Vest

[Mommy2Alysa]

Any adults out there using the vest for their treatments???? Do you experience chest pain from it???? Have you been using it long????

When we were at clinic a few days ago I told the Social Worker that we are having a heck of a time doing chest percussions on Alysa (she is almost 3 and way too busy to sit there while I do it even though she does her neb like a champ!).

So I asked about the vest and she said the only way for people in Canada to get it is through fundraising.. okay not a big deal but then she said the reason we cant get it through disability and stuff is due to it not being researched enough and blah blah blah. She actually told me that one group of researchers found a group of adults who have the vest actually complain of chest pain and have to take meds to help with that and they are thinking it is linked to using the vest for extended period of time (in term of years).

So I am on the fence about whether or not I should attempt to fundraise the $20,000 it will cost to purchase one (or two down the road).

Pros and cons of the vest... ? I wil post this is in the family section as well.

Thanks!

 

[Mommy2Alysa]

Any adults out there using the vest for their treatments???? Do you experience chest pain from it???? Have you been using it long????

When we were at clinic a few days ago I told the Social Worker that we are having a heck of a time doing chest percussions on Alysa (she is almost 3 and way too busy to sit there while I do it even though she does her neb like a champ!).

So I asked about the vest and she said the only way for people in Canada to get it is through fundraising.. okay not a big deal but then she said the reason we cant get it through disability and stuff is due to it not being researched enough and blah blah blah. She actually told me that one group of researchers found a group of adults who have the vest actually complain of chest pain and have to take meds to help with that and they are thinking it is linked to using the vest for extended period of time (in term of years).

So I am on the fence about whether or not I should attempt to fundraise the $20,000 it will cost to purchase one (or two down the road).

Pros and cons of the vest... ? I wil post this is in the family section as well.

Thanks!

 

[Mommy2Alysa]

Any adults out there using the vest for their treatments???? Do you experience chest pain from it???? Have you been using it long????

When we were at clinic a few days ago I told the Social Worker that we are having a heck of a time doing chest percussions on Alysa (she is almost 3 and way too busy to sit there while I do it even though she does her neb like a champ!).

So I asked about the vest and she said the only way for people in Canada to get it is through fundraising.. okay not a big deal but then she said the reason we cant get it through disability and stuff is due to it not being researched enough and blah blah blah. She actually told me that one group of researchers found a group of adults who have the vest actually complain of chest pain and have to take meds to help with that and they are thinking it is linked to using the vest for extended period of time (in term of years).

So I am on the fence about whether or not I should attempt to fundraise the $20,000 it will cost to purchase one (or two down the road).

Pros and cons of the vest... ? I wil post this is in the family section as well.

Thanks!

 

[Mommy2Alysa]

Any adults out there using the vest for their treatments???? Do you experience chest pain from it???? Have you been using it long????

When we were at clinic a few days ago I told the Social Worker that we are having a heck of a time doing chest percussions on Alysa (she is almost 3 and way too busy to sit there while I do it even though she does her neb like a champ!).

So I asked about the vest and she said the only way for people in Canada to get it is through fundraising.. okay not a big deal but then she said the reason we cant get it through disability and stuff is due to it not being researched enough and blah blah blah. She actually told me that one group of researchers found a group of adults who have the vest actually complain of chest pain and have to take meds to help with that and they are thinking it is linked to using the vest for extended period of time (in term of years).

So I am on the fence about whether or not I should attempt to fundraise the $20,000 it will cost to purchase one (or two down the road).

Pros and cons of the vest... ? I wil post this is in the family section as well.

Thanks!

 

[Mommy2Alysa]

Any adults out there using the vest for their treatments???? Do you experience chest pain from it???? Have you been using it long????
<br />
<br />When we were at clinic a few days ago I told the Social Worker that we are having a heck of a time doing chest percussions on Alysa (she is almost 3 and way too busy to sit there while I do it even though she does her neb like a champ!).
<br />
<br />So I asked about the vest and she said the only way for people in Canada to get it is through fundraising.. okay not a big deal but then she said the reason we cant get it through disability and stuff is due to it not being researched enough and blah blah blah. She actually told me that one group of researchers found a group of adults who have the vest actually complain of chest pain and have to take meds to help with that and they are thinking it is linked to using the vest for extended period of time (in term of years).
<br />
<br />So I am on the fence about whether or not I should attempt to fundraise the $20,000 it will cost to purchase one (or two down the road).
<br />
<br />Pros and cons of the vest... ? I wil post this is in the family section as well.
<br />
<br />Thanks!

