Good Spacer Substitute?

Question

Originally asked by Community Member nscangal

Good Spacer Substitute?

Hi, there!

So, I did something silly today and managed to lose the rubber end cap to my RespiChamber spacer (the valved piece you plug your inhaler into). I can’t get to the pharmacy to replace it until pay day, which is tomorrow, but I find that spacers make a huge difference for me. To make things worse, I’m on a short course of prednisone right now because the stupid allergy season is driving my lungs nuts, and despite that, I’m still needing my inhaler 2-3 times a day (though, to be fair, this is only my second full day on the prednisone, and I’m already much improved from where I was so it is working), so I don’t think it’s good for me to be without a spacer even for only one day. I’m wondering if anyone here knows of a good substitute I could MacGyver up to last until tomorrow?

So you know, I know I’m uncontrolled right now, and I am working with my allergist and primary care provider to get myself under control - I’m on Advair 500, Singulair, allegra (180mg), Alvesco, diphenhydramine as needed up to 4x a day for sudden allergy flareups (hives, etc), prednisone (25mg), fluticasone nasal spray, ipatropium bromide nasal spray and Ventolin as a rescue med. I’ll be starting allergy shots as soon as they get shipped into the pharmacy, sometime next month. I’m compliant with all my meds, and I avoid allergens as much as possible, but I can’t become a shut-in every summer, since I do need to make a living, and I’m a chemistry Master’s student, so I can’t exactly work from home most of the time.

Thanks ahead of time for your help!

Answer

I’m not much of a Macgyver in real life, but when it comes to asthma I know of a few tricks. When I was a kid back in the 1980s my doctors and RTs often told me to use a used toilet paper roll. It basically does the same thing as any spacer you can purchase in the store and is generally free and available in any home.

It’s not the ideal solution, but it will work until you can get your new spacer.

You should know Answers to your question are meant to provide general health information but should not replace medical advice you receive from a doctor. No answers should be viewed as a diagnosis or recommended treatment for a condition.

Answered by: John Bottrell