Flutter....your experience with it

[Magerly111]

So I've noticed a few people talking about how they do the flutter. Please ignore any of my stupidity on this subject, but I haven't used that thing for like 8 years! When I first started using it, it made me lightheaded from all the constant breathing in and out, and I felt like it required too much concentration. I hated the way you had to hold it at a certain angle just to make it vibrate in your chest, and after a while, my arm got tired of holding it. I'm surprised to see that a lot of people still use it. I'm curious to know, do you feel it works for you? I've seen people saying how they rarely cough anything up with it, and I'm wondering why you still continue to use it. Of course there are the obvious insurance/money issues,...but I thought that the medical field has tried to make so many other airway clearance devices after the flutter, that I honestly thought no one would use that anymore. Just wondering, no offense to anyone who does still use it.

 

[anonymous]

Hey Kim,
I am a big fan of the flutter. I actually use the flutter as well as the vest. I find that when I do the vest I have no desire to cough. So I follow follow up my vest treatment with the flutter to actually get myself to cough. The other reason I like the flutter is that I can just throw it in my pocket or purse and leave...liek if I go on a trip or think I may end up sleeping at a friends house. I know different therapies work for some people and not for others and it just so happens the flutter works for me. On the other hand I HATED PEP...didnt find it worked at all for me. What do you find works best for you or what do you do to keep your lungs clear. I am always interested in what others find works well for them.

 

[JennaB]

I hated my flutter. It gave me a headache as well... but I don't remember if I coughed up a lot with it or not.

 

[ej0820]

I was never a big fan of the Flutter either, I felt like it took too much effort to do what my vest/albuterol did in a second. I still use it every once in a while just to switch things up a bit (fix the bordem factor, lol).

erin
19/f/cf

 

[Magerly111]

Yea, I use the Vest. Mainly because I live at school and I don't have anyone to do manual CPT. It gives me that independence thing. I've tried doing CPT to myself...and it's hard. lol. But yea, I use the vest mainly, and even though I get tired of it sometimes, I still do it.

 

[DebbieC]

Hey,
If you're not into doing the flutter, ask about an Acapella. It's similar to the flutter in that it uses reverse pressure (the vibrating ball), but you can use it in any position, and it still works. You can adjust the resistance if you feel light-headed, and swivle the mouth piece so you can use it lying down. I find it to be much eaiser than the Flutter and takes less concentration. It's made by DHD.

I drew eyes on mine b/c I think it looks like a platypus.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">