ask: My doctor instructed me to use my nebulizer in the morning, to loosen mucus, then lie on my

Hi Anonymous

Do you have difficulty coughing with sufficient force to mobilize mucus? Sometimes in ICUs in the hospital they use special beds for specific patients that can rotate to assist in mobilizing mucus and positional drainage and that sort of thing, so the idea is not a new one.

I'm guessing that if you have trouble clearing that mucus on your own it is hard to breathe with your head down and pressure on your chest. I suggest you discuss this with your pulmonologist and see if there is another way to achieve the goal of mobilizing and clearing the secretions. It is really important to do the best you can to avoid infection, but if you can't breathe it doesn't really help you, does it?

If I can help you further, please let me know. Thank you for writing, and good luck to you.

There is a trial starting for a medicine called Pirfenex (Pirfenidone) which can be effective for some IPF patients in helping stop the progression of the Fibrosis. It may take many months to see the effect in high doses. The medicine is not yet approved in the USA. As long as your Lung capacity is above 50% and you have IPF, you could get into the Trial. Please check with your Pulmonologist and good luck. Also, I have not found any easy method to bring out the Mucus from my airways, as an IPF patient.