 

[Skye]

I have not heard of research against the vest. I would highly recommend it as a very beneficial clearance technique. It has to be used correctly though. There are parents who put their children on the vest for 20 minutes with no clearance during that time. A child needs to be taught how to huff every 5 minutes or so to actually clear what has been loosened. I think you probably can find research that supports the vest as being one of the best ways to reduce number of infections in a year. As far as cost, I have not seen a vest for $20,000. The Hill-Rom is around $16,000 and the Respirtech is less than that. Airway clearance is a very important part in keeping a child healthy no matter what method you have access to.

 

[Skye]

I have not heard of research against the vest. I would highly recommend it as a very beneficial clearance technique. It has to be used correctly though. There are parents who put their children on the vest for 20 minutes with no clearance during that time. A child needs to be taught how to huff every 5 minutes or so to actually clear what has been loosened. I think you probably can find research that supports the vest as being one of the best ways to reduce number of infections in a year. As far as cost, I have not seen a vest for $20,000. The Hill-Rom is around $16,000 and the Respirtech is less than that. Airway clearance is a very important part in keeping a child healthy no matter what method you have access to.

 

[Skye]

I have not heard of research against the vest. I would highly recommend it as a very beneficial clearance technique. It has to be used correctly though. There are parents who put their children on the vest for 20 minutes with no clearance during that time. A child needs to be taught how to huff every 5 minutes or so to actually clear what has been loosened. I think you probably can find research that supports the vest as being one of the best ways to reduce number of infections in a year. As far as cost, I have not seen a vest for $20,000. The Hill-Rom is around $16,000 and the Respirtech is less than that. Airway clearance is a very important part in keeping a child healthy no matter what method you have access to.

 

[Skye]

I have not heard of research against the vest. I would highly recommend it as a very beneficial clearance technique. It has to be used correctly though. There are parents who put their children on the vest for 20 minutes with no clearance during that time. A child needs to be taught how to huff every 5 minutes or so to actually clear what has been loosened. I think you probably can find research that supports the vest as being one of the best ways to reduce number of infections in a year. As far as cost, I have not seen a vest for $20,000. The Hill-Rom is around $16,000 and the Respirtech is less than that. Airway clearance is a very important part in keeping a child healthy no matter what method you have access to.

 

[Skye]

I have not heard of research against the vest. I would highly recommend it as a very beneficial clearance technique. It has to be used correctly though. There are parents who put their children on the vest for 20 minutes with no clearance during that time. A child needs to be taught how to huff every 5 minutes or so to actually clear what has been loosened. I think you probably can find research that supports the vest as being one of the best ways to reduce number of infections in a year. As far as cost, I have not seen a vest for $20,000. The Hill-Rom is around $16,000 and the Respirtech is less than that. Airway clearance is a very important part in keeping a child healthy no matter what method you have access to.

 

[AnD]

I've been using my vest twice a day for about 4 years now (I did hand pt when I was pregnant, and varied between vest, percussor and hand pt and noncompliance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> for the 10 years before).

I really, really like my vest and I don't have any strictly vest related pains (but I do have scoliosis, and if I slouch wrong -lol- when I'm doing my vest, I get a sore spot in my ribs). I also haven't heard of any issues with the vest. No Excuses (Amy) has a good blog about the vest that you might want to check out, and if you do a search here, there are alot of threads about it too.

The vest has been around for over 15 years, and is used for other respiratory conditions than just cf- what else to they need to show it works <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> ?

Good luck with your fundraising!

 

[AnD]

I've been using my vest twice a day for about 4 years now (I did hand pt when I was pregnant, and varied between vest, percussor and hand pt and noncompliance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> for the 10 years before).

I really, really like my vest and I don't have any strictly vest related pains (but I do have scoliosis, and if I slouch wrong -lol- when I'm doing my vest, I get a sore spot in my ribs). I also haven't heard of any issues with the vest. No Excuses (Amy) has a good blog about the vest that you might want to check out, and if you do a search here, there are alot of threads about it too.

The vest has been around for over 15 years, and is used for other respiratory conditions than just cf- what else to they need to show it works <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> ?

Good luck with your fundraising!

 

[AnD]

I've been using my vest twice a day for about 4 years now (I did hand pt when I was pregnant, and varied between vest, percussor and hand pt and noncompliance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> for the 10 years before).

I really, really like my vest and I don't have any strictly vest related pains (but I do have scoliosis, and if I slouch wrong -lol- when I'm doing my vest, I get a sore spot in my ribs). I also haven't heard of any issues with the vest. No Excuses (Amy) has a good blog about the vest that you might want to check out, and if you do a search here, there are alot of threads about it too.

The vest has been around for over 15 years, and is used for other respiratory conditions than just cf- what else to they need to show it works <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> ?

