Vest makes me itchy.....

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JennifersHope

New member
My vest is making me so itchy that I can hardly stand it..I think it is getting more and more itchy the more I use the vest... Mostly on my back and shoulders.. I am breaking out in a rash from it..and it is making my skin hurt... seems like the vibrations are what is doing it... Does anyone else have this happen to them, and if so what do you do about it????

Thanks

Jennifer 33 wt/CF and itchy skin....
 
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anonymous

New member
My 3 yr old son always itches while doing his vest. I usally just have to put my hand under the vest & hold it there for awhile. He gets sweaty too. When he first got it, the lady that taught us how to use it said he might complain about ictching due to the blood being forced to the skin or something like that (from being shakened) But that was 2 1/2 yrs ago, he is just NOW complaining?! Hope this helps some or eases your mind that your not the only one.<img src="i/expressions/angel_ani.gif" border="0">
Leah~mommy 2 Reece w/cf
 
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anonymous

New member
YES!! I get the itchiness too. I take it off and my back itches, my neck, my boobs. It drives me crazy, but after 20 mins or so it goes away. I reccomend taking a cool shower or bath, and put a minty or menthol type soak in the water.
Hope it helps a little.
Christian
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I have this depending on what top I am wearing. I use to change the settings, but it doesnt make a difference if I have the wrong top on. Material wise it I dont know if it seems to make a difference, but the thickness does. My pajama tops seem to work well which are a light flannel or cotton. They cant be too thin or I will have the itching & if its too thick I dont get the benefit of the vest without making the presssure too much which causes "bruising" making me sore. I havent noticed if my diet affects it at all. I will pay attention the next time I have it. I just had it the other day really bad. I thought I was going to scratch my boobs right off.....
 
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anonymous

New member
My vest which i use upto three times a day, also makes me itch. But the itch settles after a while. With CF and diabetes I tend to get very dehydrated which doesn't help . The therapy is sort of a trigger for the dryness of the skin , which inturn makes it itch. I am constantly working on my water intake and making sure I am hydrated. In addition to that a nice moisturizing shower or bath gel, I have one wich actually has a touch of olive oil in it helps . I don't brake out with it either. I find a tea shirt , makes for the best therapy , I get the most out of the vest without the thickness of a sweater. Perhaps a lower setting would help with the itch. The vest may just be irritating a already excisting adult acne problem. I also have that. I never had acne as a young person now suddenly Im braking out everywhere.. I have to continually monitor and treat adult acne. I use the "Proactive" system , It works fantastic for me.

46 years old, married 22years.
 
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Diane

New member
Like Jazzy's mom i notice it itches more with thinner shirts i wear. If i wear a sweat shirt i dont get the itching as much.
 
R

reillybug

New member
The vest company told me to put 2 cotton t-shirts on Reilly if it bothers her. The first time I only used 1 t-shirt, she got a red rash. Since then I have tried the 2 shirt thing, and that seems to help.
 
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anonymous

New member
I have heard that you aren't suppose to wear thick clothing...doesn't allow the machine to work to it's fullest. I would make sure you have the vest fitting you correctly...I know there is suppose to be a certain amount of room between the vest and your body when it is deflated. I do 2-3 treatments a day with mine..have for 14 years...never had a problem...that must be a real pain in the rash though! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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Faust

New member
Yeah it makes me itchy also. I've found the thicker the shirt I wear, the less itchy it makes me. Oh well, not much of a draw back considering what it's doing for me. A good session with the vest makes me feel great.
 
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anonymous

New member
I get itchy too - I notice it more if I'm moving around while doing the vest or not sitting up straight. If it's in reach, I grab my knitting needle and slide it under the vest to scratch!

-- Wallflower
 
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Faust

New member
I've found that if you take off your shirt then roll around in fiber glass shavings, then do your vest without a shirt, you don't itch as much.
 
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anonymous

New member
Ha Ha--Who woulda thunk it-I'll try that!
Would lotion help at all? I know this time of year, my back is itchy from dryness.
 
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JennifersHope

New member
Thanks for all your help.. This am.. I did my vest with a thicker shirt like suggested.. it seems like my skin is so raw from the previous uses..I put oil on every day when I get out of the shower... .The sweat shirt worked well as far as stopping the itch, but it really wasn't as effective for me in airway clearance.....

We will see.. Oh in case my posts get whacky in the next week or so.. this is my official disclaimer.. My primary just put me on very high doses of steroids.....I have never been on this high of amount by mouth before..so if I am whining a lot forgive me.....I have an infection that just isn't clearing up... he thinks it is just sinus infection.. with asthma effect.. so look out Prednisone here I come.....

Jennifer
 
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Faust

New member
The reason why we itch when we use it is because the massive high frequency vibrations irritate our nerves in our upper skin layer. Just like if you got one of those "Personal massagers" that vibrate real fast and put it on one spot on say the side of your chest, you will itch like crazy. And it's not so much an "itch" as it is a very pronounced tingly sensation.
 
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anonymous

New member
I will refrain from any and all "personal massagers that vibrate real fast" jokes... <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 
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anonymous

New member
Hello Jennifer, Just a note. STeriods can cause diabetes. It can also be reversed so ask your doctor about monitoring your blood sugars or whatever it takes to prevent that.

Good luck I wish you the best.

Jen D
 
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anonymous

New member
Good thought, but why hold back. Sense of humor always helps, especially when it comes to being sick. Anyway isn't that what people with CF are good at( among other things a good dirty joke ) . Just don't over do it. Ha!
 
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Faust

New member
<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i><br>Good thought, but why hold back. Sense of humor always helps, especially when it comes to being sick. Anyway isn't that what people with CF are good at( among other things a good dirty joke ) . Just don't over do it. Ha!<hr></blockquote>


Because some people on here don't appreciate that approach.
 
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