A Must-Have for anyone with asthma or in need of Albuterol breathing treatments is a reliable nebulizer that’s ready when and where they need it!
When I was watching the news about Hurricane Harvey, I saw a woman, I think in Victoria Texas, freaking out about the possibility of the power going out and her baby’s nebulizer not working.
Now, I was born asthmatic, so I can seriously related to that mom’s fear. Here’s some information that could be a life-saver for anyone with asthma.
First, cut the cord. Get rid of any nebulizer that requires 110 volt house current and replace it with a battery-powered MESH nebulizer. Here’s a picture and description of the one that my wife and I have been using for AT LEAST the last 15 years – SAME ONE, NO REPLACEMENT EXCEPT FOR AA BATTERIES!
This is the Omron Micro-Air Electronic Nebulizer System NE-U22V1. Like I said above, we’ve been using it for over 15 years. The only part that I’ve ever had to replace is the 2 AA batteries, which for our purposes generally last at least a year.
Not only is it battery-powered, but it will produce a fine MIST, where the drops are so small that they will penetrate much farther into the lungs than the big drops that the compressor-type nebulizers make.
I’ve shown this nebulizer to doctors, nurses and even respiratory therapists. When I demonstrated its operation, they were amazed by both the fine mist that it put out and the general handiness of it. It was the first time that any of them had ever seen or heard of it. It appears that this nebulizer is one of the best kept secrets in the world! Which is crazy, because it works so good! It stopped asthma in its tracks for me.
Use and Maintenance
Here are pictures of my unit disassembled (links for the Instruction Manual and Cleaning Instructions are shown at the end of this article):
The 2 AA batteries and electrodes for AC adapter charging stand (optional) are on the bottom of the Main Unit.
Using your nebulizer
This nebulizer is very easy to use. To start, remove the Mask and Mouthpiece Adapter.
Next, lift the Mesh Cap by applying pressure to the bottom and pushing up.
This is the Mesh Cap lifted. Next, remove the Mesh Cap by grasping the upper edge of it, taking great care to not touch the mesh (the shiny bit).
Gently lift the Mesh Cap in a rocking motion to the left, as shown by the picture below, allowing the Mesh Cap’s attachment pin to slide up through the slot. Once the Mesh Cap has bee removed, you can add medicine into the Medication Bottle through the Medication Port, as shown in the next picture.
Once you have added your medicine to the nebulizer, reassemble it by retracing the disassembly instructions in reverse
Once you have reassembled your nebulizer, put the mouthpiece in your mouth and press the On-off button to begin your treatment.
Cleaning and maintaining your nebulizer
The following steps are copied directly from the Omron cleaning instructions (Links are shown at the end of this article).
Wash the Medication Bottle, Mesh Cap, Mask, Mouthpiece, and Mask Adapter after each use.
It is important to clean your unit using distilled water after each use.
Remove the Mouthpiece or Mask and the Mask Adapter from the Main Unit.
1. Remove the Mouthpiece or Mask and the Mask Adapter from the Main
Unit.
2. Remove the Medication Bottle from the Main Unit.
3. Open the Medication Bottle and discard any remaining medication.
4. Attach the Medication Bottle to the Main Unit. Open the Mesh Cap.
5. Pour a small amount of distilled water into the Medication Bottle and
close the Mesh Cap.
6. Turn on the device to nebulize the distilled water for 1 to 2 minutes to
remove residual medication from the mesh holes.
7. Turn off the device and remove the Medication Bottle from the Main Unit.
8. Remove the Mesh Cap from the Medication Bottle and discard any
remaining distilled water from the Medication Bottle.
9. Rinse the Medication Bottle, Mesh Cap, Mask, Mouthpiece, and Mask
Adapter with distilled water.
10. Gently wipe off excess water with a soft clean cloth or allow the parts to
air dry in a clean environment.
11. Assemble the device. Store the device in the Storage Case or in a clean
environment.
There have been times when I was far too sick or tired to follow the cleaning instructions specified above. I just kept on using it until the mesh plugged up. This is a close-up of a plugged mesh. The reddish circle in the center is accumulated medication.
It looks bad, but it’s easily fixed by using our friend Mr. Distilled Water.
Put an inch-and-a-half to two inches of distilled water into a small shallow bowl as shown here.
Disassemble your nebulizer, and gently place the Mesh Cap into the bowl of distilled water. Never pour the water onto the Mesh Cap – the mesh is very delicate and you could damage it.
Let the Mesh Cap soak for a 2 to 3 hours, and you’ll see that the reddish ring has been dissolved. Then follow the regular cleaning instructions and the mesh will be as good as new!
Links (open in a new tab / window)
These links will take you to the Omron website and allow you to download the Instruction Manual and Cleaning Instructions.
Go to https://omronhealthcare.com/products/microair-nebulizer-neu22v/. You will have to scroll down the page until you see this:
Click on the boxes underlined in red to download the Instruction Manual and Cleaning Instructions.
To buy:
https://justnebulizers.com/micro-air-electronic-nebulizer-system-ne-u22v.html, $169.00