Good luck with your fundraising!

 

[AnD]

I've been using my vest twice a day for about 4 years now (I did hand pt when I was pregnant, and varied between vest, percussor and hand pt and noncompliance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> for the 10 years before).

I really, really like my vest and I don't have any strictly vest related pains (but I do have scoliosis, and if I slouch wrong -lol- when I'm doing my vest, I get a sore spot in my ribs). I also haven't heard of any issues with the vest. No Excuses (Amy) has a good blog about the vest that you might want to check out, and if you do a search here, there are alot of threads about it too.

The vest has been around for over 15 years, and is used for other respiratory conditions than just cf- what else to they need to show it works <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> ?

Good luck with your fundraising!

 

[AnD]

I've been using my vest twice a day for about 4 years now (I did hand pt when I was pregnant, and varied between vest, percussor and hand pt and noncompliance <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> for the 10 years before).
<br />
<br /> I really, really like my vest and I don't have any strictly vest related pains (but I do have scoliosis, and if I slouch wrong -lol- when I'm doing my vest, I get a sore spot in my ribs). I also haven't heard of any issues with the vest. No Excuses (Amy) has a good blog about the vest that you might want to check out, and if you do a search here, there are alot of threads about it too.
<br />
<br />The vest has been around for over 15 years, and is used for other respiratory conditions than just cf- what else to they need to show it works <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> ?
<br />
<br />Good luck with your fundraising!

 

[cdale613]

Personally, I prefer good chest pt. There are others who prefer the vest.

Now, there is good chest pt and bad chest pt. I am refering only to good chest pt...

For me, good Chest PT is better for the following reasons:

1) The postural drainage positions of chest pt use gravity to help move mucous out of small airways, into larger airways where it is easier to cough it out. The vest doesn't do that.

2) Focused percussions. The positions of chest pt focus on individual lobes of the lungs, and the vast majority of the force delivered by the therapist goes to the lobe. The vest shakes you a lot, but for me I don't get the same results.

3) Chest PT has built in pauses between positions for coughing. It was too easy for me to go through a 20-30 minute vest treatment with never stopping to cough.

4) Compliance. If your daughter continues chest pt, you will know that she is doing it, and be able to build it into a structured part of her day. If you switch to the vest, you will not be able to keep track, especially as she gets older. There is a difference between having a vest and using a vest.

5) Parental involvement. When I was living at home, my dad provided my chest pt. It helped our relationship a lot - how many 15 year old have to spend an hour with their parents everyday? I think it also helped him deal with my CF, and made him feel like he was doing something about it.

I'll also add the all of the comparison studies I've seen with the vest have been

1) very short term

2) use very small numbers of patients

3) use amount of sputum produced as a measure of lung function, which is ridiculous, because countless studies have shown that amount of sputum produced should not considered a proxy for lung function.

Obviously the vest is probably better than nothing, but for me, I will pick good chest PT everytime.

Chris

27 m w/cf

 

[cdale613]

Personally, I prefer good chest pt. There are others who prefer the vest.

Now, there is good chest pt and bad chest pt. I am refering only to good chest pt...

For me, good Chest PT is better for the following reasons:

1) The postural drainage positions of chest pt use gravity to help move mucous out of small airways, into larger airways where it is easier to cough it out. The vest doesn't do that.

2) Focused percussions. The positions of chest pt focus on individual lobes of the lungs, and the vast majority of the force delivered by the therapist goes to the lobe. The vest shakes you a lot, but for me I don't get the same results.

3) Chest PT has built in pauses between positions for coughing. It was too easy for me to go through a 20-30 minute vest treatment with never stopping to cough.

4) Compliance. If your daughter continues chest pt, you will know that she is doing it, and be able to build it into a structured part of her day. If you switch to the vest, you will not be able to keep track, especially as she gets older. There is a difference between having a vest and using a vest.

5) Parental involvement. When I was living at home, my dad provided my chest pt. It helped our relationship a lot - how many 15 year old have to spend an hour with their parents everyday? I think it also helped him deal with my CF, and made him feel like he was doing something about it.

I'll also add the all of the comparison studies I've seen with the vest have been

1) very short term

2) use very small numbers of patients

3) use amount of sputum produced as a measure of lung function, which is ridiculous, because countless studies have shown that amount of sputum produced should not considered a proxy for lung function.

Obviously the vest is probably better than nothing, but for me, I will pick good chest PT everytime.

Chris

27 m w/cf

 

[cdale613]

Personally, I prefer good chest pt. There are others who prefer the vest.

Now, there is good chest pt and bad chest pt. I am refering only to good chest pt...

