Vest

[sue35]

I think this might have already been posted before but I can't find out. Does everyone like the vest who has it? Have you tried any other airway clearance and found that works the best?

I have the acapella and it gets nothing up. I have always had problems getting stuff up but i know it is there because my lung function is 50%. i have been thinking about the vest but always hesitant because it seems that it is so serious. Like, when I get it I am really acknoledging that I have this disease and am now using this big device. But I know that I need to grow up and was just wondering if people liked theirs enough for me to get one.

Thanks <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
-------------------------
Sue 24w/CF

 

[chantelfox]

Hey there Sue!  I have had the vest for over 10 years and its
A LOT more convenient to use than what I used to use (a hand-held
percussor).  It's not as easy to travel with though, so if I
go on a short trip I bring my hand-held. I have never used the
acapella. From what I can gather it is kind of like the flutter
valve, which I hated. That thing did nothing for me. I love the
vest because it leaves my hands free, but I have to admit that when
I start to get sick or any kind of lung pain I use my hand-held as
well as the vest. It's good for targeting specific areas and
getting a lot of power percussion to that area. The vest does a
good job at maintaining my lungs though.  Hope this helps, let
me know if you have anymore questions. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Debi]

I think the vest is incredible at keeping me at baseline. But, when I feel especially tight, for me, there is nothing more effective than a combination of someone "pounding" on me followed by using the flutter valve. The vest definitely helps me stay compliant with my chest PT because I am in complete control and not dependent on finding someone in the family with time to beat on me.
----------------------

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[CowTown]

I think the vest is WELL worth it. I haven't found anything to be more effective....for me anyways. I know some people find regular PT more helpful.

 

[MCPappy]

I cant tell you how much I like the vest. I had the flutter before it and took so much energy and more time since you cant use nebs while you are fluttering. The vest is just amazing for me=) I use it from 20 min (2xday) to 40-50 min(2-3 xday) when i am not feeling so hot. I know that they are quite expensive (hopefully your insurance can help to cover it) but I can not imagine having to flutter or use the acapella every day...especially when you are sick.

The vest is great because it does the work for you so if you are tired you dont have to use extra energy. I do tons of things while I am vesting... work on the computer, watch tv, read... and in High school I would sleep=)

If you are having problems getting stuff up.... I use the Hypertonic Saline while I am vesting and it works wonders helping me cough all that junk out.

All in all the vest has made doing my treatments much more productive and easier to complete. Also if you do decide to get one try to get the smaller version (I have had both the large and small) beacuse it is much easier to travel with. I have taken it on airplans a bunch =)

I hope that this helps and let me know if you have any other questions =)
GOOD LUCK

<3

 

[Allisa35]

I'm going to be the odd one out. I'm not particularly fond of my vest. I have used the acapella and the flutter which did nothing for me. I use a hand-held percussor. I know everybody is different and have heard of many people who like the vest. For me, it's just hard to breath and I feel constricted when using the vest. I use it from time to time. If I am really, really sick, I may use it. My percussor seems to work the best for me.

But if you have the option of getting one, I don't think I would pass up the chance. I don't think that by using it you are "giving in" to the disease. Just think of it as another device used to help keep you as healthy as you can be.

 

[NoExcuses]

The Vest is the reason that my FEV1's are at 98%. Pure and simple.

I used manual CPT as well as the flutter for years - and I firmly believe that if I would have continued down that path, I would not have the lung function that I have right now.

It's a God-send for sure.

 

[JazzysMom]

I am not "thrilled" about my vest, but it seems to help me with maintaining myself. If I am actually sick there is nothing like manual clapping for me, but thats not practical when having a family etc. The vest is good also that it kind of "massages" my back which I can feel a difference when not using it. Its something that I found you have to adjust according to your needs, comforts & what gets you results. After years of having it....last year I sat with my RT at the clinic to adjust the settings because the suggested ones made my airways close up.

 

[sarabeth87]

I think my Vest has really helped me alot. When I do my Hypertonic Saline at the same time, I cough us TONS of stuff. What I don't like about it, is that it's so big and it gets old moving if I want to do it in a different room. I also take my Albuteral and Pulmozyme, so it's a little less time consuming.

 

[Scarlett81]

I've had the vest for 12 years, before that it was chest clapping from my mom. The vest is wonderful-but you need to use it properly. I realized recently that for a long time I wsan't really using it properly, and when I moved to my new cf center, they taught me.
So when used right-it is awesome! I can get out at least a 1/4 cup of spit each time I use it.

 

[Debi]

Christian, I would be interested in hearing about the adjustments they taught you recently to use the vest more effectively. Would you mind sharing? Thanks.

