Vest and kids - questions

ConnorsMom · Feb 20, 2008

Our team of Docs didn't have us doing nebs or chest PT unless Connor was sick until he was 7 yrs old. I think it's a research thing, techniques change as more research is done. Since we moved to VA we've gotten the vest (first thing the new clinic did was get us the vest, the old clinic said Connor was too healthy and our insurance wouldn't cover it) and do it twice a day like a religion. I feel it's more to develop a routine, get him used to doing it now so it's not an issue later in life. Connor's been sick more since we've lived here, and when he does get sick we increase the vest and nebs to 4 times a day. He rarely coughs, and only when he does hypertonic saline immediately following Pulmozyne- never just from the vest. His PFT's have stayed high throughout. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

ConnorsMom · Feb 20, 2008

Our team of Docs didn't have us doing nebs or chest PT unless Connor was sick until he was 7 yrs old. I think it's a research thing, techniques change as more research is done. Since we moved to VA we've gotten the vest (first thing the new clinic did was get us the vest, the old clinic said Connor was too healthy and our insurance wouldn't cover it) and do it twice a day like a religion. I feel it's more to develop a routine, get him used to doing it now so it's not an issue later in life. Connor's been sick more since we've lived here, and when he does get sick we increase the vest and nebs to 4 times a day. He rarely coughs, and only when he does hypertonic saline immediately following Pulmozyne- never just from the vest. His PFT's have stayed high throughout. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

ConnorsMom · Feb 20, 2008

Our team of Docs didn't have us doing nebs or chest PT unless Connor was sick until he was 7 yrs old. I think it's a research thing, techniques change as more research is done. Since we moved to VA we've gotten the vest (first thing the new clinic did was get us the vest, the old clinic said Connor was too healthy and our insurance wouldn't cover it) and do it twice a day like a religion. I feel it's more to develop a routine, get him used to doing it now so it's not an issue later in life. Connor's been sick more since we've lived here, and when he does get sick we increase the vest and nebs to 4 times a day. He rarely coughs, and only when he does hypertonic saline immediately following Pulmozyne- never just from the vest. His PFT's have stayed high throughout. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

ConnorsMom · Feb 20, 2008

Our team of Docs didn't have us doing nebs or chest PT unless Connor was sick until he was 7 yrs old. I think it's a research thing, techniques change as more research is done. Since we moved to VA we've gotten the vest (first thing the new clinic did was get us the vest, the old clinic said Connor was too healthy and our insurance wouldn't cover it) and do it twice a day like a religion. I feel it's more to develop a routine, get him used to doing it now so it's not an issue later in life. Connor's been sick more since we've lived here, and when he does get sick we increase the vest and nebs to 4 times a day. He rarely coughs, and only when he does hypertonic saline immediately following Pulmozyne- never just from the vest. His PFT's have stayed high throughout. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

ConnorsMom · Feb 20, 2008

Our team of Docs didn't have us doing nebs or chest PT unless Connor was sick until he was 7 yrs old. I think it's a research thing, techniques change as more research is done. Since we moved to VA we've gotten the vest (first thing the new clinic did was get us the vest, the old clinic said Connor was too healthy and our insurance wouldn't cover it) and do it twice a day like a religion. I feel it's more to develop a routine, get him used to doing it now so it's not an issue later in life. Connor's been sick more since we've lived here, and when he does get sick we increase the vest and nebs to 4 times a day. He rarely coughs, and only when he does hypertonic saline immediately following Pulmozyne- never just from the vest. His PFT's have stayed high throughout. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

MargaritaChic · Feb 20, 2008

The clinic I go to is the U of M. It is where Dr. Warwick works. He is the doctor that invented the vest. This clinic prescribes the vest for children at 1 year of age. I believe their average survial rate is 10-11 years higher than the national average. To me that says alot.

Preventative means: serving to prevent or hinder.
You start using the vest before there are lung problems to prevent or hinder any future lung problems.

Or look at it another way... what is the worst that could happen? You do the treatments and they provide no benefit. Isn't that still better than not doing the treatments and finding out later that if you would have done them your child would be healthier?

For me there is no question.

A few other things I wanted to add:
Lung function of 100% is wonderful, but it can be better than that. I have seen someone on this board post that their lung function had been as high as 125%. The higher you can get it the better off you will be in the long run.

Why do some doctors recomend it while others don't? I am sure they all have their own reasons for not recomending it. I think you would have to ask each one personally. Maybe they do not think there is enough clinical data on the benefits. Who knows. I have learned from my own health issues in the past that doctors do not know everything. It is up to each of us to be advocates for our own health (and our children's). We need to do what we feel is best. We need to fight for treatments that we need whether our doctor agrees or not.

