How to make the Vest more useful

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coltsfan715

New member
Well I have yet another question.

I have had my vest for a little over a yr or so now. I have never been able to really bring much up with it. I have tried different settings - both frequency and pressure. I have tried different lengths of time thinking maybe longer would be better or what have you and still I see little to no change in the amount that I cough with the vest.

I am wondering is there a certan way I need to breathe while doing my vest? I try to breathe out slowly and as long as I can - hoping that will help move stuff but really see now difference. I didn't know if there was some "trick" I wasn't made privy to.

Thanks guys.
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Well I have yet another question.

I have had my vest for a little over a yr or so now. I have never been able to really bring much up with it. I have tried different settings - both frequency and pressure. I have tried different lengths of time thinking maybe longer would be better or what have you and still I see little to no change in the amount that I cough with the vest.

I am wondering is there a certan way I need to breathe while doing my vest? I try to breathe out slowly and as long as I can - hoping that will help move stuff but really see now difference. I didn't know if there was some "trick" I wasn't made privy to.

Thanks guys.
Lindsey
 
C

coltsfan715

New member
Well I have yet another question.

I have had my vest for a little over a yr or so now. I have never been able to really bring much up with it. I have tried different settings - both frequency and pressure. I have tried different lengths of time thinking maybe longer would be better or what have you and still I see little to no change in the amount that I cough with the vest.

I am wondering is there a certan way I need to breathe while doing my vest? I try to breathe out slowly and as long as I can - hoping that will help move stuff but really see now difference. I didn't know if there was some "trick" I wasn't made privy to.

Thanks guys.
Lindsey
 
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princessjdc

New member
What I do sometimes is cough or huff every now and then, to move the stuff around, I never cough that junk up, but I figure if I move it around its better then it not moving at all. I can tell it works cause when Im finished I can feel the loose stuff in my lungs when I breath, so I cough or huff to move it.
 
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princessjdc

New member
What I do sometimes is cough or huff every now and then, to move the stuff around, I never cough that junk up, but I figure if I move it around its better then it not moving at all. I can tell it works cause when Im finished I can feel the loose stuff in my lungs when I breath, so I cough or huff to move it.
 
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princessjdc

New member
What I do sometimes is cough or huff every now and then, to move the stuff around, I never cough that junk up, but I figure if I move it around its better then it not moving at all. I can tell it works cause when Im finished I can feel the loose stuff in my lungs when I breath, so I cough or huff to move it.
 
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Alyssa

New member
My daughter says that combining it with the HS helps bring junk up. But she doesn't cough much, she said it just moves up and she is able to clear her throat and get it out.
 
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Alyssa

New member
My daughter says that combining it with the HS helps bring junk up. But she doesn't cough much, she said it just moves up and she is able to clear her throat and get it out.
 
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Alyssa

New member
My daughter says that combining it with the HS helps bring junk up. But she doesn't cough much, she said it just moves up and she is able to clear her throat and get it out.
 
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Chaggie

New member
I'm that way too, I raely couhg anything up while doing the vest, but I have noticed an increase throughout the day in my sputum production.
 
C

Chaggie

New member
I'm that way too, I raely couhg anything up while doing the vest, but I have noticed an increase throughout the day in my sputum production.
 
C

Chaggie

New member
I'm that way too, I raely couhg anything up while doing the vest, but I have noticed an increase throughout the day in my sputum production.
 
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Scarlett81

New member
ok, I don't want to come down on anybody-but I have to say, I thought my WHOLE life, just sit there and if the clapping or machine makes you cough then go with it, and that's it.
To some, this may be old news, to others this may be new, but when I started at my new clinic 2 yrs ago I learned for the first time how to use the vest properly-according to CFF and Vest guidelines. You have to do a series of forced coughing. I'm not saying this is what all doctors teach, but my clinic explained that alot of the correct method just gets lost in translation in clinics, or people are taught and forget.
Start with 8-10 mins on frequency 7 or so. I keep the middle dial for pressure on 5. After the 10 mins, take a deep breath in (like you're doing a pft) and blow it out fast or slow and strong-whatever's good for you. Produce 5 spits and keep track of all spits in a cup so you can watch the color of it.
Do 8-10 mins on frequency 10 or so, followed by 5 spits
Then 8-10 mins on frequency 13 or so, followed by 5 spits...and so on. You are supposed to do 5 frequencies-therefore getting out 25 spits! ALOT of mucus every time.

I never spit up with therapies my whole life. This works for me. My PFTs have jumped tremendously in the past 2 years. It takes alot more time and effort, and I feel like I had a good work out after. But its worth it.
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps a little.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
ok, I don't want to come down on anybody-but I have to say, I thought my WHOLE life, just sit there and if the clapping or machine makes you cough then go with it, and that's it.
To some, this may be old news, to others this may be new, but when I started at my new clinic 2 yrs ago I learned for the first time how to use the vest properly-according to CFF and Vest guidelines. You have to do a series of forced coughing. I'm not saying this is what all doctors teach, but my clinic explained that alot of the correct method just gets lost in translation in clinics, or people are taught and forget.
Start with 8-10 mins on frequency 7 or so. I keep the middle dial for pressure on 5. After the 10 mins, take a deep breath in (like you're doing a pft) and blow it out fast or slow and strong-whatever's good for you. Produce 5 spits and keep track of all spits in a cup so you can watch the color of it.
Do 8-10 mins on frequency 10 or so, followed by 5 spits
Then 8-10 mins on frequency 13 or so, followed by 5 spits...and so on. You are supposed to do 5 frequencies-therefore getting out 25 spits! ALOT of mucus every time.

I never spit up with therapies my whole life. This works for me. My PFTs have jumped tremendously in the past 2 years. It takes alot more time and effort, and I feel like I had a good work out after. But its worth it.
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps a little.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
ok, I don't want to come down on anybody-but I have to say, I thought my WHOLE life, just sit there and if the clapping or machine makes you cough then go with it, and that's it.
To some, this may be old news, to others this may be new, but when I started at my new clinic 2 yrs ago I learned for the first time how to use the vest properly-according to CFF and Vest guidelines. You have to do a series of forced coughing. I'm not saying this is what all doctors teach, but my clinic explained that alot of the correct method just gets lost in translation in clinics, or people are taught and forget.
Start with 8-10 mins on frequency 7 or so. I keep the middle dial for pressure on 5. After the 10 mins, take a deep breath in (like you're doing a pft) and blow it out fast or slow and strong-whatever's good for you. Produce 5 spits and keep track of all spits in a cup so you can watch the color of it.
Do 8-10 mins on frequency 10 or so, followed by 5 spits
Then 8-10 mins on frequency 13 or so, followed by 5 spits...and so on. You are supposed to do 5 frequencies-therefore getting out 25 spits! ALOT of mucus every time.

I never spit up with therapies my whole life. This works for me. My PFTs have jumped tremendously in the past 2 years. It takes alot more time and effort, and I feel like I had a good work out after. But its worth it.
Just my thoughts. Hope this helps a little.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
Chris-
Have you tried the huffing? Taking the deep breath in and the blowing it out hard and fast (like a pft)? For me, it almost produces a wheeze b/c I constrict my rib muscles together.
 
S

Scarlett81

New member
Chris-
Have you tried the huffing? Taking the deep breath in and the blowing it out hard and fast (like a pft)? For me, it almost produces a wheeze b/c I constrict my rib muscles together.
 
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