----------------
Debi
54 w/cf

 

[Scarlett81]

Sure,

(Well before I learned, I would just sit and do the vest, on "10" for 15 minutes and then if I could take it, I'd do ""15" or "20" for 15 minutes. -(of not, I'd stay at 10 for another 15 minutes)
Then I'd stop, and cough a little and get some up. But I was always kind of taught that if you cough, you're sick. If you don't feel like you need to cough, you don't have to...bad.)

My new center taught me that whether you want to or not, you have to force yourself to cough. Now I do: frequency 8 for 5 minutes-"huff" and force myself to cough. Its the type of breathing that you do when you do a PFT. Deep breath it-then blow out fast, constricting your lung muscles to get deep mucus out. I repeat this process like, 5 or 6 times till I'm up to frequency 20.
The goal is to do at least 3 good coughs after each frequency, which produce at least 3 good spits. In all so you'll have 18-20 good spits per therapy.

As I said before-on a good day, I'll produce 1/4 cup-even at times a 1/2 cup of mucus. And this is when I'm well-not sick.

It took me a long time to get used to this type of therapy. I couldn't believe that I was never taught how to do the vest correctly. Now, after a therapy I really do feel that I've done a workout-and I guess that's how it should feel. I definately attribute learning this to how my lungs have improved over the past year. And-probably to why I can consider having kids today!

 

[Momtana]

I was encouraged to try the vest after my May visit at my CF Center and I was discouraged to be adding another thing to my routine. The size of the vest really had an emotional effect on me. After a couple of months I have come to see it as Alissa says - just another approach to being as healthy as you can me. I go to a physical therapist for cranial sacral therapy & visceral manipulation. When she first worked with me she said my lungs felt like "cement" but the last two visits she said they felt much more mobile - aha! it must be the vest.

 

[littledebbie]

I hate my vest.  It will soon be on e-bay.  I use
acapella, it is very productive for me.  I think it's
different for everyone.

 

[Bozo]

I dont not like the vest it takes to much time for what I get out of it..: )

 

[julie]

I think the Vest is very different for everyone. Some love it, some hate it, some really dont' care.

Mark likes his vest, and to be honest, it's easier on me because I don't have to spend 1 hour in the PM and 1 hour in the AM everyday doing the PT. When he is sick, sometimes he prefers manually but for the most part, for both of us the vest is very convenient and for him it's ver effective.

Does your CF clinic have one tha tyou can try? Maybe that might be the way to go, to see if you like it first.

 

[Debi]

Christian,

Thanks. It worked wonders!

--------

Debi
54 w/cf -- and much clearer lungs this evening after my vest session!

 

[Scarlett81]

wow Debi, that's great! So did you do the "huff" forced coughing?Were you more tired after?

Jazzysmom and I have the same doctor-and at our cf center in NYC, there is a woman, Carol Anne who literally invented the chest PT theory specifically for cfers way back when-the 70s I believe. So she's the head of respiratory/pt department, and quite a lady. Full of knowledge! But this is her technique, and by lordy it works.

 

[JazzysMom]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Scarlett81</b></i>

wow Debi, that's great! So did you do the "huff" forced coughing?Were you more tired after?



Jazzysmom and I have the same doctor-and at our cf center in NYC, there is a woman, Carol Anne who literally invented the chest PT theory specifically for cfers way back when-the 70s I believe. So she's the head of respiratory/pt department, and quite a lady. Full of knowledge! But this is her technique, and by lordy it works.</end quote></div>



OMG Carol Anne.....she isnt happy unless you try 5 times after each section or each frequency etc depending on the technique you are using. The woman use to scare me LOL! It has taken 30 years to know she means well & that her heart & concern is the longterm health of the patients. Our clinic is known for their CPT program. We have had patients from other clinics get admitted at St. Vincents because of the CPT they receive!

 

[Scarlett81]

<OMG Carol Anne.....she isnt happy unless you try 5 times after each section or each frequency etc depending on the technique you are using. The woman use to scare me LOL! It has taken 30 years to know she means well & that her heart & concern is the longterm health of the patients. Our clinic is known for their CPT program. We have had patients from other clinics get admitted at St. Vincents because of the CPT they receive! >



It's really true-I attribute their CPT program to why I've had a 40%+ increase in my PFTs in a year! You can't beat em'! I mean as a pediatric living in Pennsylvania, I thought I had the BEST ped cf doc in the world-and yes, they were very very good. But, I never knew chest pt till I went to these people.

Y'all probably think we're on their payroll or something-but I swear we're not!!!LOL