This week is National Breathe Easy Week

Monday June 13th - Sunday June 19th

So who are Breathe Easy?

We’ve blogged before about how even the best expert patient can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelmed by their lung condition and how some of you feel isolated and different from everyone else. We regularly talk to many of you who feel unsure and confused of the best way forward.

Breathe Easy is a branch of the British Lung Foundation where not only those with a lung condition but family and carers of sufferers too, can come together for mutual support and advice. It provides information on lung health as well as a collective voice to raise awareness of the daily battle that living with a lung condition can involve. Its a chance to share your experience and they are experts at listening.

So just what is Breathe Easy Week?

It is the flagship campaign of the British Lung Foundation. Local Breathe Easy Groups will be holding talks, teas, quiz nights and other activities to raise awareness and promote lung health. The theme this year is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and the BLF are launching a 'sleep survey'  to discover who suffers and how this can affect your lifestyle. Their latest research shows that over a third of you sleep in separate beds because of your partners loud snoring. Annoying in itself but loud snoring is also one of the main indicators for OSA which could be detrimental to your health. They even provide an online indicator known as the 'sleepiness scale'

Breathe Easy groups are local and here you can find a group near you. Whatever your lung condition I’m sure they will be happy you popped by to say hello. So get involved you can start on line right now. Many of you have found it a very positive experience. Even we have made many new friends on line.

And if this doesn’t quite fit the bill, don’t forget our other kindred spirits who are equally warm, welcoming and more than willing to help wherever you are in the UK.

Dual Voltage Nebulisers to take you travelling.

What do we mean by Dual Voltage Nebulisers?

More and more products such as mobile phones and lap top computers have a dual voltage capability. This means that they are designed to operate efficiently and safety with either 110/120Volts such as in America and the Caribbean or 220/240Volts, the system we have here in the U.K. and in Europe. All you may need is the plug adaptor to convert your device to the style of the country your visiting which can make life much simpler. However assuming this applies to all electrical devices could lead to disaster.

Many nebulisers still have only a single voltage capability and mistakes can easily be made.  We get frequent calls from American or Canadian visitors who have “blown up” their nebuliser as the voltage here is the U.K. is higher and conversely many people begin their long awaited holiday with a desperate scramble to source a nebuliser as the one they took with them from home just won’t run at all. It can be an expensive and worrying mistake to make as nebulisers in some other countries are often more difficult to source and more expensive to buy.

So before purchasing any nebuliser, it pays to consider its suitability for your lifestyle as well as its compatibility with the medication you will be prescribed. You can clink on the red links below to view our range or click HERE to view all portable models.

Nebulisers which are dual voltage are:

Philips Innospire Mini

Pari Boy Mobile S

The Pari Mini

For those of you who prefer to cruise, a dual voltage nebuliser will work on board ship  though its always wise to check with the travel company, and some models come complete with a 12 volt D.C. lead so you can nebulise when necessary from the cigarette lighter in your car or caravan.

So if you are only going to purchase one unit consider those which are dual purpose as well as dual voltage. If you are lucky enough to travel frequently, stop a moment and think of just where in the world you hope to visit  next and would a battery enhance your holiday? Or if being small and lightweight is essential maybe it will necessary to have a second nebuliser to take you there.

Buying an Omron MicroAir U22

The Omron MicroAir U22 is now back in stock. You can find it by clicking below
https://evergreen-nebulizers.co.uk/omron-microair-u100-nebuliser

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. And say a big thank you to those of you who were in a position to wait, for your patience and loyalty. Your order will by now have been dispatched

To those of you who chose the Philips Respironics MicroElite We hope your finding that what we said was correct as it is an equally efficient, very versatile alternative with features that some of you consider an added bonus.

And as Kate pointed out lets not forget the reason for the stock issue in the first place and hope that those affected by the Tsunami are managing to rebuild their lives.

What do we mean by Dual Purpose?

Click HERE on our website and you will the nebulisers we list 

Some are Mains Powered, Portable or Dual Purpose. This is by no means a definitive list and there can be some cross over, for instance the Innospire Go and the MicroAir are the smallest battery nebulisers we supply and can be powered from the mains electricity. However for those of you who nebulise many times a day it is usually wise to have a larger 'work horse' for the house and a smaller hand held nebuliser for when out and about. Having said that this doesn’t suit everyone, and some you prefer to have 2 small portable units to ‘spread the load’ so to speak.

So, Dual Purpose?

Dual purpose nebulisers are those which we feel will not only have the power and durability to cope with a high usage but still provide some portability so you can enjoy the freedom to get out and about. Some of these nebulisers can be a little heavier than the small portables but still have the capability of nebulising in your car or from a battery which may be integral or available as an extra. You can always call on 01942 701210 if you're not sure

When choosing any nebuliser its important to consider your lifestyle.

Some of you never venture far  from your car in which case the few extra ounces become irrelevant. Others may not be able to afford the luxury of two nebulisers but don’t want to be chained to the house if your prescription requires you to nebulise 4 times a day. For those of you on antibiotics or a steroid who only have to nebulise twice a day, a dual purpose nebuliser can be light weight for travelling but still powerful enough to be efficient and effective.

