 

When Urgent Care Doc came back to check on Kitty, she could see that Kitty had wrapped a pile of tissues around the base of the canister kit. She said, "Oh - is she a Dripper?"

Never thought of it that way, but yes.

I should have told Urgent Doc when she first went to get the nebulizer that Kitty HATES the mouthpiece. She would much rather use the mask. But Urgent Care Doc was busy and I didn't want to bother her to hunt down a mask.

Urgent Care Doc had home health care deliver a nebulizer to grandma's house so we didn't have to keep going back to the Urgent Care every 4 hours for a breathing treatment. Our nebulizer at home was 17 years old, so we didn't mind having a newer (and smaller) unit.


If you or your kids are using a nebulizer, you can try different options to see what you like. I'm not a big fan of the mouthpiece either, it is salty and I do drip. I would rather use a mask.

If your kids don't like using the nebulizer, that could be a reason why. Try a couple of different masks or a mouthpiece and see what they like best.

After all, who want to be called a Dripper?!

Comments

  1. Our nebulizer mask has gone MIA, so I've been using the mouthpiece for my daughter. I had no idea that could make the Albutoril taste salty!

    I'm curious, I have been under the impression that the mask, mouthpiece, tubing, etc needed to be changed out regularly with new as it expired. Have you or could you do a post about equipment maintenance? Love reading your blog - thanks for doing it!

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    1. Yes, I will add that to my list of ideas! Great suggestion! Here's something to get you started :)

      http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/home-nebulizer-therapy#2

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  2. My doctor told me the mouthpiece is more efficient and gets more medicine in your lungs. It is also easier to use with the vest. I also have aspergers and I don't like the sensation of spmething being tied around my face

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    1. I know what you mean! My daughter just holds the mask up to her face, she won't put the elastic strap around her head

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  3. My doctor told me the mouthpiece is more efficient and gets more medicine in your lungs. It is also easier to use with the vest. I also have aspergers and I don't like the sensation of spmething being tied around my face

    ReplyDelete

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