<img src="">

MargaritaChic · Feb 20, 2008

The clinic I go to is the U of M. It is where Dr. Warwick works. He is the doctor that invented the vest. This clinic prescribes the vest for children at 1 year of age. I believe their average survial rate is 10-11 years higher than the national average. To me that says alot.

Preventative means: serving to prevent or hinder.
You start using the vest before there are lung problems to prevent or hinder any future lung problems.

Or look at it another way... what is the worst that could happen? You do the treatments and they provide no benefit. Isn't that still better than not doing the treatments and finding out later that if you would have done them your child would be healthier?

For me there is no question.

A few other things I wanted to add:
Lung function of 100% is wonderful, but it can be better than that. I have seen someone on this board post that their lung function had been as high as 125%. The higher you can get it the better off you will be in the long run.

Why do some doctors recomend it while others don't? I am sure they all have their own reasons for not recomending it. I think you would have to ask each one personally. Maybe they do not think there is enough clinical data on the benefits. Who knows. I have learned from my own health issues in the past that doctors do not know everything. It is up to each of us to be advocates for our own health (and our children's). We need to do what we feel is best. We need to fight for treatments that we need whether our doctor agrees or not.

<img src="">

MargaritaChic · Feb 20, 2008

The clinic I go to is the U of M. It is where Dr. Warwick works. He is the doctor that invented the vest. This clinic prescribes the vest for children at 1 year of age. I believe their average survial rate is 10-11 years higher than the national average. To me that says alot.

Preventative means: serving to prevent or hinder.
You start using the vest before there are lung problems to prevent or hinder any future lung problems.

Or look at it another way... what is the worst that could happen? You do the treatments and they provide no benefit. Isn't that still better than not doing the treatments and finding out later that if you would have done them your child would be healthier?

For me there is no question.

A few other things I wanted to add:
Lung function of 100% is wonderful, but it can be better than that. I have seen someone on this board post that their lung function had been as high as 125%. The higher you can get it the better off you will be in the long run.

Why do some doctors recomend it while others don't? I am sure they all have their own reasons for not recomending it. I think you would have to ask each one personally. Maybe they do not think there is enough clinical data on the benefits. Who knows. I have learned from my own health issues in the past that doctors do not know everything. It is up to each of us to be advocates for our own health (and our children's). We need to do what we feel is best. We need to fight for treatments that we need whether our doctor agrees or not.

<img src="">

MargaritaChic · Feb 20, 2008

The clinic I go to is the U of M. It is where Dr. Warwick works. He is the doctor that invented the vest. This clinic prescribes the vest for children at 1 year of age. I believe their average survial rate is 10-11 years higher than the national average. To me that says alot.

Preventative means: serving to prevent or hinder.
You start using the vest before there are lung problems to prevent or hinder any future lung problems.

Or look at it another way... what is the worst that could happen? You do the treatments and they provide no benefit. Isn't that still better than not doing the treatments and finding out later that if you would have done them your child would be healthier?

For me there is no question.

A few other things I wanted to add:
Lung function of 100% is wonderful, but it can be better than that. I have seen someone on this board post that their lung function had been as high as 125%. The higher you can get it the better off you will be in the long run.

Why do some doctors recomend it while others don't? I am sure they all have their own reasons for not recomending it. I think you would have to ask each one personally. Maybe they do not think there is enough clinical data on the benefits. Who knows. I have learned from my own health issues in the past that doctors do not know everything. It is up to each of us to be advocates for our own health (and our children's). We need to do what we feel is best. We need to fight for treatments that we need whether our doctor agrees or not.

<img src="">

MargaritaChic · Feb 20, 2008

The clinic I go to is the U of M. It is where Dr. Warwick works. He is the doctor that invented the vest. This clinic prescribes the vest for children at 1 year of age. I believe their average survial rate is 10-11 years higher than the national average. To me that says alot.

Preventative means: serving to prevent or hinder.
You start using the vest before there are lung problems to prevent or hinder any future lung problems.

Or look at it another way... what is the worst that could happen? You do the treatments and they provide no benefit. Isn't that still better than not doing the treatments and finding out later that if you would have done them your child would be healthier?

For me there is no question.

A few other things I wanted to add:
Lung function of 100% is wonderful, but it can be better than that. I have seen someone on this board post that their lung function had been as high as 125%. The higher you can get it the better off you will be in the long run.

Why do some doctors recomend it while others don't? I am sure they all have their own reasons for not recomending it. I think you would have to ask each one personally. Maybe they do not think there is enough clinical data on the benefits. Who knows. I have learned from my own health issues in the past that doctors do not know everything. It is up to each of us to be advocates for our own health (and our children's). We need to do what we feel is best. We need to fight for treatments that we need whether our doctor agrees or not.

