The Vest

[Ratatosk]

DS has a Hill Rom 104 vest. Has had it for almost 6 years, 2026 miles er I mean hours on it. We've had issues in the past where it's turned itself on in the middle of the night. Only a couple of times and it's been awhile since it's happened.
This morning I heard a high pitched wail coming from it, so I called Hill Rom, and the rep thought it meant it was losing pressure. So they're shipping a new 105 programable model to us tomorrow.
Before I called this morning, I'd posted on FB and a friend of mine indicated her husband still had the older, 80 pound beast of a model. Has had it since the mid 90s. Yikes!

 

[JennyCoulon]

We have the new 105 model for our youngest and then when our 104 died for our oldest they replaced it with the 105 model. I like the 105 model b/c you can actually set up a program so you dont' have the manually change any numbers when it hits a certain number of minutes. W always had to watch it and then when it hit 20 mins and then again 10 mins we had to change the first setting. I read the manual and it still took me a while to get used to which button's to push. I can tell you that if you want to "pause" you hit the off button not the on button. This one took me a while. Good luck

 

[Ratatosk]

We had the 105 at the hospital a few years ago and loved how we didn't have to manually stop the machine to cough, that it paused itself. Awesome!

 

[Rebjane]

Same thing happened to us; We actually got the 105 and 6 months later I heard a wail like a dying cat coming from the machine. Course it was on the weekend during the midst of a cold. Got another 105 no problems yet. They do refurbish the VESTs so I think that's part of the problem.

 

[beautifulsoul]

That is so cool! I also had that big heavy thing! I don't use the Vest anymore since I had my transplant. I saw some pictures on facebook of friends that have different color vests now?! Purple & pink ones. I missed all the fun <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ...

 

[Ratatosk]

Machine got delivered and they forgot to include the manual. The online videos on the vest page showed a different software version with a different set up screen than ours has, but fortunately I found one online, so think I can figure it out tonight. Oh, and the packaging does say refurbished.

 

[Alync91]

There is supposed to be a new vest without a compressor with projected availability in late october---

see other thread:
http://forums.cysticfibrosis.com/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=619316&enterthread=y

& this thread too

http://forums.cysticfibrosis.com/messageview.cfm?catid=3825&threadid=619010&enterthread=y

 

[IAmCysticFibrosis]

I don't have a Vest myself, in fact first time I used it was the first time I stayed in the hospital recently.

Anyone know if Medicare covers it? I think I want one, but herd they used to have problems paying for them. Is this still the case?

 

[Ratatosk]

IAMcf,

Not sure about medicare; however, your doctor could start the process regarding getting you one. With DS, the doctor prescribed it, we were initially contacted by the company asking for info regarding DS' health, warned that it's usually denied at first by insurance providers. Sure enough it was -- more questions were asked about hospitalizations, psuedomonas... I had thought under our BCBS that we'd be responsible for 20% of the cost, so I'd been setting aside money -- when it was all said and done it was much less, though we still had to come up with $500. A friend of mine with BCBS, but different policy had to do a lease to own scenario while another had to get financing.

 

[hammerpocket]

You're lucky to get a newer model. I have a 103 (last of the bigger machines) and when it had problems, Hill-Rom just replaced it with another 103. They said that I couldn't get a newer model without paying for it. I tried to get my insurance company to pay for a new one a few years ago, but they denied it. Now I unofficially own a 104 that I bought on eBay. I mainly use it for travel.

 

[AnnieT]

I love my Vest, I don't know what model it is and jealous of the pink vests out now!! lol.

 

[Ratatosk]

Annie, can't you just call hill-rom and order up a new vest next time you order new hoses? I LOVE that the new vests or at least the outer portion is washable. DS was going thru some vomiting issues awhile back and it's a god send to be able to throw it in the washing machine.

So far so good with this machine. Loving the programability, not having to stop the machine, pull a hose to remind DS to cough since it does it for him. Was laughing the other night because DS fell asleep during his treatment and the machine paused and he COUGHED in his sleep each time <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[TomS]

If your insurance won't pay for a new vest system, there is a company in Colorado called AffordableMedEquipment.com that repairs and sells Hill-Rom Vest systems with a warranty. We got our from them as we were living in Canada and we paid $ 3000 for a model with 1 hour on it. We have had it for 2 years now, never had a problem with it. Even managed to get a larger vest garment for our son when he outgrew the small one.