VEST Settings

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

We've seen the PT at our clinic twice in the 15mo since Emily was dx'ed. We've talked about how things were going with Emily w/ her vest and how she responded in general more than the settings themselves. It was by becoming informed here however and learning about Dr. Warwick's recommendations (he's the one who invented the thing afterall) that I decided I wanted to change things around. Emily now uses the settings that have been determined to be most successful for her particular kind of vest, and her clinic is fine with that.

It turns out that the settings initially programmed by the HillRom people were the ones found LEAST effective in the studies Warwick did. She still coughed when doing it, but I figured if she was going to use that thing for so many hours I wanted her to get the most benefit she could out of it.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

We've seen the PT at our clinic twice in the 15mo since Emily was dx'ed. We've talked about how things were going with Emily w/ her vest and how she responded in general more than the settings themselves. It was by becoming informed here however and learning about Dr. Warwick's recommendations (he's the one who invented the thing afterall) that I decided I wanted to change things around. Emily now uses the settings that have been determined to be most successful for her particular kind of vest, and her clinic is fine with that.

It turns out that the settings initially programmed by the HillRom people were the ones found LEAST effective in the studies Warwick did. She still coughed when doing it, but I figured if she was going to use that thing for so many hours I wanted her to get the most benefit she could out of it.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

We've seen the PT at our clinic twice in the 15mo since Emily was dx'ed. We've talked about how things were going with Emily w/ her vest and how she responded in general more than the settings themselves. It was by becoming informed here however and learning about Dr. Warwick's recommendations (he's the one who invented the thing afterall) that I decided I wanted to change things around. Emily now uses the settings that have been determined to be most successful for her particular kind of vest, and her clinic is fine with that.

It turns out that the settings initially programmed by the HillRom people were the ones found LEAST effective in the studies Warwick did. She still coughed when doing it, but I figured if she was going to use that thing for so many hours I wanted her to get the most benefit she could out of it.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

We've seen the PT at our clinic twice in the 15mo since Emily was dx'ed. We've talked about how things were going with Emily w/ her vest and how she responded in general more than the settings themselves. It was by becoming informed here however and learning about Dr. Warwick's recommendations (he's the one who invented the thing afterall) that I decided I wanted to change things around. Emily now uses the settings that have been determined to be most successful for her particular kind of vest, and her clinic is fine with that.

It turns out that the settings initially programmed by the HillRom people were the ones found LEAST effective in the studies Warwick did. She still coughed when doing it, but I figured if she was going to use that thing for so many hours I wanted her to get the most benefit she could out of it.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

We've seen the PT at our clinic twice in the 15mo since Emily was dx'ed. We've talked about how things were going with Emily w/ her vest and how she responded in general more than the settings themselves. It was by becoming informed here however and learning about Dr. Warwick's recommendations (he's the one who invented the thing afterall) that I decided I wanted to change things around. Emily now uses the settings that have been determined to be most successful for her particular kind of vest, and her clinic is fine with that.
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<br />It turns out that the settings initially programmed by the HillRom people were the ones found LEAST effective in the studies Warwick did. She still coughed when doing it, but I figured if she was going to use that thing for so many hours I wanted her to get the most benefit she could out of it.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

Emily HATED the higher frequencies at first, too. She is used to them now. I think she hated the noise level as much as how they felt; the thing sounds like it will go into orbit and the hoses flap all around (and pop off with really annoying frequency no matter how tight we jam them on.) We now do 6, 8 and 9 hz and then 18, 19 hz. Pressure starts at 8 (the max she can tolerate well) with the lowest frequency and gradually reduces through the session as the hz goes up. We haven't been able to add the 20hz as recommended, she just can't tolerate that yet. Fortunately our vest lets us program our session; up to 8 stages can be programmed in and then it will run through automatically every time; and can be paused at any time for coughing. That way Emily doesn't need me right beside her while she's vesting.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

Emily HATED the higher frequencies at first, too. She is used to them now. I think she hated the noise level as much as how they felt; the thing sounds like it will go into orbit and the hoses flap all around (and pop off with really annoying frequency no matter how tight we jam them on.) We now do 6, 8 and 9 hz and then 18, 19 hz. Pressure starts at 8 (the max she can tolerate well) with the lowest frequency and gradually reduces through the session as the hz goes up. We haven't been able to add the 20hz as recommended, she just can't tolerate that yet. Fortunately our vest lets us program our session; up to 8 stages can be programmed in and then it will run through automatically every time; and can be paused at any time for coughing. That way Emily doesn't need me right beside her while she's vesting.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