<img src="">

folione · Feb 20, 2008

In addition to the good points already made, I'll add another reason to start early: Getting young CF patients to view daily medical stuff as a normal part of their life might help later on when they notice that not everybody has to do it. At the same time, we do not tell him he has to do it because he's sick - going down that route would be like telling him he's sick all the time even if he does not feel sick - we tell him he has to do it to keep his lungs healthy (just like taking his enzymes and prevacid is to keep his digestion feeling good). He still complains sometimes, but at least he's not trying to argue his way out of it by saying he feels AOK..

folione · Feb 20, 2008

In addition to the good points already made, I'll add another reason to start early: Getting young CF patients to view daily medical stuff as a normal part of their life might help later on when they notice that not everybody has to do it. At the same time, we do not tell him he has to do it because he's sick - going down that route would be like telling him he's sick all the time even if he does not feel sick - we tell him he has to do it to keep his lungs healthy (just like taking his enzymes and prevacid is to keep his digestion feeling good). He still complains sometimes, but at least he's not trying to argue his way out of it by saying he feels AOK..

folione · Feb 20, 2008

In addition to the good points already made, I'll add another reason to start early: Getting young CF patients to view daily medical stuff as a normal part of their life might help later on when they notice that not everybody has to do it. At the same time, we do not tell him he has to do it because he's sick - going down that route would be like telling him he's sick all the time even if he does not feel sick - we tell him he has to do it to keep his lungs healthy (just like taking his enzymes and prevacid is to keep his digestion feeling good). He still complains sometimes, but at least he's not trying to argue his way out of it by saying he feels AOK..

folione · Feb 20, 2008

In addition to the good points already made, I'll add another reason to start early: Getting young CF patients to view daily medical stuff as a normal part of their life might help later on when they notice that not everybody has to do it. At the same time, we do not tell him he has to do it because he's sick - going down that route would be like telling him he's sick all the time even if he does not feel sick - we tell him he has to do it to keep his lungs healthy (just like taking his enzymes and prevacid is to keep his digestion feeling good). He still complains sometimes, but at least he's not trying to argue his way out of it by saying he feels AOK..

folione · Feb 20, 2008

In addition to the good points already made, I'll add another reason to start early: Getting young CF patients to view daily medical stuff as a normal part of their life might help later on when they notice that not everybody has to do it. At the same time, we do not tell him he has to do it because he's sick - going down that route would be like telling him he's sick all the time even if he does not feel sick - we tell him he has to do it to keep his lungs healthy (just like taking his enzymes and prevacid is to keep his digestion feeling good). He still complains sometimes, but at least he's not trying to argue his way out of it by saying he feels AOK..

hopefulmommy · Feb 20, 2008

yes, it's all about being proactive and preventing!

If you wait until they show symptoms or are sick - you're already behind!

That's why I'm pushing to get the vest as soon as possible! My son is only 5 months right now, but almost big enough for the smallest vest from Respirtech!

We'll be trying it out at our next clinic visit.

ConnorsMom - where in VA are you???? We're in C'ville!

hopefulmommy · Feb 20, 2008

yes, it's all about being proactive and preventing!

If you wait until they show symptoms or are sick - you're already behind!

That's why I'm pushing to get the vest as soon as possible! My son is only 5 months right now, but almost big enough for the smallest vest from Respirtech!

We'll be trying it out at our next clinic visit.

ConnorsMom - where in VA are you???? We're in C'ville!

hopefulmommy · Feb 20, 2008

yes, it's all about being proactive and preventing!

If you wait until they show symptoms or are sick - you're already behind!

That's why I'm pushing to get the vest as soon as possible! My son is only 5 months right now, but almost big enough for the smallest vest from Respirtech!

We'll be trying it out at our next clinic visit.

ConnorsMom - where in VA are you???? We're in C'ville!

hopefulmommy · Feb 20, 2008

yes, it's all about being proactive and preventing!

If you wait until they show symptoms or are sick - you're already behind!

That's why I'm pushing to get the vest as soon as possible! My son is only 5 months right now, but almost big enough for the smallest vest from Respirtech!

We'll be trying it out at our next clinic visit.

ConnorsMom - where in VA are you???? We're in C'ville!

hopefulmommy · Feb 20, 2008

yes, it's all about being proactive and preventing!

If you wait until they show symptoms or are sick - you're already behind!

That's why I'm pushing to get the vest as soon as possible! My son is only 5 months right now, but almost big enough for the smallest vest from Respirtech!

We'll be trying it out at our next clinic visit.

ConnorsMom - where in VA are you???? We're in C'ville!

Vest and kids - questions

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