And don’t forget our dual purpose nebulisers are also dual voltage which means they will automatically operate from any mains voltage worldwide for those of you lucky enough to travel to more exotic destinations. As always if you need help choosing or simply want to know a few more details, you can email by clicking HERE or call on 01942 701210.

New and Used Nebulisers

Kate names her nebulisers and why not? Sometimes it can feel like you spend more time with them than with your family, and if people can name cars and other inanimate objects than why not nebulisers? With a little care and affection they can certainly help you out in a crisis. 

But what happens to your nebuliser when it’s no longer needed?

Perhaps you have decided its time to upgrade as you have come to rely on it a little more. Maybe your health professional has prescribed a new medication regime and you need a more powerful unit or a closed system?

Perhaps, sadly it wasn’t your nebuliser but belonged to a family member who has passed away. Or finally, you are feeling much more confident and need a nebuliser that will take you out and about?

It’s a question we get many calls about. But before you pop it in the bin or for sale on a famous online auction/shopping website, have you ever considered donating it?

With budget cuts in the NHS, loan machines are becoming scarce and your Asthma or Practice Nurse may know of individuals less fortunate who may not be able to afford to buy a new nebuliser.Customers tell us that local hospices, hospitals or clinics are often grateful for donated nebulisers, especially if its in good condition and well cared for.

And then there are other charitable organisations such as:

Karmic Angels who are hoping to send good condition second hand units abroad to countries where nebulisers are desperately needed. http://www.karmicangels.org.uk/

Or animal rescue centres such as Abijoes http://www.abijoes.co.uk/ who do wonderful work rescuing birds. 

So stop for a minute, give it a little thought and make a few calls. A good mains only machine may improve someones quality of life by providing a better therapy or a second unit to spare them lugging theirs up and down stairs at bedtime. And a portable travel nebuliser could mean a whole new lease of life to someone who is too anxious to step outside without one, or allow a charitable organisation to treat several people to days out.

Spares and accessories shouldn’t be passed on, filters will need changing but your old unit  may yet earn a little affection in someone else’s life. 

Nebuliser Ditty!

We would like to say a big thank you to our poetic customer for this ditty and he would like to apologise to Pam Ayers.

Oh I wish I’d looked after me neb

and rinsed the vaporiser head.

At times when I wheeze 

and struggle to breathe

Oh I wish I’d looked after me neb.

Oh I wish I’d been a little more willin’

To part with a few hard earned shillings.

It needed some spares 

and I didn’t care

Now I’m faced with an extra big billin'

The man on the end of the phone

had brought it along to me home.

He said “Hello Evergreen”.

“The neb is simple to clean”

Time to give back the neb that’s on loan.

Complete with instructions and guidelines,

a medicine chamber and driveline.

Some spare filters a mask,

a contact to ask,

All delivered in practically no time.

At first it was all fine and dandy. 

Whenever I wheezed it was handy.

I soon took it for granted

despite how my wife ranted

The Mrs resembled a banshee!

“The machine needs a simple wipe clean!

The filters aren’t meant to be green! 

The chamber a rinse!

It made the nurse wince!

Such a small effort to make it all gleam.”

So now I’m online for a new one

A few clicks, a card payment and all done.

It will be with me next day

so Evergreen say

Their service is second to non

With the wife now after my spleen!

Advice hints and tips from Evergreen

I promise to strive

Till that day arrives

When they finally make them dry clean!

If you need any help caring for your nebuliser please don't hesitate to get in touch you can phone 01942 701210 or email us here or post below.

Hands up who needs a mask?

We often get asked “does the nebuliser come with a mask?” The answer in most cases is YES and where the manufacturer doesn’t include one we, where appropriate, will always put one in free of charge despite what the image may show on our website

Your health professional may recommend you use a mouthpiece as some nebuliser medications such as Ipratropium can occasionally cause eye problems. Others such as antibiotics and steroids are safer when nebulised through a closed system  such as a Sidestream Plus or a Pari LC Sprint and work better when used with a mouthpiece if you do prefer a mask please phone us for advice on 01942 701210 


Kate emailed to say 

"I am getting more converted to using a mouthpiece but find some more comfortable to use than others.
The side stream one is very good.
Ventstream - Good for anti-biotics etc though hefty!
Pari LC Sprint - OK and getting use to it. (My new neb!)
Micro Elite - I never really got on with this system, design, shape etc. 
Omron Micro air - very good as soft.
I do however prefer a mask if my asthma is deteriorating and always use one when in hospital"

(A laryngectomy or tracheostomy mask is slightly different and fittings can vary but we are here to help you chose the most suitable nebuliser.)

So the answer in most cases is YES, the nebuliser will come with a mask. If you would like to share your experience or if you are still unsure please feel free to contact us via email HERE, comment below or telephone and we’ll be happy to help.