Emily HATED the higher frequencies at first, too. She is used to them now. I think she hated the noise level as much as how they felt; the thing sounds like it will go into orbit and the hoses flap all around (and pop off with really annoying frequency no matter how tight we jam them on.) We now do 6, 8 and 9 hz and then 18, 19 hz. Pressure starts at 8 (the max she can tolerate well) with the lowest frequency and gradually reduces through the session as the hz goes up. We haven't been able to add the 20hz as recommended, she just can't tolerate that yet. Fortunately our vest lets us program our session; up to 8 stages can be programmed in and then it will run through automatically every time; and can be paused at any time for coughing. That way Emily doesn't need me right beside her while she's vesting.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

Emily HATED the higher frequencies at first, too. She is used to them now. I think she hated the noise level as much as how they felt; the thing sounds like it will go into orbit and the hoses flap all around (and pop off with really annoying frequency no matter how tight we jam them on.) We now do 6, 8 and 9 hz and then 18, 19 hz. Pressure starts at 8 (the max she can tolerate well) with the lowest frequency and gradually reduces through the session as the hz goes up. We haven't been able to add the 20hz as recommended, she just can't tolerate that yet. Fortunately our vest lets us program our session; up to 8 stages can be programmed in and then it will run through automatically every time; and can be paused at any time for coughing. That way Emily doesn't need me right beside her while she's vesting.

hmw · Feb 25, 2010

Emily HATED the higher frequencies at first, too. She is used to them now. I think she hated the noise level as much as how they felt; the thing sounds like it will go into orbit and the hoses flap all around (and pop off with really annoying frequency no matter how tight we jam them on.) We now do 6, 8 and 9 hz and then 18, 19 hz. Pressure starts at 8 (the max she can tolerate well) with the lowest frequency and gradually reduces through the session as the hz goes up. We haven't been able to add the 20hz as recommended, she just can't tolerate that yet. Fortunately our vest lets us program our session; up to 8 stages can be programmed in and then it will run through automatically every time; and can be paused at any time for coughing. That way Emily doesn't need me right beside her while she's vesting.

Rebjane · Feb 25, 2010

I was just reviewing the information on Noexuses blog about Warwick and the VEST(thanks Amy) and Warwick does state that vest setting should be looked at yearly to adjust for growth. It also said something interesting about popping off a tube from the VEST to allow for coughing..So I'm giving it a try. Maggie's CF doc won;t be in the office til this afternoon; she needs togo on some antibitoics for sure; she was off the higher dose of bactrim for 3-4 days and her cough is baack. Arg. So, Not sure where to go with this...I hate the month of March; it tends to be the month of zyvox; last year at this time time that is what she needed; we'll see.

Rebjane · Feb 25, 2010

I was just reviewing the information on Noexuses blog about Warwick and the VEST(thanks Amy) and Warwick does state that vest setting should be looked at yearly to adjust for growth. It also said something interesting about popping off a tube from the VEST to allow for coughing..So I'm giving it a try. Maggie's CF doc won;t be in the office til this afternoon; she needs togo on some antibitoics for sure; she was off the higher dose of bactrim for 3-4 days and her cough is baack. Arg. So, Not sure where to go with this...I hate the month of March; it tends to be the month of zyvox; last year at this time time that is what she needed; we'll see.

Rebjane · Feb 25, 2010

I was just reviewing the information on Noexuses blog about Warwick and the VEST(thanks Amy) and Warwick does state that vest setting should be looked at yearly to adjust for growth. It also said something interesting about popping off a tube from the VEST to allow for coughing..So I'm giving it a try. Maggie's CF doc won;t be in the office til this afternoon; she needs togo on some antibitoics for sure; she was off the higher dose of bactrim for 3-4 days and her cough is baack. Arg. So, Not sure where to go with this...I hate the month of March; it tends to be the month of zyvox; last year at this time time that is what she needed; we'll see.

Rebjane · Feb 25, 2010

I was just reviewing the information on Noexuses blog about Warwick and the VEST(thanks Amy) and Warwick does state that vest setting should be looked at yearly to adjust for growth. It also said something interesting about popping off a tube from the VEST to allow for coughing..So I'm giving it a try. Maggie's CF doc won;t be in the office til this afternoon; she needs togo on some antibitoics for sure; she was off the higher dose of bactrim for 3-4 days and her cough is baack. Arg. So, Not sure where to go with this...I hate the month of March; it tends to be the month of zyvox; last year at this time time that is what she needed; we'll see.

Rebjane · Feb 25, 2010

I was just reviewing the information on Noexuses blog about Warwick and the VEST(thanks Amy) and Warwick does state that vest setting should be looked at yearly to adjust for growth. It also said something interesting about popping off a tube from the VEST to allow for coughing..So I'm giving it a try. Maggie's CF doc won;t be in the office til this afternoon; she needs togo on some antibitoics for sure; she was off the higher dose of bactrim for 3-4 days and her cough is baack. Arg. So, Not sure where to go with this...I hate the month of March; it tends to be the month of zyvox; last year at this time time that is what she needed; we'll see.

tmarkey · Feb 25, 2010