For me, good Chest PT is better for the following reasons:

1) The postural drainage positions of chest pt use gravity to help move mucous out of small airways, into larger airways where it is easier to cough it out. The vest doesn't do that.

2) Focused percussions. The positions of chest pt focus on individual lobes of the lungs, and the vast majority of the force delivered by the therapist goes to the lobe. The vest shakes you a lot, but for me I don't get the same results.

3) Chest PT has built in pauses between positions for coughing. It was too easy for me to go through a 20-30 minute vest treatment with never stopping to cough.

4) Compliance. If your daughter continues chest pt, you will know that she is doing it, and be able to build it into a structured part of her day. If you switch to the vest, you will not be able to keep track, especially as she gets older. There is a difference between having a vest and using a vest.

5) Parental involvement. When I was living at home, my dad provided my chest pt. It helped our relationship a lot - how many 15 year old have to spend an hour with their parents everyday? I think it also helped him deal with my CF, and made him feel like he was doing something about it.

I'll also add the all of the comparison studies I've seen with the vest have been

1) very short term

2) use very small numbers of patients

3) use amount of sputum produced as a measure of lung function, which is ridiculous, because countless studies have shown that amount of sputum produced should not considered a proxy for lung function.

Obviously the vest is probably better than nothing, but for me, I will pick good chest PT everytime.

Chris

27 m w/cf

 

[cdale613]

Personally, I prefer good chest pt. There are others who prefer the vest.

Now, there is good chest pt and bad chest pt. I am refering only to good chest pt...

For me, good Chest PT is better for the following reasons:

1) The postural drainage positions of chest pt use gravity to help move mucous out of small airways, into larger airways where it is easier to cough it out. The vest doesn't do that.

2) Focused percussions. The positions of chest pt focus on individual lobes of the lungs, and the vast majority of the force delivered by the therapist goes to the lobe. The vest shakes you a lot, but for me I don't get the same results.

3) Chest PT has built in pauses between positions for coughing. It was too easy for me to go through a 20-30 minute vest treatment with never stopping to cough.

4) Compliance. If your daughter continues chest pt, you will know that she is doing it, and be able to build it into a structured part of her day. If you switch to the vest, you will not be able to keep track, especially as she gets older. There is a difference between having a vest and using a vest.

5) Parental involvement. When I was living at home, my dad provided my chest pt. It helped our relationship a lot - how many 15 year old have to spend an hour with their parents everyday? I think it also helped him deal with my CF, and made him feel like he was doing something about it.

I'll also add the all of the comparison studies I've seen with the vest have been

1) very short term

2) use very small numbers of patients

3) use amount of sputum produced as a measure of lung function, which is ridiculous, because countless studies have shown that amount of sputum produced should not considered a proxy for lung function.

Obviously the vest is probably better than nothing, but for me, I will pick good chest PT everytime.

Chris

27 m w/cf

 

[cdale613]

Personally, I prefer good chest pt. There are others who prefer the vest.
<br />
<br />Now, there is good chest pt and bad chest pt. I am refering only to good chest pt...
<br />
<br />For me, good Chest PT is better for the following reasons:
<br />
<br />1) The postural drainage positions of chest pt use gravity to help move mucous out of small airways, into larger airways where it is easier to cough it out. The vest doesn't do that.
<br />
<br />2) Focused percussions. The positions of chest pt focus on individual lobes of the lungs, and the vast majority of the force delivered by the therapist goes to the lobe. The vest shakes you a lot, but for me I don't get the same results.
<br />
<br />3) Chest PT has built in pauses between positions for coughing. It was too easy for me to go through a 20-30 minute vest treatment with never stopping to cough.
<br />
<br />4) Compliance. If your daughter continues chest pt, you will know that she is doing it, and be able to build it into a structured part of her day. If you switch to the vest, you will not be able to keep track, especially as she gets older. There is a difference between having a vest and using a vest.
<br />
<br />5) Parental involvement. When I was living at home, my dad provided my chest pt. It helped our relationship a lot - how many 15 year old have to spend an hour with their parents everyday? I think it also helped him deal with my CF, and made him feel like he was doing something about it.
<br />
<br />I'll also add the all of the comparison studies I've seen with the vest have been
<br />
<br />1) very short term
<br />
<br />2) use very small numbers of patients
<br />
<br />3) use amount of sputum produced as a measure of lung function, which is ridiculous, because countless studies have shown that amount of sputum produced should not considered a proxy for lung function.
<br />
<br />Obviously the vest is probably better than nothing, but for me, I will pick good chest PT everytime.
<br />
<br />Chris
<br />
<br />27 m w/cf